The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Zach Theatre
Oct. 23 (2017)
Winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best New Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a “dazzling, pulse-pounding and remarkable” (Time Out New York) adaptation of Mark Haddon’s internationally best-selling novel. Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain and is very gifted at math. He is exceptionally intelligent, but unfortunately ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing the neighbor’s dog, Christopher is determined to identify the culprit in true Sherlock Holmes style, which leads him on a thrilling journey across London that will change his life forever. ZACH’s production will immerse you inside Christopher’s world with physical storytelling and an extraordinary video design. A theatrical event for the entire family!
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens
Directed by Dave Steakley
AUDITION NOTICE
ZACH Theatre announces local auditions by appointment for THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME on Monday, October 23rdfrom 3:00pm – 10:00pm in ZACH’s Whisenhunt Theatre at 1510 Toomey Road. Callbacks will be scheduled on Wednesday, October 25th, and Friday, October 27th from 5:00pm – 10:00pm in the same location.
REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals begin January 2nd, 2018. Performances begin January 31st, and closes on March 4th, with shows Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm.
AUDITION APPOINTMENT INSTRUCTIONS (PLEASE READ THESE CAREFULLY):
Actors will be seen BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
To schedule an appointment, please send an email to auditions@zachtheatre.org with the subject line that reads:
“(YOUR FIRST NAME, YOUR LAST NAME) CURIOUS Austin Auditions”
Please include in the email a resume and headshot attached in PDF or Word Document format, and please indicate your preferred audition time. All actors should bring a hard copy headshot and resume to the audition.
All AEA members will be seen, and all non-union members will be seen while appointments slots are available. If you are not able to be seen at this audition, ZACH will make all best efforts to schedule you for a later audition date.
AUDITION INSTRUCTION
We are seeking strong versatile actors, equity and non-equity, men and women of all ages and ethnicities, to play multiple roles. The audition will consist of reading sides from the play provided by ZACH with readers and paired with other auditioners. When you request an appointment, please provide (a) character(s) for which you would like to be considered. English dialects are a plus.
ROLES TO BE CAST
Christopher Boone (male, must be over 18 but able to play 15): Incredibly intelligent but shy and mistrusting of strangers, Christopher feels things deeply but doesn't know how to express or articulate them. He has a brilliant mind, can be fixated on certain topics, and thinks in a highly logical way, which makes him excel in math and science, but because he perceives language literally, he does not understand sarcasm or metaphors. He notices things in minute detail yet has difficulty understanding social and emotional cues and difficulty empathizing with others. This lack of understanding often makes the world seem frustrating and frightening to him, and he can become agitated and even violent when he has to deal with too many overwhelming external stimuli. Actor must be physically very fit and agile.
Siobhan (female, age 30-40): Christopher's teacher and mentor, the only person in Christopher's life with an understanding of his situation. She strives to teach him how society works and how to behave within its guidelines. Constantly negotiating around his anger, she is professional, warm, caring, calm, gentle and self-possessed and also sensitive to his strained relationship with his father. She often serves as the narrator of his story and of his feelings.
Ed Boone (male, age 35-50): Christopher's father; estranged from his wife, Judy and struggling as a single parent trying to raise his son the best he can. A working class man. Proud, gruff, and brusque, he is unable to convey his emotions and feelings but loves his son deeply. He is a good man but there is a lot on Ed's shoulders when he first enters the play in pain and near breaking point, though he does not openly express it. He has trouble communicating with Christopher, who often frustrates him. And though he's naturally practical and much more patient in dealing with Christopher, a difficult situation can make him lose it, sometimes violently. A plumber and heating engineer by trade, naturally good with his hands.
Judy Boone (female, age 35-45): Christopher's mother; she works as a secretary and is a working class woman with a tough exterior who has no support system to raise her son and blames herself for her inability to cope with him effectively. She has had a hard life and had to fight for things, which she is ready to do, as she is feisty and doesn't take anything lying down. Loving, yet impatient, she has felt very alone in her situation with Christopher and it frustrates her to a point of absolute desperation. She wishes she knew how to truly reach and care for Christopher. Independent, lonely and proud, she doesn't easily ask for help and has never had the proper social resources to help her.
Ensemble #1 (female, age 30-50): strong versatile actor to play multiple roles.
Ensemble #2 (male, age 30-50): strong versatile actor to play multiple roles.
Ensemble #3 (female, age 40-60): strong versatile actor to play multiple roles.
Ensemble #4 (male, age 40-60): strong versatile actor to play
