Theatre Northwest at the IU Northwest School of the Arts
OPEN AUDITIONS
UPDATE: JAN 26TH AUDITIONS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE IUN CAMPUS CLOSURE. WE WILL NOW HOLD AUDITIONS ON JANUARY 27TH
A Chorus of Oysters:
A collage of micro-plays on climate change
&
Pipeline
by Dominique Morisseau
WHO SHOULD AUDITION:
ANYONE! Auditions for Theatre Northwest productions are open to IU Northwest students, regardless of academic major. In addition, auditions are open to Ivy Tech students and community performers from around Northwest Indiana.
WHEN:
January 27th, 6-9pm
Please arrive as close to 6pm as possible
WHERE:
Mainstage Theatre
Indiana University Northwest
Arts and Sciences Building, 2nd Floor
3401 Broadway, Gary, IN
SCHEDULING YOUR AUDITION:
Please fill out this REGISTRATION FORM
PARKING:
Parking at IU Northwest is FREE on evenings and weekends. We recommend parking in the small lot at 35th and Broadway.
WHAT TO PREPARE:
Please wear comfortable clothes (soft clothing, athletic shoes) and be prepared to move, play games, and read from the script.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:
You will be asked to provide a summary of your acting experience. If you have a resume available, that would be welcome. You will also be asked to provide details of your rehearsal availability.
Project Overview: A Chorus of Oysters
Directed by Prof. Mark Baer
Six Performances: March 31, April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9
Theatre Northwest Mainstage
Rehearsals M-Th, 6-9pm beginning Jan 31
Synopsis: Funny and bizarre, intimate and moving, these twelve plays were selected with input from students and community members from a large collection commissioned by Climate Change Theatre Action 2019 + 2021. Presented from diverse perspectives and in a variety of styles, these tiny plays inspire us to view a situation of enormous proportion on a much smaller scale. Total running time will be approximately 90 minutes.
Style: The play collage will be presented using a mix of live acting, shadow play, streaming video, live sound effects and audience interaction. Actors will rarely leave the stage.
Roles: Seeking 6-10 ensemble members who will portray twisted fairy tale characters, an odd assortment of wildlife, and several interesting humans in a series of very short stories on climate change. Each ensemble member will play multiple roles in addition to participating in puppetry, foley sound effects, and choral speaking. The production will seek to incorporate the special skills of each actor.
Project Overview: Pipeline
Directed by senior theatre major Mia Godfrey
Three Performances: April 21, 22, 23
Theatre Northwest Studio
Rehearsals Mo, Tu, We, 6-9pm beginning Jan 31
Synopsis: Set in an inner city, Pipeline tells the story of a African American woman, Nya, who is a teacher at a public high school and she is going through a divorce. Her son, Omari has gotten into trouble at the private school he attends and she is figuring out how to deal with the possible consequences of his actions. All the while trying to become a better teacher and mother, she is desperate to give her only son Omari opportunities she'll never have.
Style: Student-directed-and-designed capstone project.
Roles:
NYA (black female, 30s) Single mother. Public high school teacher. Trying to raise her teenage son on her own with much difficulty. A good teacher inspiring her students in a stressed environment. A struggling parent doing her damndest. Strong but burning out. Holding together by a thread.
OMARI (black male, late teens) Smart and astute. Rage without release. Tender and honest at his core. Something profoundly sensitive amidst the anger. Wrestling with his identity between private school education and being from a so-called urban community. Nya's son.
JASMINE (black or latina female, late teens) Sensitive and tough. A sharp bite, a soft smile. Profoundly aware of herself and her environment. Attends upstate private school but from a so-called urban environment. In touch with the poetry of her own language.
XAVIER (black male, mid- to late 30s) Single father - struggling to connect to his own son. Marketing executive. Wounded relationship with his ex-wife, Nya. Financially stable. Emotionally impoverished. Omari's father.
LAURIE (white female, 50s) Pistol of a woman. Teaches in public high school and can hold her own against the tough students and the stressed environment. Doesn't bite her tongue. A don't-screw-with-me chick.
DUN - (black male, early to mid-30s) Public high school security guard. Fit and optimistic. Charismatic with women. Genuine and thoughtful and trying to be a gentleman in a stressed environment. It's not easy.
MORE INFORMATION
CLIMATE SEASON OVERVIEW:
The 21/22 Theatre Northwest CLIMATE SEASON will feature theatre productions, campus activities and community events to explore the topic of climate change and highlight local climate action and sustainability initiatives.
PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS
Auditions, rehearsals and performances will follow guidelines provided by Indiana University to promote the safety of the performers and audience members. These guidelines are constantly evolving based on public health data.
CREW POSITIONS:
There are always opportunities to be involved backstage at Theatre Northwest. We are looking for those with interest and/or experience with stage management, costumes, properties, lighting, set construction and painting. Contact Tim O’Donnell, Technical Director, tiodonne@iun.edu.
CLASS CREDIT:
You can receive academic credit for your involvement with this show by registering for 1 credit of T168 THEATRE PRACTICUM. Contact Kathy Arfken, Assoc. Professor of Theatre, karfken@iun.edu
ALL OTHER QUESTIONS:
Contact Mark Baer, Assoc. Professor of Theatre, mcbaer@iun.edu
More information:
About Theatre Northwest: https://www.iun.edu/performing-arts/
Theatre Northwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iuntheatrenorthwest
Theatre Northwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iunperformingarts/
