*August Wilson's Fences Auditions* Avenue Arts Marketplace & Theatre announces auditions for AUGUST WILSON'S FENCES Located at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44702 SYNOPSIS: This sensational drama starred James Earl Jones as Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues who now works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Excluded as a black man from the major leagues during his prime, Troy's bitterness takes its toll on his relationships with his wife and his son, who now wants his own chance to play ball. Revived in 2010 starring Denzel Washington in the lead role. *August Wilson's Fences is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.* Directed by: Maya Nicholson Auditions will be held on Tuesday, February 25th and Wednesday, February 26th from 7-9pm Callbacks (if necessary) will take place on February 27th from 7-9pm All auditioners are asked to come prepared to cold read from the script. We also ask that you bring a current headshot and resume with you to auditions. At this time, there are no stipends and/or AEA contracts being offered! Rehearsals will begin on March 2nd and will run Mondays through Thursdays Performances: April 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th at 8pm and April 11th at 2pm (No Sunday Matinee due to Easter Sunday) *TO AUDITION, PLEASE GO TO: * https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4bafa82ca3fe3-august2 CHARACTERS: *Troy Maxson (male, African-American, 40s-60s) - *Former baseball star in the Negro Leagues, now works for the sanitation department, lifting garbage into truck. Husband to Rose, father to Lyons, Cory, and Raynell, and brother to Gabriel, and best friend to Jim Bono. *This role requires mature language, mild sexual content, onstage violence, and simulated alcohol use* *Jim Bono (male, African-American, 40s-60s) - *Troy's best friend of over thirty years. Jim Bono is usually called "Bono" or "Mr. Bono" by the characters in Fences. Bono and Troy met in jail, where Troy learned to play baseball. He is married to a woman named Lucille, who is friends with Rose. Bono is a devoted husband and friend. *This role requires mature language and simulated alcohol use* *Rose Maxson (female, African-American, 30s-60s) - *Troy's wife and mother of his second child, Cory. African American housewife, who volunteers at her church regularly and loves her family. Rose's request that Troy and Cory build a fence in their small, dirt backyard comes to represent her desire to keep her loved-ones close to her love. Unlike Troy, Rose is a realist, not a romantic longing for the by- gone days of yore. She has high hopes for her son, Cory and sides with him in his wish to play football. Rose's acceptance of Troy's illegitimate daughter, Raynell, as her own child, exemplifies her compassion. *This role requires mature language and onstage violence* *Lyons Maxson (male, African-American, 30s-40s) - *Troy's son from a previous relationship. Lyons is an ambitious and talented jazz musician. He grew up without Troy for much of his childhood because Troy was in prison. Lyons, like most musicians, has a hard time making a living. *This role requires mature language* *Gabriel Maxson (male, African-American, 30s-50s) - *Troy's younger brother. Gabriel was a soldier in the Second World War, during which he received a head injury that required a metal plate to be surgically implanted into his head. Gabriel wanders around the Maxson family's neighborhood carrying a basket and singing. He often thinks he is not a person, but the angel Gabriel who opens the gates of heaven with his trumpet for Saint Peter on Judgment Day. Gabriel exudes a child-like exuberance and a need to please. *Cory Maxson (male, African-American, late teens-early 20s) - *Troy and Rose Masons’ son. A senior in high school. An ambitious young man who has the talent and determination to realize his dreams, Cory comes of age during the course of the play when he challenges and confronts Troy and leaves home. *This role requires onstage violence* *Raynell Maxson (female, African-American, 7-10yo) - *Troy's illegitimate child, mothered by Alberta, his lover, who passed away while giving birth. Her innocent need for care and support convinces Rose to take Troy back into the house. *Avenue Arts Marketplace and Theatre is a CLEan House Theatre. This means we are committed to being a space free of harassment based on sex, gender, race, religion, class, ethnicity, nationality, political belief, or ability. We are committed to being a safe environment that fully allows us to challenge ourselves, our audiences, and our communities; that supports creative risks of mind and body; and that establishes the freedom to create theatre that represents the full range of human experience*. All questions should be directed to avenueartstheatre@gmail.com