[Capdist-auditions] EQUUS at The Ghent Playhouse

[Tdetwiler at aol.com]

THE GHENT PLAYHOUSE SEEKS  ACTORS FOR EQUUS

MARCH 30, Ghent, NY–The Ghent Playhouse is holding auditions for the haunting 
 drama EQUUS on April 4th and 5th at 7:30 pm  at the theater, with sign-in 
beginning at 7 pm. The last production of the  2004-2005 season and directed by 
playhouse artistic director Tom Detwiler,  EQUUS runs weekends May 20th 
through June  5th.  
An emotionally powerful play, EQUUS explores an atrocious act  committed by a 
young man against several stabled horses, which sends him for a  
court-mandated psychiatric evaluation. During the course of treatment, his  psychiatrist 
finds himself questioning his own beliefs and values. The drama  mixes present 
time scenes with flashbacks to explore the boy’s family, work,  religion, and 
sexual awakening–the chain of life-altering events that have  brought him to 
his current situation. While the subject matter could be  considered horrific, 
author Peter Shaffer uses compelling, detective-like  techniques as well as 
humorous situations to crack the teenager’s shell.  
EQUUS offers roles for up to 14 actors, outlined below (please keep  in mind 
that the ages on many of the roles are flexible, so the director  encourages 
anyone interested to please feel free to audition). 
MEN’S ROLES: 
ALAN STRANG: Needs to come across as a young man in his late teens. Early  
flashbacks call for portraying a six-year-old, and the actor also needs to be  
able to express a wide range of emotions–from innocence to madness, naivete to  
passion.  
MARTIN DYSART. Age 40+, this is the role of the psychiatrist, who is  
intelligent, highly educated, and well read. Works with probing precision but  
becomes gradually filled with self-doubt and fear.  
FRANK STRANG. Age 40+, he is Alan’s straight-laced, serious, strict  father. 
HARRY DALTON. Age 40+, he is the owner of the stables. 
NUGGET/HORSEMAN. Age late 20's through 30's. Appears as "Nugget," the lead  
horse, and is ridden by Alan. As the Horseman, he has dialogue scenes. 
WOMEN’S ROLES: 
HESTER SALOMON. Age 40+, she is the local magistrate, and a cordial business  
friend of Dysart’s. 
DORA STRANG. Age 40+, she is Alan’s mother. Her English reserve covers a well 
 of suppressed emotions that eventually explode. 
JILL MASON. In her 20's, she introduces Alan to the stables where she is  
employed, and becomes his friend and sexual tutor. 
EITHER SEX ROLES: 
NURSE. Age 20+, appears throughout as an officious, thorough hospital  
employee. 
HORSES. Up to five actors are needed to play stylized horses as well as other 
 supporting roles. 
One of the region’s oldest and most popular non-equity theater troupes, The  
Ghent Playhouse is located in the hamlet of Ghent, NY, just off Route 66, 
across  from the fire station,. For more information, call the box office at  
518/392-6264 or cantact Tom Detwiler - tdetwiler at aol.com.
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