BRATTLEBORO-Vermont Theatre Company will be hosting auditions for The Bacchae by Euripides on Monday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro.
This production will use an original translation by playwright Alex Hacker, who will also direct. Hacker has translated Euripides's tragedy into a modern idiom that explores music and dance as vehicles for the experience of the divine Dionysus, god of wine, theater, and ritualized madness.
The play pits the values of openness, fluidity, and equality represented by Dionysus against the hierarchical power and authority inherent in the political establishment.
The production calls for 16 adult actors of all ages. The cast will be as diverse as possible, and actors of all races and ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Gender fluidity is a prominent theme in the play and will be represented in the cast.
There will be an emphasis on movement and dance for some roles, but no experience or facility with dance is necessary. Everyone will be considered, including persons with physical disabilities.
This will be a group audition. Participants should expect to arrive at 6:30 p.m. and fill out audition forms with contact information. The audition will open with movement and dance, followed by collaborative theater games.
Actors will then be asked to give a brief monologue of less than one minute in duration from their favorite Greek tragedy or another play that is dear to their hearts. The audition will conclude with readings from short scenes from The Bacchae. Participants should expect to stay until 8:30 p.m.
The Bacchae will be performed in late March. Rehearsals will begin in early January.
For more information about Vermont Theatre Company, visit vermonttheatrecompany.org or find them on Facebook.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.