THEATREOFDARE

The world is going to end at 4:44 p.m. today. It's 4:36. You have Eight Minutes Left. 

 

This play is a series of vignettes with seemingly unconnected characters and stories.

 

Each new scene shows us the citizens of Charlesville, NJ in their last 8 minutes before the world ends. The audience is ushered on this journey at the hands of The Observer,  a voiceless being who simply sits, and watches the final moments of the characters onstage.

 

Using only cue cards to tell us what time it is and where we are going next.  The Observer is here to allow us to watch with them for one last time. Scenes like the married couple, who have prepared for this day, filling their bunker with everything they need to survive. An older woman battling dementia being cared for by her adult son, both of them terrified and desperately trying to protect the other from the truth.  A single mother, taking her kids to the park and putting on a brave face so her children aren’t afraid when it all comes to an end. 

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AUDITION INFORMATION:

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Auditions will take place at the theater at 6pm on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14.  

 

Please come prepared to read some of the scenes below as they correlate to your chosen character. We will not have time to read every side at auditions, so please prepare the scene for your number one character choice. Anyone auditioning for the observer should come prepared to mime the described scene below labeled “The Observer”. Bouncing ball provided.  

 

If you are unable to audition in person please fill out this form to submit a video audition. Video auditions must be submitted by 10pm March 14th.

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Questions? Email the director at adara.e.huls@gmail.com

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:

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Rehearsals for this production will take place Monday-Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with the occasional Friday evening as needed. Rehearsals will end between approximately 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This is a vignette play. Meaning these stories all take place in the same world but with different characters. Every character, except Sandra, Cary, Bernard, Running Person and The Observer only appear in one scene. Some actors may be double cast (cast in more than one role) depending on the final cast size. Actors portraying Sandra, Cary and Bernard should be prepared to be called 2-3 times a week, while other actors in single scenes may only be called once or twice a week for the first few weeks.

CONTENT/INTIMACY:

 

This show contains adult language and themes. There are a few light moments of intimacy in this production. Derek and Lydia share a kiss, and Cary kisses Sandra’s hand. 

 

ROLES AVAILABLE:

 

OBSERVER: Any age. Any gender. The observer is not an angel, the grim reaper or God. The observer is simply a silent story teller, similar to a mime or jester. The only character who knows how the story ends, and constantly teases the audience because of it. The observer has no dialogue and is on stage for almost the whole show. This actor should be able to remain in character and react to the scenes playing out onstage without pulling attention.  

 

SANDRA: 30-40s, female. (Jersey accent encouraged but not mandatory) Sandra is a waitress at a diner in New Jersey and has the attitude to prove it. A headstrong hyperindependent woman who finds herself alone at the end of the world. Despite years of building up walls she finds herself more vulnerable than ever when a strange man shows up at the diner (Cary), shortly followed by her estranged brother, Bernard.      

 

CARY: 30-40s, male. Cary is a meek and mild mannered man who found his life in the simplest of routines. No thrill, no excitement and no deviating from the routine. Being coworkers with Bernard he’s heard stories upon stories of Sandra. Over the years he found himself infatuated with her from the stories alone. In his last moments he decides to take his biggest risk yet and finally confesses his feelings for Sandra. A woman he’s never met.  

 

BERNARD: 30s 40s, male.(Jersey accent encouraged but not mandatory)  Sandra’s brother. He’s loud, confident and can be a bit bumbling at times. He’s always appreciated his sister no matter how stubborn she can be. He finds himself coming to extend an olive branch to his sister in his final moments, believing her to be the one to cut off communication with him.  

 

PAULA: 40, female. Life long best friends with Trudy. Today is her birthday. Her last birthday. She’s scared and alone with no idea what to do, she is surprised by a knock at her door.  

 

TRUDY: 40s, female. Best friends with Paula. Having planned to run upstate to surprise Paula with a birthday bash, her plans come to an abrupt stop when the news breaks.

