Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre announces auditions for their May 2015 production – OTHER DESERT CITIES, by Jon Robin Baitz.
Auditions will be by appointment on Sunday, March 1 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and Monday, March 2 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at Vokes Theatre (97 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA). Please prepare a 2-minute monologue that best showcases your abilities. To schedule an appointment, please call Tara Stepanian at 401-338-3794 or email your request to tstepanian@hotmail.com with your preferred audition date and time. Scripts are available upon request.
Callbacks are scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 pm
Rehearsals will start in March and held 3-4 times per week; Sunday through Thursdays, based on cast availability.
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, April 30 – May 16 at 8:00 pm. Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm on May 9 and 16.
PLAY SUMMARY
It’s Christmas time in Palm Springs – what could be better than a delightful family gathering, full of joy, love and peace? OTHER DESERT CITIES, Mr. Baitz’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated story, has none of that! Well, okay – there’s a good deal of love (and a modicum of joy), but it’s definitely not peaceful!
Brooke Wyeth has traveled to her parent’s home in Palm Springs, CA, poised to release her most recent book to the public. Polly and Lyman (her folks) have been waiting anxiously for her to follow up on her very successful first novel, but Brooke hasn’t been entirely forthcoming about her work on this latest effort. With good reason – it’s a tell-all memoir that dredges up private details of her family’s past, including a tragic and painful event.
Trip (Brooke’s brother) is there to join in the holiday “festivities” – he attempts to stay above the fray, but (like everyone else) gets caught up in all of his family’s affairs. Silda (Polly’s sister) offers her own pearls of wisdom, but only succeeds (intentionally or otherwise) in adding fuel to the fire.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
BROOKE (Female, Mid 30’s to early 40’s) – Intelligent, dry-witted and deeply troubled by her family’s (and her own) history.
POLLY (Female, Late 50’s to early 70’s) – Tough, elegant and whip-smart; strong sense of her values, which she unapologetically shares with her family.
LYMAN (Male, Late 50’s too early 70’s) – Sturdy, yet gentle; deeply-held beliefs; former TV and movie actor, as well as ambassador during the Reagan administration.
TRIP (Male, Late 20’s to early 30’s) – Bright and funny; always poised to referee squabbling family members.
SILDA (Female, Late 50’s to early 70’s) – Wise-cracking and fresh-out-of-rehab; very savvy; unafraid to speak her mind.
CASTING NOTE:
Actors selected for the above roles do not necessarily have to fall within these suggested age ranges – they are presented here as a guideline. Casting will be strongly dependent on how well actors pair with each other.
For any questions, please contact Tara Stepanian, Producer, at 401-338-3794 or email tstepanian@hotmail.com.
Vokes Players auditions are open to anyone, and are generally (although not always) by appointment. Audition notices are posted on StageSource and New England Theatre 411.
Please see the Other Desert Cities Page for more information about the play.
