Seven actors needed for a staged reading of Michelle Lein's new play, THE ALCHEMIST, chosen as a Semifinalist (top 4% of submissions) in the prestigious 2009 Beverly Hills Theatre Guild/Julie Harris Playwright Award Competition.

 

THE ALCHEMIST, is a fantasy drama about celebrated playwright, Arthur Miller.  It begins in 1966 and examines Miller's decision to deny his infant son, Daniel, born with Down Syndrome.  It deals with the personal conflict between Arthur Miller's public persona as a moralist and his private reality, and how Miller may have been affected by going against his own personal code.  Miller never acknowledged his son Daniel's existence, not even in his autobiography, TIMEBENDS.  The reality was Daniel.  The fantasy was Eugene. 

 

 

Auditions:  Saturday, June 27, 11am-2pm, The Garden Room, Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross. Cold reading from the script.

Rehearsals: (Note that not all actors are called for all dates/times): Sun. 7/12 1-5pm, Mon. 7/13 5-10pm, Tues. 7/14 5-10pm, Wed. 7/15 5-10pm, Tech - Sat. 7/18 8am-2pm (w/break for lunch); rehearsals in RVP’s The Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross

Performances:  Sat. 7/18 & Sun. 7/19, 3pm, The Barn Theatre

 

Audition Appointments – E-mail director Cris Cassell, criscassell@yahoo.com, for an appointment.

 

By Dale Wasserman, directed by Robert Wilson

 

A highly successful Broadway playwright has just opened another hit comedy, but he’s bored with the simplicity of executing his foolproof formula. (Think Neil Simon.) He feels he can not only write serious drama, but could do it in iambic pentameter and pass if off as Shakespeare.  His father, wife and producer scoff, but he sets to it in any case.  And succeeds, abetted by an expert forger and circumstances that allow for its “discovery.” A British scholar who is an expert on Shakespeare is led to find the play, and declares it indeed long-rumored missing work by the Bard himself. American and Great Britain vie for the rights to be the first to produce it, and it finally is premiered simultaneously on the BBC and PBS to great acclaim. But, can our author now claim it as his, and proof of his abilities as a serious dramatist, or have matters gotten out of hand?  

 

Gil Fryman (mid-30’s) – our boringly successful playwright, overly serious as only a comedy writer can be.

 

Dr. Eli Brand (70’s) – Gil’s father-in-law, well-to-do and retired.

 

Becky Fryman (25-30) – Gil’s lively and lovely wife, Dr. Brand’s daughter.

 

Peter Brand (35-40) – The brother-in-law who is also doing very nicely, thank you, as Gil’s producer.

 

Professor Justina Hawkins (40-60) – Extremely British, waspish, intimidating, smart and an expert on Shakespeare.

 

Lefty Guggenheim (mid 30’s-50’s) – A highly ethical forger who has a New York accent which he tries to gentrify.  

 

Cold read from script.  All roles open.  Non-AEA, actor stipend paid.

 

Auditions:  Saturday, July 11 (1-4PM ) and Sunday, July 12 (7-10PM)

Performances: September 11 – October 11

 

Audition Appointments – Call Bob Wilson, 415-461-8927.