Audition Notice: Everybody
Everybody
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by Paul Hurley (he, him, his)
Audition Information
(please read in its entirety)
Please read the play before you audition. A copy of the script can be found here:
ABOUT Everybody
This modern riff on the fifteenth-century morality play Everyman follows Everybody as they journey through life’s greatest mystery – the meaning of living.
The play vacillates between hilarious and heartbreaking (sometimes in the same moment), as the character of Everybody seeks to justify their life. The style of storytelling in this play is often metatheatrical, routinely breaking the fourth wall and drawing attention to the fact that the events are unfolding in a theater.
This play was written a few years before the Covid-19 pandemic. In light of the pandemic and our collective (and individual) experiences, this play resonates in a very different way for us at this particular moment in time. We’ve been faced with the very real dangers of the pandemic and have either been personally impacted by it or know those in our communities who have been. Additionally, over the past 3 ½ years (and for sure during lockdown) we’ve had the opportunity to re-examine our lives, and really wrestle with what is important to us and how we want to show up in the world.
Perhaps the final lines of the play best encapsulate the story we might be up to telling in this production: “Maybe let’s just all be a little better about recycling. Also really listening to each other, and maybe being less judgmental and more forgiving but, also, owning up to our mistakes and being open to changing our own minds. Lead with our Understanding. You know: just being nice to each other. For once. And I’m talking about Everybody.”
AUDITIONS
• Auditions are open to all Kent State University students.
• Auditions will be on Monday, November 13 from 6:30-10 p.m. and Tuesday, November 14 from 6-10 p.m. in room D302.
• In attendance during the audition with be: Director and faculty member Paul Hurley and Production Stage Manager Sage Brown.
• Please see below for instructions on signing up for a timeslot:
In order to sign up for an audition, you must first create a free account with www.myshowbuilder.com
1. Go to www.myshowbuilder.com. Click “Register” in the upper left corner of the site, and create an account using your Kent Email Address.
2. Once you’ve registered, you will be sent a confirmation email (this may go to the junk/spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox).
3. Click on the link in that confirmation email and login.
4. “Next” through steps 1-3 (About ShowBuilder>Production Name>Production Logo) and fill out Your Profile with the information you feel comfortable sharing, but at minimum, name and easy contact phone number for stage management. You can also upload your headshot here as well.
5. “Next” through to completion. If you have any problems, please feel free to contact Tom Humes (thumes2@kent.edu).
6. Once you have completed setting this up you can follow these links or Q-R codes to the different audition days to sign-up:
Monday, November 13, 2023 6:30-10 p.m.
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 6-10 p.m.
WHAT TO PREPARE
• Perform a monologue that you love to do (ideally 90 seconds or less). If the monologue isn’t memorized, that’s fine, please audition anyway.
• If you don’t have a monologue, that’s also fine, please still audition anyway and tell a super funny/poignant/thrilling story (ideally 90 seconds or less).
CALLBACKS
Callbacks will be on Thursday, November 16 from 6– 10:30 p.m.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will begin on February 19.
Week 1 – Feb. 19
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
Possible Saturday (4 hours)
Week 2 – Feb. 26
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
Possible Saturday (4 hours)
Week 3 – March 4
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
Possible Saturday (4 hours)
Week 4 – March 11
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
Possible Saturday (4 hours)
Week 5 – March 18
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
No Rehearsals during Spring Break – March 23 – 30 (note: there may be a rehearsal on Sunday, March 31)
Week 6 – April 1
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 6-10 p.m.
Saturday or Sunday (4 hours)
Week 7 – April 8
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 6-10 p.m.
Saturday 1:00-10:30 p.m.
Week 8 – April 15
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-10:45 p.m.
PERFORMANCES
Friday, April 19 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 20 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 21 2:00 pm
Wednesday, April 24 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 25 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 26 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28 2:00 p.m.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Except for the character of GIRL, all roles in the play are open to all Ethnic and Racial Identities, all Ages, all Gender Identities, and all Abilities.
The following roles will be played by one actor (with possible understudies/swings)
• Usher/God/Understanding
• Death
• Love
The following roles will be double cast (10 actors total):
• Everybody / Evil
• Friendship / Strength
• Kinship / Beauty
• Cousin / Mind
• Stuff / Senses
(NOTE: Each of these actors will learn two roles. What role the actor plays for any given performance will be decided on stage during the performance.)
The following role will be played by a young actor (a non-Kent student), and understudied/ swinged by a Kent student:
• Girl (9-13 years old/All Ethnic and Racial Identities/All Abilities, female-identifying or non-binary)
There will also be DANCERS in the production – this casting will be determined later.
CONTENT INFORMATION
• A child is present throughout the play.
• Strong language is used throughout the play from several characters (including both adults and children).
• Talk of death and dying.
INTIMACY INFORMATION
There may be moments of physical contact in the production. This will be designed and crafted around each actor’s individual boundaries.
The character of EVERYBODY is asked to undress by the character of LOVE. Please note that in this production there will be no nudity. During this moment, this actor playing of EVERYBODY will remove a few articles of clothing, however they will remain clothed. This moment will be staged within the boundaries of each actor playing this role.