Casting the second half of the 2018-2019 season for Breaking Through The Box: Innocence and Adolescence.
BTTB is a Bordentown, New Jersey based non-profit theater company that wishes to serve as a forum for cultivating passionate artists in bold and daring productions, both new work and established. We are currently the Resident Company at Open Arts PAC in Bordentown, NJ, where all of our productions and rehearsals will take place this season.
This second half of the season includes:
How I Learned To Drive (Paula Vogel; Justin Giachetti, dir. Starts rehearsals February 25; performs the May 3-5): In an experimental, Brechtian take on Paula Vogel's dark and intimate play, we ride full throttle along with Lil Bit as she is thrown into a panic-attack induced walk down memory lane. Contemplating whether her feelings toward her uncle were genuine or a result of grooming, Bit tries to regain agency and control within her mind while being disoriented by flashbacks and vulnerable by her emotions.
World Premiere of Awful People Pray (Leila Teitelman, writer; Samantha Franz, dir. Starts rehearsals mid-April; Performs June 21-23): Jade is the new counselor at camp, and is just trying to get by without any issues. Keith and Lena are seasoned veterans of the camp staff, and are putting in as little effort as they can. Thus, unlikely friendships are formed. But when Jade's secret is revealed, and Lena's relationship with a camper is put into question, tensions rise and their bonds are tested.
Talent will be paid a cut of 20% of every show's ticket sales, to be equally split amongst the actors.
Rehearsals for the second half of our season are on most Monday and Wednesday nights, with some Tuesday nights and Saturday afternoons throughout each process. How I Learned to Drive will begin rehearsing on February 25th, while Awful People Pray will begin workshopping on April 9th. All rehearsals and performances will be at Open Arts PAC (146 US-130, Bordentown, NJ), a location accessible from train stations and within driving distance from Philadelphia; currently seeking actors from all around the tri-state area; especially interested in local talent or talent with personal transportation.
We are currently looking for a video submission for the initial auditions, to be submitted to casting.bttb@gmail.com by 11:59PM on Friday, January 25th. Your submission should consist of your headshot and resume, videos of two contrasting contemporary monologues in the style or similar tone of the produced works, and any other material you would like us to have. As of this moment, all actors will be considered for roles in both productions. If you are only interested/applying for a specific character or show, please let us know. Please send us a confirmation email to casting.bttb@gmail.com if you are interested or have the intent of submitting a self tape audition.
In person callbacks are scheduled for Saturday, February 2nd, with How I Learned to Drive from 10:30-2:00 and Awful People Pray from 3:00-6:00. All callbacks must be in person. Bring hard copies of your head shots and resumes to the callback. If casting personnel would like to call you back, you will receive sides and further information electronically by no later than Sunday, January 27th, so you have time to prepare and make accommodations with work, if needed.. Conflicts with callbacks will be handled on a case by case basis. For more information and to confirm the intent to submit, email casting.bttb@gmail.com.
Roles available:
Lil Bit (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)- (Female, Any ethnicity, ages 21-40) A young woman searching for emotional clarity as she feels herself beginning patterns that remind her of her uncle. This realization spurs a mental breakdown, where her brain and heart fight over whether her feelings towards her uncle were genuine or products of sexual grooming. She is physically older, but plays the character from age 11 to present age. In some ways she has grown up much quicker than she should have, but at the same time often portrays a typical teenager. Must be able to transition to and from different periods in her life easily. Also should be versed in performing both comedic and dramatic moments. Role requires actress to be in various degrees of undress(down to skivvies at one point), but never nude.
Uncle Peck (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)- (Male, Any ethnicity, ages 30-50) A good-looking and charismatic man. A former alcoholic and Marine veteran who will not open up about his troubles. Can be both a great comforter and a cause of great discomfort. A southern gentleman. Has a very complicated relationship with his niece. Must be able to portray this character through highs and his lows. Must be comfortable with various levels of undress, but never nude.
Female Greek Chorus (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)- (Female, Any ethnicity,, ages 20-40) A fragment of Bit's psyche. Tries to be her moral compass, but that morality can turn to judgment. In flashbacks, plays Lil' Bit's mother, Aunt Mary, and classmates. Must be able to be able to transition from bluntly hilarious to painfully serious. Must be a comfortable mover, if not, dancer.
Male Greek Chorus (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)- (Male ,Any ethnicity,, ages 20-40) A fragment of Bit's psyche. Not only her sexual desires, but also her dominant, sometimes masculine personality. In flashbacks, plays Lil' Bit's grandfather, a high school classmate, waiter, and a young man Lil' Bit encounters on a bus. Must be able to be able to transition from bluntly hilarious to painfully serious. Must be a comfortable mover, if not, dancer.
Teenage Female Greek Chorus (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE)- (Female, Any ethnicity,, ages 18-25) A fragment of Bit's psyche. A symbol of Li'l Bit's inner child, but also her lost innocence haunting her. In flashbacks, plays Lil' Bit's grandmother, a high school classmate, and directly narrates as Lil' Bit. Must be able to be able to transition from bluntly hilarious to painfully serious. Must be a comfortable mover, if not, dancer.
Jade (AWFUL PEOPLE PRAY)- (Transgender Female, Any ethnicity, ages 20-30) 24 years old. Transgender woman. Jade is, in a word: guarded. She's used to seeing the worst in the world and expects to see it in everyone. She finds solace in spirituality. She has a rigid moral compass and isn't afraid to speak up for what she believes in.
Lena (AWFUL PEOPLE PRAY)- (Female, Any ethnicity, ages 20-30) - 24 years old. Cisgender woman. Lena is a woman who never really thought growing up would hit her so fast. She's matter-of-fact and cuttingly witty and she doesn't hold back around other people. She knows that there's a whole wide world out there and that she's just a cog in life's machine. She's accepted that, for better or worse, her life might never change. She's still not sure whether that's a good thing or not. *Note: Any actor considering this role should be comfortable with instances of on-stage sexual assault
Keith (AWFUL PEOPLE PRAY)- (Male, Any ethnicity,, ages 20-30) 24 years old. Cisgender man. Keith is your average small town boy from Maine. He has a simple view of the world and doesn't want anything to change. He's the nice guy waiting on Lena to realize they're meant for each other and is very bitter when things don't shake out in his favor. *Note: Any actor considering this role should be comfortable with instances of on-stage sexual assault
Tom (AWFUL PEOPLE PRAY)- (Any ethnicity,, ages 18-25) 17 years old. Cisgender boy. Tom thinks that he has life figured out. In his mind, he knows exactly how the world works and what makes people tick. Your typical I was born for a greater life teenager.
Videos
