[Capdist-auditions] New Audition: "Exit Strategy" Presented by Harbinger Theatre

[Sarah Michelle]

Good morning!

My name is Sarah Clark and I am the Public Relations Coordinator for
Harbinger Theatre. If possible, can we please have the below text published
on the auditions website?

Thank you for your time, and have a great day!

Sincerely,
Sarah
_______

What: AUDITIONS FOR "EXIT STRATEGY" BY IKE HOLTER
Dates: March 22 and 24, 2022 at 7 p.m., sign-in at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Albany Barn, 56 2nd St., Albany, NY

"Exit Strategy" will be directed by Dennis Skiba, and show dates are June
16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 p.m. with a preview show on June 15 at the
Albany Barn. Rehearsals begin April 19. Those who audition will need to
wear masks and provide proof of vaccination.

*SYNOPSIS:*

The teachers of Tumbldn High School don't live in an inspirational teacher
movie. Tumbldn is in bad shape. Amidst funding cuts, bureaucrats running
amok and a rodent infestation, a small, multiracial group of teachers
launch a last minute effort to save the school, putting their careers,
futures and safety in the hands of fast talking administrator.
They bring mouse-traps from home, they make the toilet paper last, and they
show up for the kids nobody else shows up for. Ricky, the vice principal,
has stayed firmly on the sidelines for all of the teachers' previous
battles, but now in the eleventh hour, he's compelled to step up with a
plan to save the school. Everyone, staff and students alike are reaching
their breaking points as they risk everything to follow his lead; but does
he actually have any idea what he's doing?
NOTE: Holter has said that Exit Strategy was inspired by the 2013 mass
closure of forty-nine Chicago public schools, which displaced nearly 12,000
children—the majority of directly impacted students were African American
and Latinx.

*CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:*

➖Ricky Hubble, 29-30 years old
Vice Principal of Tumbldn High School. Nervous, fast talking, the king of
saying the worst possible thing at the best possible time. He means well in
everything he does but has so little luck with putting that into action on
his own. Think hipster-chic but always a little on the verge of a panic
attack. Has a strong moral backbone, and a severe case of being too nervous
to use it. Private. We see him determined to keep his personal life out of
the “sexual politics” of work, and learn that he has been engaged in a
relationship (of sorts) with Luce, very much on the down low.

➖Pam Morse, Late 40s-early 50s.
Veteran English Teacher.
A take-no-bullshit kind of teacher who has had a lot of bullshit thrown at
her from the powers that be. Seems cynical and bitter on the surface, one
of the old guard, but she loves her job and she has poured her entire life
and soul into the school.
Widely respected by both students and staff.

➖ Arnold Reese, Late 40s-early 50s, Open Race
Bitter old man with about a thousand walls up who spends all day with
teenagers in a broken system. He loves his job so deeply it hurts, and he’s
been hurt a lot. Can run a room with a single look. Everyone’s toughest
critic, students and coworkers alike. Has lost something. One of those
examples of “Wasn’t born this way, became it over time." Has a deep bond
with Pam, they’ve been through it all together. Struggling with his
sobriety (alcoholism) throughout the course of the play. Born and bred
Chicagoan.

➖Luce, Early 30s, Latino
Ex-Frat boy turned Math teacher. Loud and bright, his personality fills up
a room just as certainly as he won’t be able to read it right. Very down to
earth and has a strong connection with his students and coworkers Donnie
calls him simply Luce, and it is implied that other students do as well.
Honest to a fault, can’t keep a secret to save his life and frankly doesn’t
want to.

➖Jania, Late 20s Latina and Bilingual.
SPED teacher/Behavioral Management (It’s not specified) Youngest person in
the room, and also the smartest (and she knows it). Ivy League graduate,
works at a dangerous, failing high school by choice. Has been through her
share of school closings, more than most, and carries the scars of it like
battered chainmail.
Uses her words and intellect like a weapon. Will be the first one to talk,
talk fast and cut you down before you have a chance to even think about
doing the same. So serious that she doesn’t realize that she’s actually
quite funny.

➖Sadie Wilson: Mid to late 30s, Black
Overloaded teacher who tries to take care of anyone in any way possible.
Mother of two, but all her students are her family. She will fight tooth
and nail for anyone and anything she believes in, no matter how many times
she’s told no (and no matter how used to it she’s getting).

➖Donnie Bryant, 18 years old, Black
High school senior. He has a lot of passion, drive, and little filter. Says
what he means and thinks and he is determined to not take “No” as an
answer, at least not lying down. The most popular kid in school and a
boots-on-the-ground activist in training. Wears his heart on his sleeve and
never pulls his punches.
Admires Pam Morse, holds her in a very high opinion and compares other
teacher’s to her.
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