DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY:
Crime. Corruption. Cauliflower. Bertolt Brecht’s cutthroat satire chronicles gangster Arturo Ui’s bloody ascension to power. Set in Chicago amidst a city-wide scandal, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui gets to the heart of hometown corruption and global fascism. Boundaries are blurred between high and low art, rich and poor crime, broken and fixed systems. In responding to the rise of tyranny in 1930s Germany, Brecht conducts a disturbingly timeless takedown of who runs systems and who lets them.
Brecht's play is an allegorical depiction of the rise of Hitler and the 3rd Reich during the period 1932-38, leading to the occupation of Austria. Brecht shows this through the story of a Chicago mobster in the 1930's who attempts to take over the Cauliflower "industry" by any means possible. You'll note references that feel like they could be about Al Capone, and dialogue that sounds like Hollywood gangster films of the 1930's. We will present Brecht's play, completed in 1941 but not performed onstage until 1958, using the convention of a radio play, broadcast in the mid 1940's. The ensemble of characters performing The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui will come from a cast of radio actors, production staff (stage managers and directors) and technicians (sound and Foley artists).
DIRECTOR'S CASTING ASSUMPTIONS AND/OR REQUIREMENTS:
We look to cast an ensemble of 15-16 actors of any gender or color. All will play multiple roles, from Brecht's play and from our frame device of the radio studio. Valuable special skills will include experience with microphones or radio work, dialect and vocal character work, and Foley (manually manufactured sound effects).
AUDITIONS: Tuesday, August 27th, 2024 | 6-10 PM | Gabel Rehearsal Studio (MUND 409)
Each actor auditioning is asked to prepare a 60-second monologue from a contemporary play (1955-present). Even if you do not have a monologue prepared, please still feel warmly welcomed to audition; in that case, we will give you something to read right there in the moment.
CALLBACKS: Wednesday, August 28th, 2024 | 6-10 PM | Gabel Rehearsal Studio (MUND 409)
The stage manager Hemani Mehta, hmehta3@luc.edu, will notify you if you are called back.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Rehearsals Begin: 9/16/24
Tech: 10/17/24 - 10/23/24
Performances: 10/24/24 - 10/26/24 and 10/31/24 - 11/2/24 at 7:30PM, 10/27/24 and 11/3/24 at 2:00PM.
This project conflicts with rehearsals for Mainstage Show ORANGE JULIUS and Second Stage Projects TROJAN WOMEN: REWORKED and IN AOC WE TRUST.