Theatre Arts & Performance Studies

AUDITIONS: Angels in American, Part One: Millennium Approaches

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AUDITION NOTICE

Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches
by Tony Kushner
Directed by Richard Waterhouse

 

Performances:
October 31 - November 10
Stuart Theatre: 75 Waterman Street (Please note auditions are taking place in Leeds Theatre)

Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play intertwines the lives of characters grappling with love, loss, and identity amid the 1980s AIDS crisis. Complexities of human relationships, identity, and faith are confronted against a backdrop of political and social upheaval. Emerging from a mix of raw emotion and the supernatural is a rich portrayal of the pursuit of meaning in a turbulent time.

AUDITIONS
Leeds Theatre: 83 Waterman Street
CALLBACKS
  • Friday, Sept. 13th, 6pm-10pm

Audition Slots will be 15 minutes long. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your slot time and sign in.

Sign Up for an Audition Slot here: Angels in America Audition Sign-Ups

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

For Auditions Please Prepare:
  • 1 monologue from the selections provided here (LINK)
    • Those interested in the part of HANNAH should prepare the RABBI ISDOR CHEMELWITZ monologue
  • Familiarize yourself with the sides provided (LINK). You will be asked to read a scene after your monologue.

CASTING NOTE

Angels in America is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tony Kushner. In honor of this writer, hisstory, and the countless people who have died of AIDS, we will not be changing any of the dialogue.  If cast, you will be expected to deliver the lines as written. 

It is important that you communicate your physical and emotional boundaries during the audition and callback process. Please give it some thought and be upfront about what you are willing and unwilling to do. I ask you to challenge yourselves by going into uncomfortable moments for the purpose of telling this story.

The following expectations are outlined in the script for the actors telling this story:
  • Prior has a medical examination by nurse Emily, and needs to be unclothed to some degree. To be discussed by the participant actors, the director, and the intimacy coordinator.
  • Prior and Louis spend time onstage in costume underwear.
  • Louis and Prior (playing “Man in the park”) have a simulated sex scene. This does not need to be physically graphic but the characters are speaking as though it is. This will be choreographed with the director and intimacy coordinator.
  • Joe and Louis kiss in the park in Act 3. This will be choreographed with the director and intimacy coordinator.
  • Joe and Roy have a physical altercation in Act 3. This may be comprised of a few choreographed fight moves.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Roy Cohn

A successful NY lawyer and unofficial power broker. Based on a historical figure. Daring, brash, unafraid, manipulative.
This actor also plays Prior 2.
Joe Pitt

Chief clerk for a judge of the Federal Court of Appeals. Devoutly Mormon, republican, married to a woman, closeted, and struggling with his homosexuality. 
This actor also plays Prior 1 and Eskimo.
Harper Pitt

Joe’s wife, an agoraphobic with a Valium addiction. Confused, feeling unloved, and trying to make her marriage work.
This actor also plays Martin Heller
Louis Ironson A word processor for the Federal Court Of Appeals. Jewish intellectual, charismatic, argumentative, and funny.
Prior Walter

Louis’s boyfriend. Occasionally works as a club designer or caterer, otherwise lives very modestly but with great style off a small trust fund. Witty, funny, fierce, and unapologetically queer. 
This actor also plays Man in the Park.
Hannah Pitt

Joe’s mother, currently residing in Salt Lake City, living off her deceased husband’s army pension.
This actor also plays the Rabbi, Henry, and Ethel Rosenberg.
Belize A registered nurse and former drag queen whose name was originally Norman Arriaga; Belize is a drag name that stuck. Smart, gracious, fierce, a kind but frank truth-teller.
This actor also plays Mr. Lies.
Angel, Emily (nurse), Homeless Woman, Ella Chapter These parts require a large range of abilities and energies from gentle and nurturing, to fierce and demanding

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Richard Waterhouse (he/him) teaches TAPS 023 Acting and TAPS 1285 Film Acting as well as On Camera Acting for the 2Y Brown/Trinity graduate students.  In the fall of 2023, he directed Cabaret in Stuart Theater.

For any questions, please contact Production Director, B Reo, barbara_reo@brown.edu

 

Important Links