What’s really tragic about the mass murders in Germany in and around World War II is not how recently they happened. It’s the fact that state-sponsored mass murder has been appallingly commonplace since then in various places all over the world. Martin Sherman’s 1979 drama Bent explores the lives of men who were seen as subhuman by the Nazis. The drama focusses on the plight of a few gay men in Berlin in 1934.
The World’s Stage will be bringing a production of Bent to the stage this coming July at the Tenth Street Theatre. They’re looking to cast the show this month. Don Russell directs. Auditions are being held April 19 and 20.
From the announcement:
- AUDITION INFORMATION / MATERIAL:
- -Character Breakdown: 10-12 Men
- MAX – 20s-30s, homosexual "wheeler dealer" who leads a dissolute life of drink, drugs, and sporadic sex until the horrors of Nazi Germany intervene and effectively put an end to his hedonistic alcoholic life style; a tormented individual, tortured by the memory of his reprehensible actions, but never loses his basic humanity; not at all a coward, but rather a pragmatist
- -HOSRT - 20s-30s, relatively muscular physique and a kind nature; a "pink triangle," incarcerated in the death camps of Dacheu because of his homosexuality; a sensitive man, strongly affected by Max's torment
- -RUDY – 20s-30s, bespectacled, homosexual dancer; rather gushy, effusive, homebody type who has a great love for Max and his precious household plants; tends to become a trifle hysterical at times
- -GRETA – 20s-40s, a man dressed as a woman in a silver dress, top hat, and cane; presents an appearance that is at once elegant and bizarre; tough, practical proprietor of a gay nightclub who entertains patrons by singing in a smoky seductive voice; Nazis' rise to power sends him back to his wife and kids
- -UNCLE FREDDIE – 40s-50s, aristocratic, well-dressed; Max's uncle, a "closet fluff"
- -(Officer, Captain, Wolf, Guards, Prisoners)
- **Age ranges open
- -Please bring a headshot and resume.
- -Please prepare a contemporary monologue (not more than 1min30sec in length).
- -Auditions will also consist of reading from the script.
- -Please be prepared to list potential conflicts for June & July 2015.
- -Please arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled audition to sign in and fill out information.
- -Compensation: Small stipend.
Auditions will be held at The Underground Collaborative on 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. Sign up for a 7-minute audition slot on their Facebook event page.
Those interested in auditioning who cannot make the dates should contact World’s Stage Artistic Director Gretchen Mahkorn at: gretchen.mahkorn@gmail.com
