A Streetcar Named Desire
by Sam Bass Theatre Association
May. 30 - Jun. 01 (2017)
Tennessee Williams's Streetcar Named Desire reveals to the very depths the character of Blanche duBois, a woman whose life has been undermined by her romantic illusions, which lead her to reject—so far as possible—the realities of life with which she is faced and which she consistently ignores. The pressure brought to bear upon her by her sister, with whom she goes to live in New Orleans, intensified by the earthy and extremely "normal" young husband of the latter, leads to a revelation of her tragic self-delusion and, in the end, to madness.
This production will feature multimedia projections as well as some moments of brief and partial nudity. The focus of this production will be on the sources leading to Blanche DuBois’s demise and the relationships between the three main characters. This production is a re-imagined backstory for all of the characters involved without changing the text. Giving a new and insightful look at the things that shape our psyche.
Auditions for A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Olin Meadows
Tuesday, May 30, 7:00 – 10:00pm – Sam Bass Community Theatre,
Wednesday, May 31, 7:00 – 10:00pm, Sam Bass Community Theatre
Call Backs TBD
PERFORMANCES: September 1-23, 2017, Thursday-Sundays - Sam Bass Theatre
To schedule an audition contact Olin Meadows
artisticdirector@sambasstheatre.org
512-815-8552
Special Notes!!
AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD BY COLD READS FROM THE SCRIPT.
It is imperative that you have either read or are VERY familiar with A Streetcar Named Desire in preparation for this audition. The play is realistic but requires size and ability to deal with heightened language
THERE WILL BE NO WALK -UP AUDITIONS ALLOWED! AUDITIONERS MUST MAKE APPOINTMENT
AUDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT
SAM BASS COMMUNITY THEATRE
600 N. LEE ST.
Round Rock, TX 78681
Character Breakdowns: (All Roles Available - Color Blind Casting All Ethnicities Encouraged to Audition. Ages listed represent the age of the characters not necessarily the actor. The age and physical requirements listed for each character are a guide and are not necessarily final casting requirements. All those cast must be at least 18.
Blanche Dubois: (f 30-50) Sensual, dark, and with features and a demeanor that connote an emotionally fragile person. NOT looking for an imitation of Vivien Leigh. Raised with money but now destitute, her grip on reality is far too loose, carries eternal guilt, has a way with words and possesses an alarming internal dialogue. She is a complex and contradictory character, an alcoholic and sex addict, whose helplessness, fragility and vulnerabilities foreshadow her tragic end When Blanche arrives at the Kowalskis she’s tired but she hasn’t given up, not just yet, but you can “smell the desperation.” Her beauty from times past has to shine through in the beginning and slowly, as the play progresses, we see the “light of life” fade. MUST MEMORIZE 1 OF THE 2 MONOLOGUES PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. Those auditioning for Blanche should also be prepared to sing at least one verse of the 1930's/40's classic "It's Only A Paper Moon." It is to be sung a cappella.
