Actors, Dancers Needed for Jersey Voices One-Act Festival

Auditions for Chatham Playhouse’s 20th Annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival

The Chatham Community Players will hold open auditions for its 20th annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival.  Auditions for the plays will be held on Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13.  A separate dance audition will be held on Wednesday, May 14.  All auditions will be held at 7:00 PM at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Ave., Chatham.  Performances will take place on July 24, 25, 26, 31 and August 1 and 2.  Jersey Voices has provided a venue for New Jersey playwrights to showcase their work since 1995.

We have chosen 10 plays and 2 dance pieces to represent the 20 years of “Jersey Voices” this coming summer. They will be presented in repertory, with interlocking casts, in our black box theater in Chatham. They are looking for men and women, ages 16 to 70 to fill roles in the 5 comedies, 5 dramas and 2 dance pieces which, we hope, represent the breadth and depth of work by New Jersey Playwrights that we have seen over the past 20 years.

Actors may read from sides available at the auditions or they may present a monologue.  Sides for each one-act play are available for download at www.chathamplayers.org. For those who are interested in becoming familiar with the one-acts, full scripts will be available for reading at the Library of The Chathams - across the street from the Playhouse

Presented One-Act Plays are:

Ping by Mary Jane Walsh - A one-woman play that depicts, in a riveting fashion, a mother's unwavering love for her grown child.  Directed by Arnold Buchiane

* Woman (50's-70's) very composed and must have great emotional depth and restraint.

Ebbets Field by Frank Briamonte - A cherished childhood memory is revisited.  Directed by Arnold Buchianne

* One elderly man, one middle aged man 40's-60's
* One woman, age is flexible.

Eleanor Descending a Staircase by Ian August - Eleanor wants to buy a print of a painting for her husband's birthday. To do that, she must wrestle with what is Art, what is its purpose in life, and why is this sales clerk such an ass?  Directed by Jon DeAngelis

* Eleanor (30’s to 50’s)
* Clerk (Any age) . Humorless foil to Eleanor’s plans, will play 4 characters (French and Afghan accents a plus).

Ties by Eric Alter - A father and son cannot communicate with or accept each other until forgiveness for either of them weighs too heavily.  Directed by Jon DeAngelis

* Andrew (20s to 30’s)
* Dad (50s to 70’s)
* (Voice of Mom)
* (Voice of Greg)

Tech Support by Henry Meyerson - A tongue-in-cheek look at what we suspect is really happening when we call the Tech Help desk.  Directed by Maybelle Cowan-Lincoln

* Voice 1: Sees herself as a reasonable person, but is eventually driven over the edge.
* Voice 2: Creatively devilish, gets through an otherwise boring day by playing “Cat and Mouse” games with unsuspecting callers.  Asian Indian accent preferred.

Run of the River by William Kovacsik - A father gets an unexpected second chance to tell his son things he meant to say.  Directed by Maybelle Cowan-Lincoln

* Father (Late 60's - early 70's) Man of few words, but deep emotions, especially love for his family.
* Son (Mid 20's) Compassionate, principled, strong, gentle sense of humor.

Couples Therapy by Amanda Mayer - What goes on when a wife drags her husband to a marriage counselor?  Directed by Steve Catron

* Man (30's-50's)
* Woman (30-50's)

In Sickness and Fine China by Margaret Ruvoldt - What goes on when a woman drags her fiancé to register for wedding gifts?  Directed by Steve Catron

* Man (30’s)
* Woman (30’s)

Grandparents Day by Grace Wessbecher - Two grandparents each narrate their own story by reminiscing about growing up in Ireland in two different religions and therefore two different neighborhoods. There is an attraction between them that would never have been allowed but that was then and this is now.  Directed by Joann Scanlon

* Grandfather (60+) Protestant
* Grandmother (60+) Catholic
(Both Irish accents)

The Fruppum, Alabama, Chamber of Commerce by John Dowgin - Two old codgers run gas stations across the street from each other since forever. One talks a blue streak, the other mumbles answers. One thinks they are identical copies of each other, the other knows different. When modern life enters the differences begin to show and the quiet one wins the day.  Directed by Joann Scanlon

* Two Men (late 50’s and up) old codgers with southern accents

Presented Dance Pieces are:

Love Me Deadly by Desirée Caro and Anthony Rubolotta  - A lyrical dance piece centering on the romantic exploits of “Charlie” and his three femme fatales, cautioning us that, in love, everything has its price.  Directed and Choreographed by Desirée Caro

* Charlie (male, 18-45) Handsome, athletic noir scoundrel. A real “lady killer.”
* First Love (female, 16-30) Bright-eyed and vibrant. Embodies the elation of new love.
* The Starlet (female, 20-35) Emblematic 40’s film actress. Glamorous and coy.
* The Vixen (female, 25-40) Sexy and strong but cynical. No stranger to love without promises.

All four dancers should be adept at portraying great emotion. Training in modern, ballet and jazz, as well as the ability to execute lifts are a plus, but dancers of all styles are encouraged to audition.

Executive Dreams written by Don Howes -
This is what happens when inattention meets imagination in this rocking dance piece.  Directed and Choreographed by Don Howes

* One male dancer
* Three women dancers
* One gender neutral gorilla.

The Chatham Players have an open call casting policy. ALL roles are open, none are precast, and everyone is encouraged to audition. Any questions please call Leslie Reagoso at (973) 769-3886 or email her at ccpcasting@gmail.com.   For directions or additional information, please visit www.chathamplayers.org