[Capdist-auditions] Open Auditions: THE BABYLON LINE at SCP

[John William Hickman]

*Schenectady Civic Players*

            12 South Church Street, Schenectady, NY 12305


[image: image.png]


*(Performance Dates: Jan 25-27, 30-31 & Feb 1-3, 2019)*



*THE BABYLON LINE*

*by Richard Greenberg*

Directed by Chris Foster

Levittown, 1967. It’s the first night of an adult-ed creative writing
course in a classroom at the local high school. The teacher, Aaron Port,
lives in Greenwich Village and reverse commutes once a week on the Long
Island Rail Road’s Babylon line. His students are a mixed bag: Frieda
Cohen, Anna Cantor, and Midge Braverman, housewives all, embrace each other
on arrival, and update their running checklists on each other’s kids,
husbands, and lawns. Their opening gambit is to tell Aaron in no uncertain
terms that they are only there because French Cooking and Flower Arranging
are full. The two men in the class, Jack Hassenpflug and Marc Adams, sit
silently at their desks. One final student, Joan Dellamond, rushes in
late—but she actually does intend to be there. An aspiring writer troubled
by a failing marriage, Joan has little in common with her neighbors. And
yet, she does seek connection. Maybe this class will bring her, and Aaron,
something that neither quite expects.

*Available Roles*

*Aaron Port: Male, 37-45*

married. Jewish. A published writer, he still has to teach to earn a
living. Commutes from his home in Greenwich Village to teach an adult
education creative writing course in Levittown, Long Island. Attractive,
intelligent, charming, and self-deprecating, he has no great design for how
his life is mapped out and is very much aware that some of his
contemporaries have found greater success than he has. He tries to be a
patient teacher, but it’s not easy.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Joan Dellamond: Female, 35-45*

a student in Aaron’s class. Not originally from Levittown and viewed by the
other students as an outsider: she’s not Jewish, she doesn’t share their
interests, and she’s not social (in fact, she’s been living as a recluse
for many years). Attractive, feminine, highly literate, and articulate,
with an emotional fragility that’s defended by a wry sense of humor. An
avid reader with a true desire to write.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Frieda Cohen: Female, 45-55*

Jewish. One of the local women in Aaron’s class. Taking Creative Writing
because Current Events was full. The queen bee of her social group and the
proud mother of two teenage sons. Outspoken, self-confident, and quick to
judge. Has opinions on everything and doesn’t hold back. She is the leader
of her social set and expects everyone to fall in line. Smart; nothing gets
past her.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Anna Cantor: Female, 40-55*

Jewish. Mother of young twins. Friend and next-door neighbor of Frieda
Cohen. Enthusiastic and something of a follower, she’s taking the class
because Frieda told her to. Has led a somewhat sheltered life. The class
becomes an escape from a home life that is much more difficult than it
seems.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Midge Braverman: Female, 45-55*

Jewish. Married to a CPA. Mother of two teenage boys. Only taking the class
because French Cooking was full. Seems entirely conventional on the surface
and indeed shares opinions and interests with her social set. Ultimately,
though, has a more open and inquiring mind.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Jack Hassenpflug: Male, 50-65*

a student in Aaron’s creative writing class. A man of few words whose
writing focuses solely on memories of his time spent fighting in WWII. In
his own world, much of the time. Doesn’t easily show his feelings.

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities

*Marc Adams: Male, 25-35*

he was a high school football star and golden boy and is now a shell of his
former self--someone vacant, a cipher. It’s presumed by the others that
drug use ruined him. Lives with his mother as he works on his “magnum opus.”

Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
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