BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK AUDITIONS
Sunday, November 20 (1:00 PM)
Monday, November 21 (6:00 PM)
In-Person at Bay City Players
1214 Columbus Ave.
Bay City, MI 48708
Directors: Gordon Levine
Assistant Director: TBA
Producer: Michael Wiśniewski
Please join us for in-person auditions for our upcoming production of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage. Auditions are open to the public and newcomers are welcome! Bay City Players is a nonprofit nonequity community theatre and performers are volunteers. Performance agreement and DHHS Central Registry Clearance required to participate. Auditions are Sunday, November 20 (1:00 PM) and Monday, November 21 (6:00 PM). If needed, callbacks will be Tuesday, November 22 at 6:00 PM.
Watch special behind-the-scenes interviews with the original cast and creative team of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Goodman Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1SXgcSpXU
THE STORY:
It’s the Golden Age of Hollywood. Aspiring starlet Vera Stark works as maid to Gloria Mitchell, an aging star grasping at her fading career. As Gloria fades more, Vera becomes more noticeable. Rubbing shoulders with studio heads and movie directors, Vera lands an outstanding role in a costume epic starring…her boss, Gloria. Vera’s portrayal of a slave turns out to be groundbreaking and career-making. However, decades later scholars and film buffs still argue about Vera’s legacy in Hollywood, and the impact that race had on her controversial career. Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage uses the pace and satire of 1930s movie comedies to take you on a seventy-year journey through Vera’s life and the cultural climate that shaped her.
REHEARSAL & PRODUCTION DATES:
Rehearsals will run Sunday-Wednesday at Bay City Players, 1214 Columbus Ave., Bay City, MI 48708. Production dates are February 3-5 & 10-12, 2023. Full rehearsal schedule available Vera Stark Rehearsal Schedule TENTATIVE.
CHARACTERS:
- Vera Stark: Lead, Female, 20-39
- Character appears in her 20s, and then again in her 60s; beautiful, smart, funny and willful; works as an assistant to the famed actress of the moment, Gloria Mitchell, until she gets her own big break; her subsequent career does not play out as she perhaps anticipated it would; actors who can sing are a plus.
- Ethnicity: Black / African Descent
- Gloria Mitchell: Lead, Female, 20-39
- Character appears in her 20s, and then again in her 60s; movie star. Vain, melodramatic and self-absorbed (though not without irony at her own occasional absurdities); works tirelessly to preserve an air of glamour as she fights to stay afloat in Hollywood; actors who can sing are a plus.
- Ethnicity: White / European Descent
- Leroy Barksdale / Herb Forrester: Supporting, Male, 20-39
- Leroy: Brazen and endearingly pompous. Chauffeur of famed film director Max von Oster, and a love interest for Vera.
- Herb: Smart, savvy and articulate contemporary filmmaker/musician, fascinated by Vera’s celebrity.
- Ethnicity: Black / African Descent
- Lottie/Carmen-Levy-Green: Supporting, Female, 20-39
- Overweight, attractive.
- Lottie: Vera’s cynical and witty roommate, also an actress.
- Carmen: Respected, intelligent college professor with strong views on what happened to Vera in later years.
- Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
- Anna Mae/Afua Assata Ejob: Supporting, Female, 20-39
- Anna Mae: Vera’s sassy, sexy and overconfident roommate. Her light complexion allows her to pass as a Latina to score a big role. Nothing is beneath her.
- Afua: Modern-day poet, journalist and performer with her own staunch opinions on the late Vera.
- Ethnicity: Black / African Descent
- Slasvick/Brad: Supporting, Male, 40-60
- Slasvick: Attractive, well-groomed and wealthy studio executive with less-than-stellar social skills.
- Brad: Smooth-talking 1970s talk-show host with an appealing (if over-the-top) personality.
- Ethnicity: White / European Descent
- Maximillian von Oster/Peter Rhys: Supporting, Male, 30-45
- Von Oster: Russian. Highly conceited, famous film director with an inflexible artistic vision.
- Rhys-Davies: Groovy 1970s rock musician. Actor must have facility with accents.
- Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
PLEASE NOTE: Supporting actors will play multiple characters
WHAT TO PREPARE:
Those attending will do cold readings from the script. Scripts can be previewed prior to auditions by visiting during office hours M-F 10-2. $20 refundable deposit is required.
AUDITION STEPS:
- Review the Vera Stark Rehearsal Schedule TENTATIVE as you must include all known conflicts on your audition form.
- Complete the Audition Form before coming to auditions.
- Consider reading the full script before auditions.
- Come to ONE of the audition dates:
- Sunday, November 20 (1:00 PM)
- Monday, November 21 (6:00 PM)
(Doors will be open 30 minutes prior to auditions starting)
A member of the production team will call with results. If you have additional questions, please contact the director, Gordon Levine, directordude1@hotmail.com.