HARD CELL - NYC Appointments
Geva Theatre Center
APPOINTMENTS
NYC Appointment Auditions: October 11-13, 2018
CONTRACT
LORT Non-Rep LORT B: $914/week current min
SEEKING
Submissions from AEA Actors for various roles in this World Premiere. See breakdown.
INSTRUCTIONS
NYC Auditions will be held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. For consideration, mail picture and resume to address below. EQUITY MEMBERS ONLY.
SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED AFTER October 4 WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
****PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A HIGH SECURITY BUILDING AND DROP-OFFS ARE NOT POSSIBLE****
Deadline: Thu, Oct 4, 2018
SUBMIT TO
ELISSA MYERS CASTING
421 7th Avenue
Suite 1011
ATTN: MAGICIAN’S DAUGHTER, Role of _________
New York, NY 10001
PERSONNEL
Playwright: Brent Askari
Artistic Director: Mark Cuddy
Director: Skip Greer
Casting Office: Elissa Myers Casting
Casting Director: Paul Fouquet
Casting Associate: Karie Koppel
OTHER DATES
First Rehearsal: December 14, 2018
Opening: January 8, 2019
Closing: February 3, 2019 (possible extension through February 10th)
OTHER
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
BREAKDOWN
THE STORY: Hard Cell is a comedy concerning Nick Abtahi, an Iranian-American professor whose car breaks down during a cross-country road trip. When a tough local thug falsely identifies the mild-mannered Nick as a terrorist – and threatens his life – Nick feels he has no choice but to pose as a bomb wielding terrorist merely to stay alive! As the situation spirals out of control, Nick uses his attackers’ own Islamophobic stereotypes and fears against them, manipulating the situation in order to survive a modern American nightmare.
THE SCOOP: “Isn’t that the problem with the world today? People fearing each other?” says Jane. This is a brave, smart comedy, uproariously funny, and certainly not for the faint of heart. Because of its subject matter – racial profiling, bigotry, divisiveness of fear; Hard Cell affords us the opportunity to laugh at ourselves, and our own fears, which creates space for us to grow. There is an instinctive truth to reflexive laughter that is easy to recognize. While work shopping this play we discovered that audiences would share that they “felt a little guilty” for laughing, but then discovered an opening – a new space to discuss sensitive issues. Can satire be used as a tool in that discussion?
Seeking:
[NICK ABTAHI]
(Male, 30s to Early 40s, Middle Eastern) A college professor from D.C. of mixed Middle Eastern heritage -- half Lebanese and half Persian. He’s a “fish out of water” in this small Midwestern town. When threatened he proves remarkably resourceful and surprises himself with the risks he takes. He has recently broken up with his girlfriend, who lives in San Diego, and was on his way to surprise her with a visit when his car broke down. He can be quick witted and discovers that he’s actually quite good at improvisation when pressed. That’s great news because – he’s going to need every bit of resourcefulness to get out of this jam. (Along the way there does seem to be a spark growing between Nick and Jane.) Actors of MIDDLE EASTERN decent only, please. Must have an innate sense of humor.
[JANE SIMONS]
(Female, Early to Late 30s, Caucasian) A bartender, with a great ear. She’s proud of the town she grew up in, but she’s also feeling walls closing in around her heart. She’s been away to big cities, but she’s found that “morons” come from all walks of life. She’s come back to take care of her mother’s estate, but days turned to weeks and became years, and she’s still here. She’s running out of options, and has made a mistake or two – Evan was one of them. Still, she wants to do the right thing, and like Nick, surprises herself when pushed to the extreme. She’s smart, and usually rational, but sometimes extreme situations call for extreme measures. (Along the way there does seem to be a spark growing between Jane and Nick.) Must have an innate sense of humor.
[EVAN WEATHERS]
(Male, Late 30s to Late 40s, Caucasian) Evan is a loud, boisterous, and pugnacious guy who is frequently intoxicated. Not the brightest light bulb in the pack, but trying very hard to be on top of it. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and has probably had it broken once or twice. Likeable, inventive, can be intimidating. Raised on the Fox News version of America, gullible, fiercely loyal to his friends, and proud to jump to conclusions. Must have an innate sense of humor. (Comfort with physical comedy a plus.)
[DEREK CARMICHAEL]
(Male, Early 20s, Any Ethnicity) A young man with perhaps just a hint of an emo/goth appearance. Derek is indefatigable. He’s felt like an outsider all of his life, and wants nothing more than to be away from this town. He’s not afraid of death, in fact he’d find it a relief from this “hellhole of a town” – at least death would be “trying something new.” He’s surprisingly resilient given all he’s been through. You just never know who’s going to stand up to be a hero. Must have an innate sense of humor.
[TERRY BURTON]
(Female, 30s to Early 50s, Caucasian) A sheriff up for re-election. Twitchy and excitable, she’s filled with adrenaline. She lives life a little bigger than most, loves her little slice of authority, and aspires to bigger things – mayor, governor, senator? Who knows what can happen to your career if you can just catch a terrorist in your own small town! Though she considers herself quite a few rungs up the ladder from Evan, she’s also a gullible Islamophobe, and prone to jumping to conclusions. She’s doing the best she can for herself and for America, given her set of circumstances. Must have an innate sense of humor. (Comfort with physical comedy a plus.)
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
Videos
