Elgin Theatre Company to hold auditions for 'Sylvia'
The Elgin Theatre Company will hold auditions for its upcoming production of "Sylvia," a comedy by A.R. Gurney. This production is directed by Frank Del Giudice and is part of ETC's 2022-23 season.
Auditions will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, and 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5.
Call backs, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
No appointment is needed.
If you cannot attend these audition dates, contact Elgin Theatre Company by calling (847) 741-0532.
Auditions will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 216 E Highland Ave. in Elgin.
This is an open call for auditions, for all roles. No prior casting has been done.
You may prepare a two-minute monologue (preferred but not mandatory). Cold readings from the script will also be available.
Bring all scheduling conflicts. Bring a copy of your resume and headshot if you have same.
The read through and rehearsals will be held at the church.
Performances will be held on Feb. 3-19, on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., eighth floor.
The play's synopsis: Greg is a man of middle age, a restless empty nester, tired of his job in finance, looking for meaning in his life. Sylvia is an exuberant and beautiful (maybe labradoodle) stray on Central Park, looking for a new home. When they meet, it is love at first sight. But his wife Kate, a busy rising star in the public school system, is looking forward to some independence now that their children have moved on. Kate is not willing to deal with a clever, coquettish canine who jumps and slobbers, sits on her couch and takes Greg's attention away from his marriage. Sylvia is appalling to Kates friends, the marriage counselor advocates divorce and euthanasia, and even Greg's new dog owner friend warns him of the splintering effect a dog can have on a marriage. A. R. Gurney's Sylvia is a smart, silly, sophisticated, and occasionally salty comedy about relationships, nature and growing older.
Roles for Sylvia are for all ethnicities:
• Greg (45-58): Loving, lost, kind, dissatisfied, empty-nester father. Financier, husband, devoted, well-meaning, successful. Wants to feel needed, wants to engage on his terms, he is not sure of what those terms are.
• Kate (45-50): Teacher, education philosopher, Shakespeare expert, active, energetic, professional. Wife, mother, intelligent, driven, empty nester, loving, confused, threatened, impatient, knows what she wants and is finally about, has achieved great respect and kudos for her work in education.
• Sylvia (adult): Smart, street smart, exuberant, pert, spunky, wild, feminine, funny, sassy, sincere, needy, foul-mouthed, earthy, loving, devoted, confident, proud, playful and sexy, not above manipulating, wants to be cared for and loved. (a dog/canine).
• Tom (20-30): Friendly, opinionated, dog owner, wry, cheerful, macho, New Yorker, not the wisest, but he knows a lot, encounters sadness and defeat.
• Phyllis (40-50): Socialite, New Yorker, elite, elegant, delicate, alcoholic, frustrated, sophisticated, ridiculous, conservative, self-conscious, self-centered.
• Leslie (30-60): Therapist, counselor, authoritative, conciliatory, astonished, gender-neutral, androgynous, can't process rejection.
The age ranges listed above can be flexible.
Actors will be asked to help however they can with costumes, props, and set pieces.
For more information e-mail producer Richard Grieger at dgremax@gmail.com.