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"Kentucky"

By Leah Nanako Winkler
Directed by Courtney Brown

AUDITION INFORMATION

(PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND ENTIRELY):

Auditions: August 19 and 20 – 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Kent Center for the Performing Arts – Room D205

• Auditions are open to all Kent State students 
• For the initial audition, all fall shows will be holding one group audition. Please prepare for this audition with one – brief (no more than 90 seconds) contemporary monologue.
• If the monologue isn’t memorized, that is fine. Please audition anyway.
• If you are new to auditioning and do not have a monologue, please select a monologue from the play; several options can be found in the script:

Callbacks: August 21 – beginning at 6:00 p.m. - Kent Center for the Performing Arts – Room D205

• Callbacks will consist of sides (excerpts from scenes of the play) and will be circulated when the callback list is announced; please review them in advance of the callback

Once you have completed the form, a link at the end will navigate you to the sign-up page. Please be sure to have a headshot and resume (if you have them digitally) ready to upload.

Auditions will be held in conjunction with auditions for the other fall production, "Cinderella." Directors and stage managers from all production teams will be present for your audition – you may audition for all productions (presenting a monologue and song) or choose to *only audition for the play or musical (presenting either a monologue or a song accordingly). *Please refer to the audition requirements for B.F.A. MT students below.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Synopsis: Hiro is a self-made woman making it in New York City and estranged from her dysfunctional family back in Kentucky. When her little sister, a born-again Christian, decides to marry at twenty-two, Hiro takes it upon herself to do whatever she can to stop the wedding. The themes of identity, religion, and love collide in this unique coming – of – age story. Please do your best to read the play PRIOR to auditioning. This is good professional practice! Click here to navigate to the script. Alternatively, you can scan below.

A Note on Casting:

From the Playwright: “Although I encourage the appropriate ethnicities of each cast member to be honored, there is very little in the play written specifically for a singular race.” From the director: The show will be cast, according to the representation of KSU. The playwright offers clear direction regarding character names and text options that honor language and cultural markers, depending on the actors who are playing those roles.

Content Disclosures: mentions of domestic, mental, and emotional abuse, alcohol/drug use, overdose, death; use of strong language and sexual language.

Intimacy Disclosures: The characters Hiro and Adam kiss. These moments will be choreographed, working within the actor’s boundaries. Other characters may utilize familiar and familial touch. We will work with consent-forward practices.

REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Rehearsals:

Begin Monday, August 25. We rehearse (generally) Monday – Friday, 6  – 10 p.m. and Sunday 1-7 p.m.. No rehearsals for these dates, due to Labor Day – August 31 and September 1. One added Saturday rehearsal on Saturday, September 6, from 12 – 4 p.m..

Dates: Tech/Dress begin Friday, September 19, with a full tech day on Saturday, September 20.

Performances: Thursday, September 25, Friday, September 26, Sunday, September 29, Tuesday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. One matinee performance on Saturday, September 27 at 2 p.m.

QUESTIONS OR ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS:

Please email the director, Courtney Brown and production stage manager, Trynity Jordan with any questions or requests for accommodations.

ROLES: 

In reference to the descriptions below – these are descriptions of the characters as identified in the script and in collaboration with the creative team. They are not meant to be exhaustive of who should play these roles, and we seek to cast expansively and intentionally. We acknowledge the history of systemic exclusionary practices and are working to dismantle barriers to theatre-making and auditioning for all performers. We also recognize that most characters are written on the binary, and we invite gender non-conforming, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with.

Kentucky:

Hiro –20s. Means well. Smart and driven. Sophie’s older sister. Makes sixty thousand dollars a year.

Sophie – 20s. Hiro’s younger sister. A born-again Christian. Elegant and smart.

James - Their father. Mean, sad, drunk, high and scary.

Masako or Emily – Mother to Hiro and Sophie and wife to James. Her spirit is bright, though there is a deep sadness and horrifying anger within her that comes out when triggered.

Da’Ran – mid 20’s. Sophie’s fiancé. Kind, adorable and strong.

Ernest – Da’Ran’s father. Rational. Charming. Unbelievably charismatic. A pastor with a deep understanding of humanity and God.

Amy – Da’Ran’s mother and Ernest’s wife. Kind of a ham.

Larry – Hiro’s therapist. Friendly and approachable but direct. Has a sense of humor.

Nicole/Doubled with Bridesmaid 2* – Genuine and giving.

Laura/Doubled with Bridesmaid 1* – Can get sassy.

Sylvie (the cat)/ Doubled with Bridesmaid 3* – an old, sickly cat.

Adam – 20s. Handsome and adoring. Really wants to settle down.

Grandma – mother of James. Grandmother to Hiro and Sophie. A messed-up Grandma.

*A trio of Christian bridesmaids who can sing and dance. They function as a sort of “Kentucky Greek Chorus”

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.F.A. MUSICAL THEATRE STUDENTS

“B.F.A. Musical Theatre candidates are required to audition for all theatre division main stage productions and accept roles if cast. Exemptions to the audition requirement may be granted under certain circumstances. Circumstances include but are not limited to: religious beliefs, moral objection, psychological triggers with the play, and physical concerns. In order to be exempted from the audition requirement, students must submit a written petition to the performance faculty prior to the beginning of the casting process for the production in question. The performance faculty will make a good faith effort to deliberate and come to a decision on the petition at the first performance area meeting after the receipt of the petition. At no point will a student be asked to disclose sensitive personal information.”

For information on all the B.F.A. Musical Theatre requirements please go to the following. B.F.A. Musical Theatre