Callboard

About Corktown

Directed by Courtney Brown

Play Description

Corktown, or Through the Valley of the Dry Bones, by Jeff Augustin is a story about the life cycle of gentrification in the heart of a great American city. Jackee, a fabulous 14-year-old boy, takes us on a tour of one of Detroit’s oldest neighborhoods between 2007 and 2034. This tale filled with gospel music, graffiti, and organic coffee shows how - even when the music gets turned down, the graffiti is painted over and the streets become safer - there’s a beating heart in a place’s history that can’t be erased.

About the process

The rehearsal process will be both conventional and devised in nature, based in script and character analysis, with ensemble-generated sound, location and lighting effects. Actors will be asked to make strong proposals, be generous, and meet deadlines given. COVID safety: well-fitting masks will be worn throughout the rehearsal process by the team/company unless actors are actively rehearsing.

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsals will begin Thursday, Sept. 1. Rehearsals are 5 - 6 times a week, with evening weekday rehearsals (6-10 p.m.) and Saturday daytime weekend rehearsals (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Tech runs Sept. 30 - Oct. 5. COVID safety - well-fitting masks will be worn throughout the rehearsal process by the team/company unless actors are actively rehearsing.

Opening and Performances

Performances of Corktown will take place Oct. 6 – 12, 2022.

Content Disclosure

This play deals with themes of death, dying, and the afterlife; use of alcohol, profanity, derogatory language, including use of homophobic and ableist slurs.

Intimacy Notice

Kent State has engaged with a qualified Intimacy Coordinator to work with all actors. The Intimacy Coordinator will work with the actors playing Phylicia and Atlas to create moments of kissing and/or embracing that work with the actors’ boundaries. The actors playing Ellen and Clarke will work with the IC to stage moments of un/wanted affection that work within the boundaries of each actor. We may also discover other moments of casual or familial intimacy between other characters (e.g., casual touching, embracing) that work within the boundaries of each actor.

Auditions

Aug. 25, 2022, from 6 p.m. – 10:28 p.m.
Aug. 26, 2022 from 6 p.m. – 10:28 p.m

Location: Wright-Curtis Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts

For the Initial Audition

Please prepare a brief (less than 2 minutes) monologue that best showcases your skills and artistry. COVID safety - please wear a form-fitting mask until a stage manager brings you into the room to present your audition. Everyone viewing the audition will be masked. In attendance, during the audition: Director and faculty member, Courtney Brown; Assistant Director and student, Natalya Lindsey; Production Stage Manager and student, Samantha Pamfilie.

How to Sign up for auditions

Sign up for an audition on Google Docs, linked below:

Sign Up for an Audition

If you have any issues signing up, please contact Stage Manager Samantha Pamfilie at spamfili@kent.edu

If you are unable to attend in person but would still like to audition, please use this Google Form.

Callbacks

The callback will consist of sides (a scene or monologue) from the script. This is not expected to be memorized, but please be familiar as possible. COVID safety - please wear a form-fitting mask until a stage manager brings you into the room to present your audition. Everyone viewing the audition will be masked. In attendance, during the audition: Director, Courtney Brown; Assistant Director and student, Natalya Lindsey; Production Stage Manager and student, Samantha Pamfilie.

Character Breakdown – SEEKING THE FOLLOWING

Pronouns listed describe characters as written. Trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming actors are encouraged to audition; a character’s presumed gender can be in conversation with the actor’s gender identity. 

Jackee (he/him) - Black, (pronounced Jac-Kay, like Jackee Harry from 227), fabulous 14-year-old, then 17-year-old, energetic, very smart, curious, comfortable in his skin. 

Phylicia (she/her) - Black, 17-year-old, then 20-year-old, older sister of Jackee and Sherman, driven, organized, future lawyer, protective * Intimacy request: kiss(es) and embraces.

Sherman (he/him) -Black, 15-year-old, middle child, quick-witted, smart, sometimes makes stupid choices.

Corner Prophet (she/her) - Black, timeless in age, perceptive, sees and hears everything, well read.

Ty/Barista (he/him) - teenage, any ethnicity, hard worker, cares about his neighborhood, secretly in love with Phylicia.  

Cop/ensemble (he/him) - white American, not from Corktown, recently assigned to clean up the neighborhood.  

Atlas (he/him) - Black, 17-year-old, then 20-year-old, always in his head, talented graffiti artist, self-contained * Intimacy request: kiss(es) and embraces.

Reverend Johnson (he/him) - Black, adult, loves his neighborhood and community, father of Atlas. 

Bus Driver/ensemble (she/her) - any ethnicity, takes no B.S. from anyone, tough but caring.

Teach For America Girl/Ensemble (she/her) - white American, educated, driven, thinks she’s prepared. 

