AUDITIONS FOR The Elephant Man!
Join us on stage at the PTPA in the moving human drama, THE ELEPHANT MAN, under the supervision of PTPA Artistic Director Adam Randis!
WHO: Auditions are open for versatile performers of all experience levels age 18+ (We may accept performers 16-18 years old with parental permission)
PRODUCTION STAFF: Director - Adam RandisTechnical Director - T.R. LaputkaStage Manager - Kristi Gallagher
WHAT: THE ELEPHANT MAN is based on the true story of the life of Joseph (John) Merrick, a deformed young man (the victim of rare skin and bone diseases) who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century and became the star freak attraction in traveling sideshows. Found abandoned and helpless, he was admitted to London’s prestigious Whitechapel Hospital under the care of celebrated physician Frederick Treves. Merrick was then introduced to London society and slowly evolved from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati, only to be denied his ultimate dream – to become a man like any other. Winner of the 1979 Tony Award for Best Play among many other accolades, Merrick's story was also the inspiration for the classic 1980 film directed by David Lynch and starring John Hurt. The PTPA's production of THE ELEPHANT MAN will be an intimate and immediate portrait of Merrick the man in a stripped-down production that will bring the audience close to the emotion and tragedy of the piece. WHERE AND WHEN: AUDITION DATES & TIMES: Friday, May 8, 7pm-9pmSaturday, May 9, 2pm-4pmat the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts, 212 W Broad St, Hazleton PA 18201 *Auditions will be held in the rehearsal studios in the theatre basement. Please enter the building AT THE REAR STAGE DOORS on Mine Street (adjacent to the former PNC Bank parking lot) and follow signs downstairs to the audition space.
SHOW DATES & TIMES: Friday, June 12 @ 7pmSaturday, June 13 @ 7pmSunday, June 14 @ 2pm
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: *Those participating will be provided with an audition form to complete upon entering the theatre. Please have a list of rehearsal conflicts that you are aware of between auditions and June 6 ready to be submitted. There will be a mandatory tech week of rehearsals from June 7-12. *Auditionees should be prepared to perform cold reads from the script and also have the option of performing a short dramatic monologue (1-2 minutes maximum). British accent(s) preferred for audition, other accents will also be used in the production.*Video submissions will be accepted until May 10 @ 11:59 PM. Anyone interested in completing a video audition should email artisticdirector@ptpashows.org and an audition form will be sent. Upon completion of the form, appropriate audition sides will be forwarded for recording.
ROLES: *Please note that JOHN MERRICK has already been cast. All other roles are open*
FREDERICK TREVES - (Male presenting; traditional London accent / DOES NOT DOUBLE / AGE: 30-40ish) The lead surgeon of the London Hospital who discovers Merrick in a sideshow attraction. Treves carries a great deal of guilt for his rising position as the “Elephant Man” gains attention within his hospital amongst the social elite, in spite of his deteriorating condition. Eventually becomes a surgeon to the royal family, against his own guilt. A deeply morally complex man navigated by the rigidity of his time.
MRS. KENDAL - (Female presenting; traditional London accent, refined. DOES NOT DOUBLE. Age 30-50) An actress within the London scene. Makes herself known to “high society.” A deep empathy within her. Effortlessly charming. A performer. Socially couth.
CARR-GOMM - (Male presenting; traditional London accent / Age: 40-60ish) The manager of the hospital, oversees finances - and Treves especially. A wise man. More empathetic than his no-nonsense persona leads on. Does not tolerate intolerance. A closed book but an open mind. A mentor to Treves. **MAY DOUBLE AS BELGIAN POLICEMAN (Belgian-French accent)**
ROSS - (Male or Female presenting; Cockney accent, gruff. Age 40-60) Merrick's Circus Handler. Course. Opportunist. They think only of themselves. **MAY DOUBLE as other roles who would also take opportunity where they would find them.**
SNORK/CONDUCTOR/LORD JOHN - (Male presenting; variety of accents) Character part. Orderly (ala Martin from Todd Browning’s Dracula)/a coercive train conductor/a shady financier
BISHOP/COUNT/PINHEAD MANAGER - (Male presenting; variety of accents) a Christian man dealing with the complications of religion/a visitor/manager of the pinheads
MISS SANDWICH/PRINCESS ALEXANDRA/PINHEAD* - (Female presenting; variety of accents) nurse repulsed by Merrick/a princess/circus freak
PORTER/DUCHESS/PINHEAD* - (Female presenting; variety of accents) an orderly/a visitor/a helpful policeman/circus freak (highly physical)
ENSEMBLE*- (General English accents, doubling as men and women, as needed. No specific gender. Ageless) Versatile performers who do not leave the stage and are ingrained in almost every scene. Physicality & movement are a must. *The PINHEADS and ENSEMBLE require stage movement & physicality with multiple costume changes.