Stanley Kowalski: (m 25-40) Must be muscular, well-built, and around 6ft tall. NOT looking for an imitation Marlon Brando. Stanley is shrewd and manipulative, sexual, primal, and always “working an angle.” He isn’t as “sure” of himself as he projects. Blanche represents a “reminder” of what Stella gave up to be with him, and thus a threat to his life as he knows it. He is vibrant, radiates energy; has dirt under his nails. Unshakeable world view and sees his commonness as above Blanche's pretensions. He hits his wife, sleeps with her sister, and shows no remorse. There must be an animalistic magnetism to him. Everyone should be attracted to Stanley, not as much because of his looks but more so for the energy and confidence he exudes. MUST MEMORIZE 1 OF THE 2 MONOLOGUES PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Stella Kowalski: (f 20-30) Fair, vivacious, sensual, naive. Stella fell for Stanley because she liked the “passion” in their relationship – it made her feel “alive.” That’s actually something she and Blanche have in common when it comes to men, but it’s not something they’d ever admit to each other. Stella is happy to see Blanche but also views her visit as an invasion. Blanche represents “the past” from which Stella has moved on and to which she has no interest in returning. Married to Stanley, Stella has discovered an overpowering physical passion, which Blanche cannot understand. Stella surrenders totally to Stanley, accepting his world and its value; torn between Blanche and Stanley, she ultimately sides with her husband. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Harold "Mitch" Mitchell: (m 25-35) Tall, solidly built, shy, clumsy, but gentle and kind; devoted to his ailing mother; Stanley’s buddy from the war, work and poker; finds himself drawn towards Blanche. Frustrated at still being single, Mitch wants someone who’s “genteel and a lady,” so he can “marry up.” He thinks he’s found that in Blanche. He sweats through his awkwardness, but is sensitive and a gentleman - until he learns the truth about Blanche's sordid past. Yet, at the end, he and Stella are the only ones who lament Blanche's fate. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Eunice Hubbell: (f 30-65) A bit crass and rough around the edges. She’s a good friend to Stella and finds Blanche’s “I’m better than you” airs annoying and insulting. She is Stella’s friend, upstairs neighbor, and landlady. We see the low-class life of the French Quarter through her and her husband, Steve. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Steve Hubbell: (m 35-65) Same demeanor as his wife – on the crass side and very earthy. Loves his wife in a possessive, grabby kind of way but is still fascinated by the “lady” who comes into their midst. Given the opportunity, he’d grab Blanche in an instant for a little “footsy.” As one of the poker players, Steve has the final line of the play. It comes as Blanche is carted off to the asylum and Steve coldly deals another hand. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Pablo Gonzales: (m 20-40) Pablo Gonzales is one of the poker players, who punctuates games with Spanish phrases. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. A Spanish accent should be attempted.
Neighborhood Woman: (f 20-50) Has a “seen it all” air and look about her. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
The Doctor: (m 30-60) Arrives at the end to bring Blanche on her "vacation." After the Nurse has pinned her, the Doctor succeeds in calming Blanche. She latches onto him, depending, now and always, "on the kindness of strangers." MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
The Nurse: (m/f 30-45) A brutal and impersonal character; can be quite severe, when no straight jacket is available, she is. Could be played by either a man or a woman and must be physically able to wrestle Blanche to the ground. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
A Young Collector: (m 18-25, needs to look younger) A teenager who comes to the Kowalskis’ door to collect for the newspaper when Blanche is home alone. The boy leaves bewildered after Blanche hits on him and gives him a passionate farewell kiss. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.
Mexican Woman: (f 40-65) The Mexican Woman sells flowers for the dead during the powerful scene when Blanche recounts her fall from grace. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. A Spanish accent should be attempted.
Other Non-speaking roles: prostitute; sailors, passersby will be played by those playing minor roles (Doctor, nurse, young collector, Mexican woman,Neighborhood Woman, Poker Players)
Audition Requirements:
Make sure to READ THE PLAY or at the very least be familiar with it!
Be prepared to answer questions about the play or about why you would like to play the character you are interested in. Again it is very important you be familiar with the show.
You must have any and all unavoidable conflicts with the rehearsal schedule listed on your audition form.
Sides for most characters will be available online at www.sambasstheatre.org/auditions
Performance Dates: September 1,2,3,7,8,9,10,14,15,16,17,21,22,23
Rehearsal Schedule: Required meeting/Read Through Tuesday June 6, 7pm. Most rehearsals are Monday-Thursdays 6:30-9:30 with some additional rehearsals on Saturdays. However we are flexible with schedule. Mandatory rehearsal dates are August 21-31. See tentative rehearsal calendar online at www.sambasstheatre.org/auditions Please include a complete list of conflicts at Auditions. A hard copy of the rehearsal schedule will be available for everyone to view at the auditions.
Please be aware that the following rehearsals/meetings must be attended by ALL CAST MEMBERS!! If you cannot ensure this, you will not be cast for the show. Check calendars now, and make sure you have listed every conflict even if you don’t think it will happen. Once you are cast we can not guarantee we will be able to accept any additional conflicts.
Mandatory Dates
Read Through - Tuesday June 6,2017 7:00pm
Technical rehearsals August 21-24 & 26
Dress Rehearsals August 28-30
August 31 is a “Preview Performance” (Final Dress Rehearsal with invited audience)
Performances Thurs-Sunday Sept 1-23
Strike will be September 24, the day after the last show
