National Black Theatre
New York, NY

DESCRIPTION

CALL TYPE
EPA

CONTRACT
LOA-NYC
Workshop: $580 weekly minimum (29-hour reading code)
Production: $742 weekly minimum (LOANYC) + Health & Pension benefits

AUDITION DATE
Friday, April 26, 2024
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)
BREAK: 1:00PM - 2:00PM

LOCATION
Actors' Equity New York Audition Center
165 W 46th St
16th Fl
New York, NY 10036

PERSONNEL
Producer/Theatre Company: National Black Theatre
Artistic Director: Jonathan McCrory
Director: Tiffany Nichole Greene
Writer: Kristen Adele Calhoun
Soul Series L.A.B & Special Projects Program
Manager: Belynda Hardin
TAP Production Coordinator: Adam Wassilchalk
Production Manager: Bernard Johnson
Casting Director: Sujotta Pace, CSA

EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Ava Novak, Artistic Production Associate
Belynda Hardin, Soul Series L.A.B & Special
Projects Program Manager Casting

OTHER DATES
WORKSHOP (Venue TBD): May 13-17, 2024
PRODUCTION (Chelsea Factory): Public Presentation Rehearsal: June 3-25, 2024
Performance: June 26-30, 2024

OTHER
Nationalblacktheatre.org

This Production operate under an Equity 29 hour-reading code prior to the commencement of rehearsals in June.

If you are unable to attend in person, we invite you to submit via the [email protected]. Please submit one copy of your headshot and resume, along with your video submission.

EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.

An Equity Monitor will be provided.

Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.

Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.

SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in BLOOD WORK (see breakdown).

We also recognize that the characters are written on the binary (use she/her and he/him pronouns) and we invite gender nonconforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. In reference to the descriptions below – these are descriptions of the characters as identified in the script and in collaboration with the creative team. They are not meant to be exhaustive of who should play these roles and we seek to cast expansively and intentionally with consideration of race/ethnicity, gender, body type, and ability.

PREPARATION
Sides will be provided on the day of the audition. Please bring your headshot and resume stapled together.

BREAKDOWN

BLOOD WORK
by Kristen Adele Calhoun

SYNOPSIS: Ten generations of women converge in this epic journey across time and space in the name of deep healing. As 35-year-old Neisha wrestles with a mysterious disease, her entire mother line emerges from the past to save her (and in turn, save themselves). Armed with the desire to be whole but at a loss for how to get there, ancestors and descendants struggle to shoulder the weight of wellness.

Bold and gripping, blood work asks - If trauma can be passed down, what happens when we pass down liberation too?

SEEKING:
Neisha/As Cast (Black, female-identifying, 35) is pregnant with her first baby, in deep pain (Doubles as her ancestors Fawei, Honor, Liberty, Ember, Mercy, Hope). Undergoes a powerful transformation.

Nora/As Cast (Black, female-identifying, 50s to 70s) Neisha’s mother / doubles as Little Nora (age 12)

Nurse Bit/As Cast (Black, female-identifying, 50s to 70s) timeless character who is the realist / sharpmouthed and hard hearted. Offers a tough love. Doubles as Mother Wit.

Nurse Dove/As Cast (Black, female-identifying, 50s to 70s) timeless character who is the grand matriarch, an optimist, more tender hearted. Doubles as Mother of Millions.

Nurse Sook/As Cast (Black, female-identifying, 50s to 70s, singer) timeless character who is the pessimist, a touch of Eeyore energy, sad but loving. Doubles as Mother Tongue (speaks Mende).

Sisters 1 - 5 (Black, female-identifying, 20s to 40s) Five extremely versatile/inventive ensemble members with a strong command of movement, heightened language and musical skill. Will double multiple roles throughout the play

SALARY

LOA-NYC Workshop: $580 weekly minimum (29-hour reading code) Production: $742 weekly minimum (LOANYC) + Health & Pension benefits

UNION

AEA