Theatre Arts & Performance Studies

AUDITIONS: Sailboat Lullaby by Irene Zhiyi Chen ‘25

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Sailboat Lullaby
By Irene Zhiyi Chen ‘25
Directed by Carol Ann Tan ‘23 MFA

Performances: 
December 5 - 8
Leeds Theatre 

When Jasmine visits her alma mater in China, she's longing to meet Ellie again — her former English teacher from America, who was once her longtime mentor and confidante. As Jasmine reckons with her memories of the four years they shared, she finds herself treading a fine line between respect and idolatry, expectations and reality, admiration and love. A coming-of-age story that examines the cost of crossing borders. 

AUDITIONS
Leeds Theatre: 83 Waterman Street
Friday, October 4, 6pm-10pm
Saturday, October 5, 11am-3pm
CALLBACKS
Sunday, October 6, 12pm-4pm 

Audition Slots will be 10 minutes long. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your slot time and sign in.

Sign Up for an Audition Slot here: Sailboat Lullaby Audition Sign-Ups

Auditions are open to all Brown University and RISD undergraduate students.

FOR AUDITIONS PLEASE PREPARE:
For the roles of Jasmine, Ellie, or Interviewer please prepare one of the sides linked here.
  • For the role of Ensemble:
    • Please prepare and present a one-minute performance piece titled Yearning.
    • Show off any skills, give us a glimpse of your personality, and make it physical.
    • Your piece should include some spoken text. It can be self-written or taken from a source.
    • You are welcome to set your piece to music; if you do, please bring a device you can play the music from.

 

CASTING NOTE

This play depicts the age gap and power dynamic within a teacher-student relationship.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

JASMINE (Chen Moxin, 陈茉馨)

A 19-year-old Chinese woman. Just finished her first year at Brown University. Sharp, imaginative, and still carrying some of her teenage anxiety.

  • Need to speak/learn some Mandarin.
ELLIE (Elizabeth Morgan)

An American woman in her thirties. English teacher at East City Bilingual School (ECBS). Radiant, understanding, and sometimes carrying a profound sense of loneliness.

  • Need to speak/learn some Mandarin.
INTERVIEWER

Middle-aged. Any gender. Staff at ECBS marketing department. Prone to rambles and obsessed with everything “Ivy League” or successful.

THE ENSEMBLE

A group of actors who are bringing to life the physical world of the play and the emotional subtext of Jasmine’s mind. They also play a variety of character roles to support the story, including that of FEIRAN and YOUNG JASMINE. 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Carol Ann Tan ‘23 MFA is a Singapore-born director and dramaturg. She has worked with Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, Silk Road Rising, The Gift Theatre, Theater at Monmouth, Sideshow Theatre, First Floor Theater, PrideArts, The Comrades, SoloChicago Theatre, Haven Theatre, Ma-Yi Theater, NYTW, and more. She is an artistic associate at Silk Road Rising and a 2017/18 Directors Inclusion Initiate at Victory Gardens. MFA Directing: Brown/Trinity. carolanntan.com

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Irene Zhiyi Chen ’25 is a playwright, educator, intimacy coordinator, and sound designer who dives into in-between spaces with relentless honesty and powerful tenderness, searching for belonging in relation to migration and multilingual experiences.  Irene studies Theatre Arts and Education Studies at Brown.  As a playwright, Irene’s plays have been seen at Brown University (Production Workshop, Writing is Live Festival, and independent projects) and Horizon Theatre Company.  Sound design credits include: Cabaret and The Living Ones (Brown TAPS Department).  Intimacy coordinator credits include: Legally Blond (upcoming) and Little Shop of Horrors (Musical Forum).  Outside of theatre, Irene adores the Brown Swing Club, the American Sign Language community, partnered dancing, cats, and other squishy things.

For any questions, please contact Stage Manager, Abby Schindell, abigail_schindell@brown.edu