WHO: Auditions are open for versatile performers of all experience levels age 18+ (We may accept performers 16-18 years old with parental permission)
PRODUCTION STAFF: Director - Adam RandisTechnical Director - T.R. LaputkaStage Manager - Kristi Gallagher
WHAT: THE ELEPHANT MAN is based on the true story of the life of Joseph (John) Merrick, a deformed young man (the victim of rare skin and bone diseases) who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century and became the star freak attraction in traveling sideshows. Found abandoned and helpless, he was admitted to London’s prestigious Whitechapel Hospital under the care of celebrated physician Frederick Treves. Merrick was then introduced to London society and slowly evolved from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati, only to be denied his ultimate dream – to become a man like any other. Winner of the 1979 Tony Award for Best Play among many other accolades, Merrick's story was also the inspiration for the classic 1980 film directed by David Lynch and starring John Hurt. The PTPA's production of THE ELEPHANT MAN will be an intimate and immediate portrait of Merrick the man in a stripped-down production that will bring the audience close to the emotion and tragedy of the piece. WHERE AND WHEN: AUDITION DATES & TIMES: Friday, May 8, 7pm-9pmSaturday, May 9, 2pm-4pmat the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts, 212 W Broad St, Hazleton PA 18201 *Auditions will be held in the rehearsal studios in the theatre basement. Please enter the building AT THE REAR STAGE DOORS on Mine Street (adjacent to the former PNC Bank parking lot) and follow signs downstairs to the audition space.
SHOW DATES & TIMES: Friday, June 12 @ 7pmSaturday, June 13 @ 7pmSunday, June 14 @ 2pm
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: *Those participating will be provided with an audition form to complete upon entering the theatre. Please have a list of rehearsal conflicts that you are aware of between auditions and June 6 ready to be submitted. There will be a mandatory tech week of rehearsals from June 7-12. *Auditionees should be prepared to perform cold reads from the script and also have the option of performing a short dramatic monologue (1-2 minutes maximum). British accent(s) preferred for audition, other accents will also be used in the production.*Video submissions will be accepted until May 10 @ 11:59 PM. Anyone interested in completing a video audition should email artisticdirector@ptpashows.org and an audition form will be sent. Upon completion of the form, appropriate audition sides will be forwarded for recording.
ROLES: *Please note that JOHN MERRICK has already been cast. All other roles are open*
FREDERICK TREVES - (Male presenting; traditional London accent / DOES NOT DOUBLE / AGE: 30-40ish) The lead surgeon of the London Hospital who discovers Merrick in a sideshow attraction. Treves carries a great deal of guilt for his rising position as the “Elephant Man” gains attention within his hospital amongst the social elite, in spite of his deteriorating condition. Eventually becomes a surgeon to the royal family, against his own guilt. A deeply morally complex man navigated by the rigidity of his time.
MRS. KENDAL - (Female presenting; traditional London accent, refined. DOES NOT DOUBLE. Age 30-50) An actress within the London scene. Makes herself known to “high society.” A deep empathy within her. Effortlessly charming. A performer. Socially couth.
CARR-GOMM - (Male presenting; traditional London accent / Age: 40-60ish) The manager of the hospital, oversees finances - and Treves especially. A wise man. More empathetic than his no-nonsense persona leads on. Does not tolerate intolerance. A closed book but an open mind. A mentor to Treves. **MAY DOUBLE AS BELGIAN POLICEMAN (Belgian-French accent)**
ROSS - (Male or Female presenting; Cockney accent, gruff. Age 40-60) Merrick's Circus Handler. Course. Opportunist. They think only of themselves. **MAY DOUBLE as other roles who would also take opportunity where they would find them.**
SNORK/CONDUCTOR/LORD JOHN - (Male presenting; variety of accents) Character part. Orderly (ala Martin from Todd Browning’s Dracula)/a coercive train conductor/a shady financier
BISHOP/COUNT/PINHEAD MANAGER - (Male presenting; variety of accents) a Christian man dealing with the complications of religion/a visitor/manager of the pinheads
MISS SANDWICH/PRINCESS ALEXANDRA/PINHEAD* - (Female presenting; variety of accents) nurse repulsed by Merrick/a princess/circus freak
PORTER/DUCHESS/PINHEAD* - (Female presenting; variety of accents) an orderly/a visitor/a helpful policeman/circus freak (highly physical)
ENSEMBLE*- (General English accents, doubling as men and women, as needed. No specific gender. Ageless) Versatile performers who do not leave the stage and are ingrained in almost every scene. Physicality & movement are a must. *The PINHEADS and ENSEMBLE require stage movement & physicality with multiple costume changes.
Please forward all video auditions and any other questions to artisticdirector@ptpashows.org