Playwrights’ Circle and College of the Desert (COD) Performing Arts Department will hold joint auditions for the Palm Springs International Playwrights’ Festival, and for COD’s Spring 2010 production of At Risk at Theater Too on the Palm Desert campus. The festival’s co-Artistic Directors are award-winning playwright Tony Padilla and David Catanzarite, Associate Professor of Theater at College of the Desert.

 

At Risk will be mounted at College of the Desert in April 2010. The five other new plays will be presented as staged readings at the Palm Springs International Playwrights’ Festival from Jan. 18 through 24.

 

Writers whose works will be showcased at the festival include Tony Padilla and Italian playwright Leonardo Franchini. Also featured is a work by Los Angeles playwright Oliver Mayer, whose plays have been mounted at the Mark Taper Forum, New York Public Theatre, and regional theatres throughout the fifty states. 

 

At Risk, by Los Angeles playwright Judy Soo Hoo, is a dark comedy about secondary teachers in South Central Los Angeles. It was first presented at the Los Angeles Edge of the World Festival in 2008.  Actors selected for the COD production will attend a workshop for ten weeks with playwright Soo Hoo and director David Catanzarite to devise a longer version of the play, which will premiere at College of the Desert in April 2010. 

 

1.    The casts of the five festival plays include characters of all ages, types, and ethnicities.

 

2.    The cast of At Risk includes:

 

Paul, a rookie teacher, African American, early 30’s

Lorna, rookie assistant principal, Mexican American, early 30’s

Wei, Mandarin Chinese teacher, Asian American male, mid-20’s

Sandra, teacher’s union rep, African American, mid-50’s

Derrick, a veteran teacher, any ethnicity, 30’s to 40’s

Brenda, a veteran teacher, 30’s to 40’s

Teresa, a second-year Special Ed teacher, any ethnicity, mid-20’s

Principal Jones, African American male, 40’s

Boone, a district administrator, female, any ethnicity, 40’s

Tammy, a student, African American or Latina

Granny, African American, 60+

Students, parents, and community members, any ethnicity

 

Audition Dates & Times

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., Theatre Too (T-1), COD campus

Thursday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., Theatre Too (T-1), COD campus

Both audition sessions are exactly the same. Individuals may audition at one or the other.

 

 

Callbacks

A first round of callbacks will be held Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Theatre Too (T-1), COD campus

 

Audition Policies and Procedures

·         Actors with some command of spoken Spanish are particularly encouraged to audition.

·         No guests – auditions are closed to spectators.

·         Please arrive early in order to complete audition forms.

·         Plan on staying all evening (Tuesday or Thursday) or into the afternoon (Saturday).

·         Auditions by appointment will be considered under special circumstances.

·         Actors, please prepare a 2-3 minute, contemporary dramatic monologue in English. Actors should also be prepared to read selected scenes from AT RISK and the other five plays during the auditions and callbacks.

·         The festival and AT RISK are also looking for six Stage Managers and six Assistant Directors - responsible persons may call David Catanzarite at 760-773-7370.

 

Paperwork

Auditioners should bring a one-page résumé listing performance experience (include name of show, company, role and year) and a recent headshot or 3” x 5” color photo. These will be attached to an audition form and are non-returnable.

 

Additional details are available on the College of the Desert Web site.