Audition: Privileged by Alma Davenport

The Shattered Glass Project

About the project and the company

Creative Team

Written by Alma Davenport – Directed by Sandra L. Holloway

Casting requirements:

8 actors: 5 women and 3 men

Synopsis

Chris Clay has been an average white guy living in Seattle all his life until now. When an opportunity to help African Descendants of Slaves purchase their first home arises, he scours his family tree for his last “Black” Ancestor. He finds Lucy Clay, a Black woman passing for white in the post-Civil War South, and he embarks on a reckless mission to reclaim his Blackness so that he can benefit from her secret and legacy for his personal gain.

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Auditioners should note that Privileged is a story about gender and race privilege; which portrays violence against women and Black people; and which uses the “N-word” and crass, vulgar, or demeaning language to describe people and situations. The director and production team will seek consent and work with the cast to identify personal boundaries, and provide support through open discussion and dramaturgical work. Questions about the script and other potential content elements may be addressed to us at theshatteredglassproject@gmail.com and we will arrange for responses from the director.

Rehearsal and Performance Details and Information:

This production of Privileged is a longer-term project running from March 5-November 20, 2022, including 2 developmental readings on Zoom for the playwright and an in-person rehearsal process at the Theatre Puget Sound rehearsal studios at the Seattle Center downtown, with in-person performances in Seattle at West of Lenin, located in Fremont.

All cast, crew and staff for in-person productions and activities conducted by The Shattered Glass Project are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, for the safety of all participants. You will be required to submit proof of vaccination to audition.

The Shattered Glass Project is a theatre company with the mission to amplify the voices of theatre artists who have been marginalized on the basis of their gender or sex, including but not limited to cis and trans women, non-binary folks, and trans-masculine/trans-feminine folks, by providing unique opportunities to create and grow professionally. TSGP produces 2 mainstage productions, a one-act play festival, and 3-4 developmental readings or other developmental theatre projects each year, serving 50-100 artists and 500-1000 audience members.

Location of Audition

Initial auditions will be held via video submission. Callbacks will take place on Zoom.

Other details

All cast, crew and staff for in-person productions and activities conducted by The Shattered Glass Project are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, for the safety of all participants. You will be required to submit proof of vaccination to audition. Questions may be addressed to theshatteredglassproject@gmail.com.

Rehearsal and Performance Details and Information:
This production of Privileged is a longer-term project running from March 5-November 20, 2022, including 2 developmental readings on Zoom for the playwright and an in-person rehearsal process at the Theatre Puget Sound rehearsal studios at the Seattle Center downtown, with in-person performances in Seattle at West of Lenin, located in Fremont.

SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:
Rehearsals and readings for the script development process in March and July will all take place on the Zoom webinar platform. Participants will need to have access to wifi or hard-wired Internet access and a device with which to log into Zoom. If a performer cast in any of the roles has concerns about access, we encourage you to speak with the producer at TSGP to arrange for technology support.

IN-PERSON PRODUCTION:
Rehearsals for the in-person production will be scheduled from 6-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturdays and Sundays between 12-5 p.m.; conflicts will be taken into account. Performances will take place Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with matiness on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Audition requirements

What do you need to complete the audition submission? a video of yourself performing a one-minute contemporary dramatic monologue OR a link to a video posted on YouTube or another video service. a photo or a headshot of yourself a resume or a summary of your theatrical experience

Character breakdown / Project needs
Chris Clay/James Clay - Male, White, 25-30
Chris Clay: Male. Early 30’s. White. Easy, optimistic, cute and entitled. . He exists in the present day. Double-cast with James Clay: Male. Late 20’s. White. A romantic. He believes that he is a good and fair man. He's got that good old fashioned American Spirit and a dash of self-righteousness. He exists in the past.
Riya Dara - Female, Indian-American, late 20's
Riya Dara: Female. Late 20’s. Indian-American. Anxious, driven and steadfast. She exists in the present day.
Susie Atwood/Pam Atwood Lawrence - Female, Black, 40-ish
Susie Atwood: Female. Adult. Black. A grown black woman and former slave living during reconstruction. Subconsciously, she lives in a constant state of terror. Her anger is subconscious. She is mournful but doesn't know it. She is a carefully self-contained whirlwind. She exists in the past. Double-cast with Pam Atwood Lawrence: Female. Black. 40-ish. She is artistic and grand but tries to downplay it, the part about being grand that is. She is a retired chemical engineer turned glass artist. She exists in the present.
Lucy Clay - Female, 19-25 - see description
Lucy Clay: Female. 19-25 years old. She is someone who looks like they could identify as white but could also not be white. Like Susie, she too lives in fear, but it is because she is living a lie that she is always trying to justify. She exists in the past.
Stacy Jackson - Female, Black, 40s-50s
Stacy Jackson: Female. Black. Late 40's to mid 50's. She moves with a confidence that has been forged over the years. Her mind is always working. She exists in the present.
Russ Atwood - Male, Black, 30s-50s
Russ Atwood: Male. Adult. Black. Smart, and proud but used to playing dumb and humble as a survival tactic. He is an adult black man and Susie's husband. He exists in the past.
Percy Lee/David - Male, White, 20s-40s
Percy Lee: Male. Adult. White. Friend to James Clay. He tries to be cheerful but he feels threatened by all of the changes that happened after the civil war. Misses the good old days. He exists in the past. Double cast with David: Male. Adult. White. Friend of Chris and Riya. He exists in the present.
Willow - Female, White, 20s-40s
Willow: Female. Adult. White. Friend of Chris and Riya. She's very PC and "cares about everyone" except people who don't share her politics and personal beliefs. She exists in the present.
Additional information
Preferred method of submission

URL

Audition/Interview dates

February 20, 2022

Pay type

Stipend

Audition location

Seattle WA

Pay type

$500 $500

Callbacks or second audition/interview?

February 27, 2022

Submission instructions

Video of a one-minute contemporary dramatic monologue. Visit https://www.shatteredglassproject.org/audition-privileged for complete details.

Union Requirements

Non-Union

Website specific to project

https://www.shatteredglassproject.org/audition-privileged

Equity Contract

None