[Capdist-auditions] Auditions for EXIT STRATEGY

[dskiba at nycap.rr.com]

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. Performance 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. MASKS AND PROOF
OF VACCINATION ARE REQUIRED AT THE AUDITIONS. 

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 a
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.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://capdisttheater.org/pipermail/capdist-auditions/attachments/20220316/0992b031/attachment.html>