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East September 08, 2005 |
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Play by Play
Getting Cast in This Season's Dramas and Comedies
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For our Spotlight
on Acting Schools and Coaches, Back Stage looks at the plays
scheduled for the 2005-06 New York season and what it takes
to get cast in them. Ten commercial productions and 18 not-for-profit
theatres have been surveyed to find out what they're looking
for, with words of wisdom from casting directors and artistic
directors discussing a total of more than 60 scheduled works,
along with their general philosophy about audition technique
and company styles and preferences.
Commercial Productions Off-Broadway
Jewtopia
Off-Broadway opening: Oct. 21, 2004.
An open call was held in June for the Florida production. To
be considered for future productions or as a replacement, send
a photo and résumé to Attn: Jewtopia, Mungioli Theatricals,
207 West 25th St., 6th floor, New York, NY 10001.
Although being Jewish is not a requirement, anyone auditioning
for the show must understand and enjoy over-the-top, bawdy,
ethnically Jewish humor.
"This is a specific type of outrageous comedy. We need funny
actors who are not afraid to go out on a limb and can deliver
what we need," says casting director Arnold J. Mungioli. "It's
a 'Saturday Night Live' kind of sensibility with great comic
timing."
The production employs four male and three female actors, and
"three and a half understudies" -- two males and a female who
are under contract and another male actor who is hired only
when needed. Two of the males and two of the females are in
their 20s to 30s, while the others are in their 50s to 70s.
Five of the roles are meant for seemingly-Jewish Caucasians,
but a young gentile-looking male and a young Asian female are
also needed.
According to Sam Wolfson, who co-wrote the show and originated
the role of Adam Lipschitz, physicality is important but not
necessarily vital. "You walk in the room and half the battle
is out of your hands, but there have been times when people
have surprised us," he says. "It's the kind of thing where either
you click and you're funny, or you're just not. It's not something
that can be taught or learned. When you audition, do what makes
you funny and special."
There have been previous stagings in Los Angeles and Chicago,
and a new one just opened in Florida. A national tour will begin
in March 2006, productions are being developed for London, Sydney,
and Israel, and a film version is in the works.
-- Matt Windman
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