-Auditions- *Misery *by William Goldman Based on the novel by Stephen King Directed by Michael Glavan Joshua Erichsen, Producing Artistic Director Production Stage Manager: Breanna Antoniades SYNOPSIS: Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does. WHERE: Players Guild Theatre - Kent State University at Stark Fine Arts Building (6000 Frank Ave NW, Canton, OH 44720) Floor One, in the Black Box space. PERFORMANCE DATES: April 14th- 30th, 2023. Fridays @ 7:30P, Saturdays @ 7:30P, and Sundays @ 2P. There will be no School Matinees for this performance. AUDITIONS: To sign up for a slot on January 5 or 6, go to www.playersguildtheatre.com/audition. Callbacks will be scheduled for January 7 as needed. If you cannot make this time, please contact the director Michael Glavan at MiserySubmissions@gmail.com. Prepare one monologue 2-3 minutes in length OR you can look at sides available online to fashion an audition piece. Bring a headshot and resume if you have them. Sides or monologues do not have to be memorized, though it will be most helpful for them to be familiar to the point that we can work in the room. Ideally the monologue doesn’t exceed 2 minutes so that we have time to get to work it a few ways while also taking time to chat and say hey. REHEARSALS: Formal rehearsals will begin the second week of March. It is possible that not all rehearsals will be held at CPG / KSU Stark if it’s of aid and convenience to the cast. Depending on availability, there may be a few zoom/remote rehearsals prior to the second week of March. The hope would be to set our goals and expectations for the process and accomplish a read thru/tablework before diving into blocking and staging aspects of the show. With cast conflicts in hand, I hope to have a rehearsal schedule for the full production ready by the end of January. Aiming to rehearse 4-5 times a week and/or adjust as needed. ABOUT THE SHOW: We are going to be staging this production of Misery in the black box space and seeking to create an intimate if not fully-immersive quality to our performance. Because of those parameters, I’m particularly seeking theatre-makers who are excited and fueled by experimental - safe - exploration and collaboration. This production is seeking actors who are comfortable taking ownership of the space. Being in the black box - and likely immersed in the audience - harnessing authenticity in our stage business and action will be paramount. The roles are listed below. QUESTIONS: Michael Glavan at MiserySubmissions@gmail.com Please bring a current photo or provide a Headshot/Resume, if available. These will become property of the Players Guild and will not be returned. For parking, please park in the student lot 107 next to the Fine Arts Building on Kent State University at Stark’s Campus [image: page3image15844992] [image: page3image15846240] [image: page3image15846448] ROLES I will try to maintain my character breakdowns to what is objectively and explicitly voiced by the script. I think these attributes can mean different things to different actors. I am not at all concerned or interested in recreating the film in my casting or seeking impressions. I’m very interested in what these words mean to you and how they manifest through your imagination. **All roles will be paid.* Annie Wilkes: mid 30s - 60s Female-presenting. “She wears, as always, a cardigan sweater. Annie is like no one else on this or any planet.” She is the self-professed number-one-fan of Paul Sheldon. She was once married but “wasn’t very good at it.” She does not approve of cursing. She lives in a small domicile in Silver Creek, Colorado. She was once a nurse and possesses a thorough medical knowledge. She is [somehow] capable of retrieving Paul from a car wreck and bringing him up the hill back to her home. Likewise capable of posing a genuine physical challenge to Paul. Swings a sledge hammer. At times she is buoyant, melancholic, bashful, determined, wistful, forceful, loads more - all this to say, she has a wide breadth of life in this production. She will participate in stage combat. Paul Sheldon: 40s Male-presenting. A famous author of the acclaimed Misery Chastain series. “A literary genius.” He was twenty-four when he wrote his first novel and has completed eight books for the series in the subsequent twenty years, “Misery is responsible for all of my success.” He just completed a manuscript for a new book when he gets into a car wreck during a snowstorm. His shoulder was dislocated, he suffered compound fractures in both tibias and the high fibula. His mobility is therefore compromised throughout almost the entirety of the show. He was once married and has a daughter. He also has an agent. At times he is grateful, charming, proud, spiteful, cunning, desperate, determined, loads more - all this to say, he likewise has a range. He will participate in stage combat. Buster: Male / Female / Non-Binary. The town sheriff who comes looking for Paul Sheldon. The audience’s hope for a savior. I think there is A LOT of opportunity to create vastly different Busters. Very much interested in a full fledged character with their own journey despite comparatively less lines. SUBMISSIONS If you are unable to make the currently scheduled audition times on Jan 5, 6, and 7 you are welcome and encouraged to submit for the production remotely. Please prepare one monologue 2-3 minutes in length OR you can look at sides available online to fashion an audition piece. Record your audition and upload it to an unlisted Youtube video. If you have questions on how to do that: How To Upload Videos with YouTube StudioYouTube · YouTube Creators. Send the unlisted YouTube Video link as well a headshot, resume, and completed audition forms to MiserySubmissions@gmail.com. All submissions are due by January 6. -- Breanna Antoniades Production Stage Manager Players Guild Theatre 6000 Frank Ave NW North Canton, OH 44720