Take the Stage

Memorial Hall presents
The Resilience Staged Reading Series

Memorial Hall is seeking audition video submissions for two staged reading productions:

CRY IT OUT
By Molly Smith Metzler | Directed by Leslie Goddard
Playing October 15 – 31, 2020; all performances at 8pm
Tech and Dress Rehearsals Tentatively Scheduled for October 10 & 13

UGLY LIES THE BONE
By Lindsey Ferrentino | Directed by Phillip Webster
Playing November 6 – 17, 2020; all performances at 8pm
Tech and Dress Rehearsals Tentatively Scheduled for on November 2 & 5

Productions are in staged reading format, with actors seated in front of their scrips. Productions include video and sound design, but no significant costuming.

Performances take place in Memorial Hall’s Green Ballroom, where socially distanced seating will allow for a maximum of 24 patrons. Patrons will be seated a minimum of 12’ away from actors, and are required to wear masks. Actors will be seated 6’ apart from each other, and will not wear masks when performing. Memorial Hall is implementing COVID-19 protocols for the protection of patrons, performers and staff.

Actors may receive financial support via a revenue pool. After the venue meets its modest direct expenses (staff, licensing and production expenses), all net revenue will be donated to actors, directors, designers and stage managers, based on a shares system. Please expect that any donations passed on to actors will be consummate with the very low venue capacity. AEA actors may be considered, with the understanding that this project is a benefit, and that there are no ticket sales, only donations by patrons; subsequently, there will not be AEA contracts available.

TO SUBMIT:

• Review the roles and sides available for each show, listed below.
• Please record a video audition for each role for which you’d like to be considered. Upload to a location from which link sharing is available.
• Complete the Audition Form here. It is not necessary to complete the form multiple times for multiple submissions.

Video submissions are due by 5pm on Friday, September 18.

Questions? Contact Joshua Steele at jsteele@3cdc.org, or 513.977.8037.

Resilience Staged Reading Series
Character Descriptions and Sides

Memorial Hall strives for racial diversity in casting. With the exception of the role of LINA in CRY IT OUT, all of the roles listed may be portrayed by actors of any race or ethnicity.

CRY IT OUT
By Molly Smith Metzler | Directed by Lesley Goddard
Playing October 15 – 31, 2020
Tech and Dress Rehearsals Tentatively Scheduled for October 10 & 13

Click here for sides

Character Descriptions

JESSIE (mid-30s) – Married to a North Share native; recently relocated to Port (from Manhattan) to raise her family. Educated, articulate, lovely, warm. From the Midwest, and has that Midwestern ready-smile. Beloved by every teacher she’s ever had. Always gives the perfect toast; always organized the group gift. But in private, Jessie bends towards anxiety. She doesn’t like empty days on calendars, or being alone. Works 90-hour weeks in the city as a corporate lawyer – or did, until her child was born. Now she’s in yoga pants.

LINA (late 20s / early 30s) – From Long Beach, and you can tell immediately – she is very South Shore. Acrylic nails, big hoops, velour track suits, Mets trucker hats, and a huge Italian family. Lina failed out of community college, curses too much, and blasts Kanye too loudly in the car. But she is also fantastically winning. She’s fun, funny, and refreshingly genuine. Works at St. Francis Hospital.

MITCHELL (late 30s / early 40s) – Adrienne’s husband, works in investment capital. A math nerd who is amazing with numbers, but not people. Serious, shrewd, sensitive. The kid who ate lunch in the library because he was so shy. Mitchell grew up in a touch house in a tough part of Utica, and scholarshipped his way to where he is now, so grades, status and success are his currency. But becoming a father has changed him. He makes goofy faces now. He stares out windows during meetings. His sentences end in question marks.

ADRIENNE (mid / late 30s) – Mitchell’s wife. Elegant, powerful, aloof and slightly rock ‘n’ roll. Has eyes that are cat-like and assessing. The kind of woman you see climbing out of a dark sedan at an airport and headed somewhere more glamorous than you. Adrienne grew up on Central Park West, attended posh boarding schools, studied art abroad, and could give you the best-ever guided tour of MoMA. She has never signed an email with an x or o, but she is loyal and ferocious in both business and life. A successful jewelry designer.

UGLY LIES THE BONE
By Lindsey Ferrentino | Directed by Phillip Webster
Playing November 6 – 17, 2020
Tech and Dress Rehearsals Tentatively Scheduled for on November 2 & 5

Click here for sides

Character Descriptions

JESS (early 30s) – US Army veteran, three tours in Afghanistan. Severely distorted by third degree burns, uses a walker. Quick witted, intelligent, tough. Trying to have strength in her body, vulnerability in her life. This role has been cast.

KACIE (mid 30s) – Jess’ older sister by a few years. Was probably beautiful once. Sweet, and trying hard for positivity.

STEVIE (early 30s) – An inviting smile that makes you want to live in it. Life just keeps happening to him.

KELVIN (late 30s / early 40s) – Older than Kacie, too comfortable in his own skin.

VOICE / MOM (60s) – Passionate, powerful, maternal. A strong vocal quality.