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Auditions for our January 2019 Staged Reading Series

Our theme: Unexpected Kindness

Auditions Sunday and Monday, December 9th and 10th, 2018
7-10 p.m., Old Finnish Hall, 1819 10th Street Berkeley

Actors Ensemble announces auditions for our 2019 Winter Staged Reading, featuring 3 plays with the general theme of "Unexpected Kindness". 

  • She Kills Monsters, by Qui Nguyen, directed by Benjamin Grubb.
    One night only, Monday, January 7th, 2019, 8 p.m. Live Oak Theatre
  • Persephone Underground and 14 Days from 365/365, by Carol Lashoff and Suzan Lori-Parks, respectively. directed by Susannah Wood.
    One night only, Monday, January 14th, 2018, 8 p.m. Live Oak Theatre
  • Middletown, by Will Eno, directed by Lana Palmer.
    One night only, Monday, January 21st, 2018, 8 p.m. Live Oak Theatre

Auditions are December 9th and 10th, from 7-10 p.m. at The Old Finnish Hall, 1819 10th street in Berkeley.  Non-AEA/No Pay.  Auditions are cold-read.  Please be prepared to read from sides.  We encourage folks new to or returning to theatre to audition - we will help you through the process!  We regularly cast cross-gender and cross-type.  Please write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and/or an appointment.  If you cannot make these dates but are still interested, contact us and we may be able to make other arrangements.


She Kills Monsters:

She Kills MonstersA comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.  3 males and 6 females in the cast.

Ben Grubb (Director) has acted with Actors Ensemble for the past decade in plays such as True West, Passion Play, and Panhandle. Previous directing credits include Speed-the-Plow, The Wager, and Billy Bishop Goes to War.


Persephone Underground and 14 days from 365/365

Persephone UndergroundWhat would you do if your daughter ran away with the boyfriend from hell? Literally. If you are Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, you have the power to hold the whole earth hostage. "Lashof's play is a tender rewrite of the ancient Greek myth, with timely reminders of the beauty of the Earth and the need to preserve it. Carol Lashof is a Berkeley writer whose work recently premiered off Broadway and who is recognized for prompting discussion about current issues in her plays. We are also auditioning for a reading of excerpts from Suzan-Lori Parks' 365/365, a satirically hopeful work about world troubles and how to face them boldly, with humor.  7-20 females, 2-15 males, 8-10 gender-flexible roles.

Susannah Wood has been active as a professional actress and singer for many years, in the Bay Area and beyond. She has directed over 50 classic and new plays for Actors Ensemble, Crowden Summer Opera and Opera Piccola ("Small Works"). She is excited about collaborating on plays whose themes creatively parallel Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth.

Middletown:

MiddletownMiddletown is a deeply moving and funny play exploring the universe of a small American town. As a friendship develops between longtime resident John Dodge and new arrival Mary Swanson, the lives of the inhabitants of Middletown intersect in strange and poignant ways in a journey that takes them from the local library to outer space and points between.  6m/6f.

Lana Palmer is a Canadian-born, San Francisco-based artist working in theatre and film. In 2019, she will direct The North Pool at Bread & Butter Theatre and The How & The Why at Dragon Theatre. Lana is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and the Dramatists Guild. www.lanapalmer.com

 


Actors Ensemble
P.O. Box 663
Berkeley, CA 94701
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www.aeofberkeley.org
A 501(3)(c) organization

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Thank You

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is delighted to acknowledge the Berkeley Civic Arts Program and Civic Arts Commission's support in the form of a grant of $8,000.00 awarded in 2017. Also, a thank you to Theatre Bay Area for a grant of $2,500.00.

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Actors Ensemble of Berkeley - P.O. Box 663 - Berkeley - California - 94701 ¦ Our Answering Service: (510) 649-5999 ¦

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID #946139640, since 04-1967