MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury Actors Workshop will hold auditions for its 2016 season on Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 5-8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m.
MAW’s first production, slated for April, is “Seminar,” by Theresa Rebeck. A hilarious satire on what it takes to be a writer in America, “Seminar” follows a private class being taught by an international literary figure, Leonard, as he takes on four aspiring young novelists.
Under Leonard’s brilliant, brutal and unorthodox teaching, some flounder, others thrive, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and careers are launched. This is a sharply funny and biting satire in Rebeck’s best tradition, with a great deal of heart at its core.
Roles include Leonard, 50-65, who is charismatic, attractive, ruthless and brilliant; ?Martin, 20-35, a sensitive, angry, brilliant young writer; Kate, 20-35, who is smart, strong, feminist and privileged, and went to Bennington; Douglas, 20-35, a well-connected New York City writer who has been to Yaddo and MacDowell many times and is so close to having a story printed in the New Yorker; and Izzy, 20-35, a beautiful, talented woman who uses her sexuality to get ahead.
MAW’s second production of the year is “Macbeth,” adapted and directed by Melissa Lourie and slated for October/November. All parts are being cast except Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff. Lourie is seeking versatile men who are able to play more than one character, and are experienced with Shakespeare. She is willing to consider women for some of the male roles. All actors except the two leads will play more than one part.
Other available parts are for three girls, aged 12-16, to play the witches, and one boy, aged 8-13, to play young Macduff/Donalbain.
And last, next December, MAW will produce its first ever Christmas play, “It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play,” to be directed by Haley Rice. The play calls for two versatile men and one woman with the ability to do character voices.
Contact Lourie at [email protected] to schedule an audition time. A prepared Shakespeare monologue is required for those interested in “Macbeth.”