 

NAN: 60+, female. She’s led a long life and intends to go out on her terms. Her plans are foiled when her arch nemesis Julius also plans to spend his last moment the same way.

 

JULIUS: 60+, male. He’s put effort into saving this park and wants to spend his time admiring the beauty he had a hand in preserving.  

 

ELIJAH: 16-early 20s, male. Nervous, by-the-book rule follower. Elijah stays in a state of shock for almost the entire time we see him. The textbook definition of ‘flight’. He’s desperate to leave, to go home, to find family but having no idea how to do so.

 

RAVEN: 16-early 20s, female. In stark contrast to Elijah, she’s virtually numb. Frozen in time. Accepting the impossibility of getting anywhere before it’s too late. Tries a little too hard not to care, despite being terrified.

 

URSULA: 70+, female. Mother to Booker. A woman with dementia unaware of the end of the world. Despite her lack of awareness of the world’s end, she can tell something is wrong.  

 

BOOKER: 40-50s, male. Ursula’s son and caretaker. He decides it’s best to continue on, as if it were any other day. She doesn’t need to be frightened. He stifles his fear to the best of his abilities, but In the end, he’s just a boy who needs his mother.  

 

DEREK: 30s, male. Husband to Lydia. They’ve been married 5 years and are more prepared for the end of the world than anyone. When they got married they had the bunker installed and finished. As the end finally arrives, Derek finds himself more unprepared than he thought. It’s easy to imagine keeping your cool under the pressure of an impending apocalypse. It's much harder to actually do it.  

 

LYDIA: 30s, female. Wife to Derek. As prepared for the end as she is, she finds herself clinging to the little things in life and she drags them behind her into the bunker. The end of the world is a scary thing to think about. No matter how much time you’ve had to prep for it.  

 

VIOLA: 30s-40s, female. Single mother. Spending her last moments with her children. Choosing to shield her kids from the fear of the end and replacing it with a day at the park. Her scene is one long monologue with no other actors.  

 

RAVI: 30s-40s, male or female. Married to Mika. They find themselves trapped in a car on the New Jersey turnpike on their way to watch the cherry blossoms bloom. An activity that has never particularly interested Ravi, but Mika has been pestering about for years. After years of trying, Ravi caves and when they finally go, they get stuck in traffic at the end of the world.  

 

MIKA: 30s,-40s female. Married to Ravi. After years of begging Ravi, she finally gets that romantic trip to the cherry blossoms she always wanted, which is brought to a complete stop by New Jersey traffic. The end of the world causes a serious traffic jam. In these moments she reflects on her relationship with Mika and feels more distant than ever. Does the person she married really even know her at all?

 

AMALIA: 20s, female. (Actors auditioning for Amalia should prepare a short dramatic monologue.)  A young woman, caught alone in the end of the world. Listening to her old voicemails for comfort. This character has no dialogue. During her scene the faces of the voicemails appear around her and she recounts her past relationships, close friendships and family affairs. This actress should be able to cry. The whole scene will not be read at auditions for anyone interested; it is available to read upon request. Anyone auditioning for Amalia should be prepared to mime a brief description of stage direction as well as read their monologue.  

 

PATERSON VOICE: Any Age. Any Gender. This actor will be the onstage handler and voice of Patterson the dog. Patterson is incredibly anxious and excitable. Completely unaware of what is yet to come they simply wish for their owner to return home.  

 

RUNNING PERSON: 20s-30s, Any Gender. The owner of Patterson. This character's primary motivation is getting home to see Patterson so he’s not alone when the world ends. Running Person will be seen running through the background of a few different scenes throughout the show.  

 

PATTERSON: Seeking a talented, well behaved dog actor to portray Patterson. (yes that’s right. a dog) Must be able to sit, lay down and stay and possibly run to another actor on cue. Must bring proof of vaccination, (Rabies and Bordetella). Proof of flea and tick prevention. Vet contact information.  Anyone interested in having their pet audition for the role of Patterson must fill out this form to schedule an appointment.  

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AUDITION SCENES: