[Capdist-auditions] LOST IN YONKERS AUDITIONS

[brian at slca-ctp.org]

AUDITION ANNOUNCMENT
Lost in Yonkers

By Neil Simon

Directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand

 

AUDITION DATES: November 13th & 14th, 2023 
SIGN IN: 6:30pm. Auditions begin at 7:00pm
AUDITION LOCATION: Sand Lake Center for the Arts. 2880 NY 43, Averill Park
NY 12018



Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.

All auditioners should bring a list of conflicts from Dec 2023-Feb 10, 2024,
to the auditions.


Production dates: Performances over two weekends run from Friday, February
16th through Sunday, February 25th with Friday, and Saturday performances at
7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:30 PM

Tech week: Feb 11-15 (No conflicts)

Lost in Yonkers is a coming-of-age story set in Yonkers, New York. Simon's
Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play centers around two brothers, Arty and
Jay, who live with their grandmother and their Aunt Bella, while their
father travels, desperately trying to scrape enough money together while
working as a salesman to pay off his debts to a loan shark, and their mother
has died of cancer. Over the course of the play, the young boys learn
lessons about love, responsibility and the importance of family that will
carry them into adulthood.

 

Available roles:
GRANDMA KURNITZ: A seemingly embittered, harsh and cold tyrant of a
matriarch. She migrated with her children from Germany in the 30's. She runs
a "kandy" shop in Yonkers below her apartment. She runs it iron-fisted, and
eagle eyed - much like she raised her kids.
Actor must be able to play a woman in her70's;
a lingering German accent will be required as well as the use of a cane to
compensate for an observable limp.

JAY KURNITZ: The elder of two teenage brothers left with great misgivings in
the care of their estranged Grandma. Actor must be able to deliver quick one
liners and witty observations. He is, along with his brother, the source of
the play's humor. Actor must be able to play a believable 16-17-year-old.

ARTY KURNITZ: The younger of two teenage brothers who are left with their
forbidding Grandma.
Arty is honest and direct; in spite of being afraid of Grandma, he tells it
like it is. Like his brother he is quick witted; the actor must be good at
bantered observations. Actor. must be able to play a believable
13-14-year-old

Arty and Jay provide much of the play's laughs! They are teenage boy "wise
guys" but never obnoxiously so.

EDDIE KURNITZ: A grief struck widower who is Arty and Jay's Dad and one of
Grandma's sons.
Even as an adult he still has a deep fear of and anxiety around Grandma. He
has managed to build a life though away from her marked by his kind of
strength. Financial desperation has forced him to leave his two beloved sons
in Yonkers in the care of the tyrant. Actor should be able to play a
believable late 30's to late 40's.

BELLA KURNITZ: The boys' Aunt and Eddie's younger sister .
She is a woman who struggles with developmental challenges that have left
her prone to childish emotional swings and periodic daft ness but also a
zest and enthusiasm for life and a loving heart.**
She also lives with Grandma, is subservient even as her spirit longs to
break free
Actor must be able to play 30's , believably 
**Actor must be able to generate laughter but in sympathy with her
character, in no way in mocking of her character.

LOUIE KURNITZ: The boys' uncle, Grandma's eldest child, Eddie's brother 
Is a low level gangster, thug," henchman" who is always on the run. He has
learned well from his mother that his heart must be made of steel to survive
though he has a soft spot for his family, especially Bella. Actor must be
able to play late 30's to mid 40's
Actor must be able to capture a little more street and "wise guy" but won't
be played as a caricature.

GERY KURNITZ: Appears physically only in the second act. She is the youngest
of the KURNITZ siblings.
She has managed to live independently of Grandma, but her mother's tyranny
has scarred her deeply. She is full of sincerity. Actor will be asked to
capture a peculiar speech pattern which has evolved out of a childhood spent
in fear. Actor must be believable as a 30 something year old woman.



Production director: Maureen Baillargeon Aumand maureen
<mailto:aumandmaureen at gmail.com> aumandmaureen at gmail.com (Please reach out
to Maureen with any questions) 
SLCA-CTP can be reached at 518-674-2007

 

 

Brian Sheldon

Executive Director



 

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