The Pillowman - by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Michelle Maccarone
Assistant Directors: Katie Crawford & Matthew Turkle
Stage Manager: Tabatha Ford
Synopsis: Martin McDonagh echoes the works of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm in this New York Drama Critics' Circle and Olivier Award winning script. The Pillowman is a viciously funny and seriously disturbing tale of Katurian, a fiction writer in an unnamed totalitarian state. Katurian and their brother Michael are brought in for questioning by two bulldog detectives, Tupolski and Ariel, when the content of their short stories - which involve disturbingly gruesome tales - begin to resemble real-life murders. The Pillowman weaves between reality and storytelling; and the result is an urgent work of theatrical bravura and an unflinching examination of the very nature and purpose of art.
**Special note: This show contains both described and illustrated acts of violence against both adults and children and language that some may find disturbing. Please be sure to be familiar with the tone and content of the show and evaluate whether it will be something you wish to perform in.
Monday, July 21st at 7pm-10pm
Wednesday, July 23rd at 7pm-10pm
Callbacks: Thursday, July 24
Sign ups will begin at 6:15pm, you do not need to attend both nights of auditions.
Rehearsal Dates*
First rehearsal Monday, July 28
start of performances on October 10.
Sunday-Thursday, Sunday 6-9pm and weekday evenings 7-10pm.
*Please note, you may not be called to all rehearsals.
Performance Dates
October 10-19 Fri. & Sat. 8pm & Sundays 2pm. Additionally, there will be a 2pm matinee on Saturday, October 18.
Audition Requirements:
Please bring a headshot and resume and prepare sides for whichever character you are interested in. For the characters of Mother or Father please prepare one of the other monologues and specify your interest on your audition sheet. If you wish to apply for the role of the puppeteer you may submit materials of prior work along with headshot and resume to
bWljaGVsbGVhbWFjY2Fyb25lIHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20= or if you do not have prior puppet experience feel free to attend preliminary auditions and we will have a puppet for you to work with. Please be sure to be available for in person call backs. If you are an actor who is unable to attend one of the preliminary audition days, please email headshot, resume, and a self tape of the monologues provided for the role you are interested in to
bWljaGVsbGVhbWFjY2Fyb25lIHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20=.
Sides:
https://www.heightsplayers.org/auditions
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
While all four major roles (Katurian, Ariel, Tupolski, and Michal) are referred to by he/him pronouns, we will be seeing actors of all gender expressions for all four of these roles.
Katurian: A talented writer. Despite his taste for the macabre, Katurian is keen to not cause any real trouble. Besides the posterity of his writing, Katurian’s only concern is for his brother, Michal. Please note: Everyone will begin with the first monologue, the second will only be asked for upon request.
Michal: Katurian’s brother. Childlike innocence. Michal is a year older than his brother, but due to extensive brain damage, he seems more like Katurian’s child than his sibling. He loves stories and has an infantile disposition, taking everything at face value.
Tupolski: “The good cop”. Sardonic, funny, straightforward, intelligent, controlled. An investigator, less violent and aggressive, but very unfeeling. He is the hero and the brains of the operation.
Ariel: “The bad cop” – Explosive, physically powerful, self-righteous, violent, brutal, bulldog. He has a soft-spot for children, complimented by an extreme hatred of anyone who harms a child. As with most brutal thugs with a gooey caramel center, he has a secret past of his own .
Mother: Playable Age: Any Age, mostly non-speaking, will play Katurian’s parent, Girl's parent, and girl's foster parent and other small roles in stylized story sequences.
Father: Playable Age: Any Age, mostly non-speaking. Will play Katurian’s parent, Girl's parent, and girl's foster parent and other small roles in stylized story sequences.
Puppeteer: Will portray the children through marionette for all stylized stories.
The Heights Players is located at 26 Willow Place, between State and Joralemon Streets in Brooklyn Heights. The Heights Players is a membership organization. There is no pay or stipend for any role or position. There is a $20 membership fee if cast.
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