Ellen (she/her) - any ethnicity, artist, comes from money, is aware that white savior complex is problematic. 

Clarke (he/him) - white American, really wants to help, enthusiastic.  

Coffee Shop Owner/Sammy/ensemble (he/him) - white American, actor with good timing.  

Cop 2/Ensemble (she/her) - any ethnicity (potential understudy) 

Cop 3/Homeless Person (any gender) - any ethnicity (potential understudy)

Mother/ensemble (she/her) - Black, mother of Jackee/Phylicia/Sherman, loves language and her kids.  (Potential understudy Phylicia, Corner Prophet) 

Customer One/Ensemble (any gender) - white American (swing/cover) 

Customer Two/Ensemble (any gender) - white American (swing/cover)

About Head Over Heels

Songs by The Go-Go's
Based upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder

Directed by Amy Fritsche

Synopsis:

PLEASE READ THE SHOW FOR FREE BEFORE YOU AUDITION: https://broadwaylicensing.com/shows/broadway/head-over-heels/#links (Under the Top Tab that says Read For Free)

A jukebox musical featuring the songs of The Go-Go’s and based on Philip Sidney’s The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, Head Over Heels is the story of what happens when the royal court of Arcadia is threatened by the mystical Oracle of Delphi with the loss of its “Beat,” the divine power that ensures the kingdom’s prosperity. King Basilius, whose own title is at stake, forces the members of the royal family and court on a journey to the woods in an attempt to escape the Oracle’s seemingly unavoidable prophecies. Through a plot containing usurped kingship, unlikely lovers, and gender-fluid disguises, Head Over Heels preaches unconditional love and acceptance of yourself and everyone you know, no matter their gender or sexual identity, and uses some of the greatest pop rock hits of the late 20th century. (From Stage Agent)

Performances

November 4 -13, 2022 in E. Turner Stump Theatre

Audition Dates

Thursday, August 25 and Friday, August 26, 2022 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Callbacks

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Schedule to be posted after auditions.

To Sign Up for an Audition

To sign up for an audition, follow the link below.
 

Sign Up for an Audition

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled time to fill out paperwork and contact information. 

If you are still on summer contract, or are otherwise unable to attend auditions in person, and would like to be considered for the show, please let us know why you are unable to attend in person and then fill out the following questionnaire. Submissions are due by 5:00pm on Friday, Aug 26.

Questionnaire

If you are still on summer contract and want to be considered for the show please email your audition video to Amy afritsch@kent.edu and Jonathan jswoboda@kent.edu by 5:00p.m. Friday. Aug. 26, 2022.

Audition Preparation

• Please prepare one 16-32 bar song selection in the style of the show (please bring sheet music in the correct key) and a Sonnet.

REHEARSAL

Rehearsal for Head over Heels will start on September 19, 2022. Rehearsals will be held from 6:00-10p.m. Monday – Friday and Sunday afternoons.
Covid safety: well-fitting masks will be worn throughout the rehearsal process by the team/company unless actors are actively rehearsing.

Casting BREAKDOWN

BASILIUS – King of Arcadia. A sexy, good ol' boy. A hothead, but not a despot. Blindly thinks Arcadia is doing great under his masculine rule, which will be sorely tested during the course of the show. Male Identifying. Vocal Range: Tenor

GYNECIA – Queen of Arcadia. Sexy, wise, beautiful. Like any longstanding spouse, knows how to get her way with her husband when push comes to shove. Female Identifying. Vocal Range: Alto

PAMELA – Basilius and Gynecia's older daughter. Confident and obsessed with her appearance. Known to be the most beautiful bachelorette throughout Arcadia. Female Identifying. Vocal Range Mezzo-Soprano with belt.

PHILOCLEA – Basilius and Gynecia's younger daughter. Shy and a "good girl," she yearns to follow her heart rather than obey her father's orders. Female Identifying. Vocal Range: Soprano with belt.

DAMETAS – The King’s viceroy; father to Mopsa. Male Identifying. Vocal Range Tenor, Baritone, Bass

MOPSA – Handmaiden to Pamela. Warm, skeptical. Growing up without a mother has made her wise beyond her years about everyone and everything, which is why she is the (sometime) narrator to
the show. Female Identifying. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano with belt.

MUSIDORUS – A young shepherd who courts after Philoclea. A very offbeat hero who is great with physical comedy. Male Identifying Vocal Range: Tenor

PYTHIO – The Oracle; powerful, mysterious. Demanding. Great sense of humor--can see through everyone--they are the Oracle of Delphi, after all. Non-Binary Vocal Range: Alto or high Tenor

ENSEMBLE – Unique, charismatic individuals to inhabit the kingdom of Arcadia. Great Dancers. Vocal Range: All

VOCAL ranges

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