*UPDATED DETAILS ABOUT “KING LEAR” AUDITIONS and PERFORMANCES* *As previously announced, Mahoning Valley Players will present* *A FULL ONLINE PERFORMANCE of KING LEAR* (in lieu of the cancelled live stage performances July 10-12) *Anyone, anywhere, may audition!* The *totally virtual process* begins with *video audition submissions, and live online rehearsals* via Zoom. Performances will then be *recorded online* and edited into a final presentation for online premiere. *See the exciting promo video at:* *https://tinyurl.com/s6avypp* <https://tinyurl.com/s6avypp> We’ve already received audition videos from outside Northeast Ohio. We are tremendously excited at the idea of putting together a diverse cast in an unprecedented manner during this unprecedented time – sharing Shakespeare in a new form, online and *free* to the world. As we’ve seen already, even with obvious limitations, it is possible to create a compelling, rewarding and involving performance. We will push the envelope as much as is possible: adding virtual backgrounds, music and effects. *CASTING UPDATE: 04/14/20* *TOM FULTON** HAS BEEN CAST IN THE ROLE OF **KING LEAR* * ALL OTHER ROLES WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FINAL CASTING* *Mahoning Valley Players strongly supports non-traditional casting. We encourage actors of all gender-identities and ethnicities to audition. * *Audition videos* * will be accepted through this Friday, April 17. *(see below for details on creating and submitting) * Live Zoom callbacks are Monday and Tuesday April 20, 21* *Online rehearsa**ls will be May 17 – July 1 ** *The Premiere is currently scheduled for July 10.* ** Should the show be ready to record earlier than July 1, we will do so and release you early, but be prepared to commit until July 1. REHEARSALS will generally be Sun-Thurs in the early evening EST. They will be limited to 1-3 scenes per evening, and we will do our best to minimize the number of actors’ rehearsal days as much as possible.* *Why will this be wonderful, stimulating and rewarding?* 1. *A NO-RISK, SAFETY-FIRST POLICY **The safety and health of our cast and audience is MVP’s paramount concern. * *You will never be asked to leave the safety of your home, take risks or do anything with which you are not comfortable. * 2. *WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TO PRODUCE A STRONG ONLINE PERFORMANCE* Director Michael Dempsey has professional skills in video producing, writing, directing, editing, special effects, and with online projects and webinars. 3. *OUR ONLINE REHEARSAL PROCESS WILL BE PRODUCTIVE AND REWARDING* Obviously, it’s not the same as rehearsing live. But there will still be live interaction, acting together in real time with each other, direction, and the creation of a real cast community. And you will definitely expand your knowledge and skills with Shakespearean acting. 4. *WE’LL HELP MAKE THE TECH SIDE EASY *Whatever your online skills, we’ll help you get up to speed and comfortable. Zoom is not hard. As long as your schedule makes you able to rehearse, we’ll help you overcome any obstacles you have may have to connecting online. *5.* *WE NEED THIS* Our community needs art like never before. Our theatre community needs to stay active like never before. With the major challenges and disruptions in our lives, t is continuity, a place to come together, to work our craft, to stay connected and to share. And finally: 6. *IT’S FREAKING “KING LEAR”! *I mean, c’mon! J We’ll roll with the punches. We’ll adapt. We’ll apply our creativity to overcome whatever impediments arise. *AND IT WILL HAPPEN!* *HOW TO CREATE AND SUBMIT AN AUDITION VIDEO* 1. HOW: Just record yourself with your phone, webcam, or other device. If you don’t have a way to make a video, contact Michael to figure something out. 2. WHEN: THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING VIDEOS IS *Friday, April 17.* 3. CALLBACKS: If Michael needs to see people for *a callback*, he will contact you to set up a live Zoom callback. If you are not called back, it does not mean you haven’t been cast, only that he’s seen everything he needs. CASTING WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON OR ABOUT APRIL 24 *VIDEO AUDITION CONTENT: * a. *MONOLOGUES:* Perform a *Shakespearean monologue* of AT LEAST ONE MINUTE LONG. It doesn’t have to be from Lear. And while it’s preferable that it’s memorized, you may read from a script as long as *you know the material well enough*. You will not serve yourself well, especially with verse, if you stumble cold through something. b. *A SCENE*: You ALSO may *read a Shakespeare scene* of AT LEAST TWO MINUTES long with someone else. The other performer must be OFF-CAMERA unless you are both auditioning. Scenes should be significant (Hamlet and a guard talking about the weather isn’t exactly impressive). 4. *APPEARANCE:* Make sure we can *see* and *hear you* – well-lit and easily heard. Some tips: *Make sure we can see your face.* If you are reading it, hold the script at face level and off-side so you are not blocked, looking down or in extreme profile. *Don’t hold a mobile device yourself. *It’ll distract both of us. Prop it up on something or have someone hold it very still. Show us your *face and shoulders, *or to your waist if you’re gesturing a lot. DON’T do a full-body shot unless it’s absolutely necessary. The video you send us should be *one, uninterrupted take with no edits.* *VIDEOS can be sUBMITTED in the following ways:* i. SHARED to MVP VIA FACEBOOK MESSENGER. (Don’t post it on the MVP or Event page, even if you think you’re brilliant.) ii. PUT IT ONTO A CLOUD DRIVE (like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, etc.) and SHARE THE LINK with us by email, text or Facebook. iii. ATTACH IT TO AN EMAIL and send to demzer@gmail.com if it doesn’t exceed allowed file size. iv. UPLOAD IT YOUTUBE, VIMEO or other media-hosting sites and send the link. v. If you have any problems or restrictions to submitting an online video, please contact us to see what we can figure out. Live online auditions are possible if you have a compelling reason why yo cannot submit a video. b. INCLUDE your CONTACT INFORMATION (phone number and email address), KNOWN CONFLICTS, RESUME, any preferred roles and whether you will accept any role. * Contact director Michael Dempsey at 330-397-3667, **demzer@gmail.com* <demzer@gmail.com>* or on Facebook* *for ANY questions or concerns. *