Theater Emory announces auditions for The 5th Great Ape, by Out of Hand Theater and Ken Weitzman, directed by Ariel de Man.
Equity Auditions on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00AM – 6:00PM.
Non-Equity Auditions on Sunday, April 26 from 2:00-6:00PM.
Rehearsals start on Oct. 20 and the play runs Nov. 12 – 22.
Prepare a contemporary monologue of 1-2 minutes that can be presented with great physicality. There will also be readings from the script (sides available at auditions and in advance).
Actors are paid for rehearsal and performance. Performers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Auditions are at the Rich Building at 1602 Fishburne Drive on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. Call 404-712-9118 M-F, 10-5 starting Thursday, 4/9 for more info and to schedule an appointment. (Please no calls prior to 4/9.) See our website for more information:
Click on ‘Theater Emory’ and ‘Audition Info’.
Theater Emory operates under a SPT contract with Actors Equity Association. Audition notices for this production are also posted in “Casting Call” on the AEA website www.actorsequity.org and locally on the ACPA website www.atlantaperforms.biz.
Description: Scientists agree that humans are approximately two percent genetically different from chimpanzees. World-famous primatologist Frans de Waal of Emory University’s Yerkes National Primate Research Center wants to know what that two percent means for human nature. In a co-production with Theater Emory, Out Of Hand Theater and playwright Ken Weitzman are working with assistance from Dr. de Waal and Yerkes to develop The 5th Great Ape. The human ape is examined in this collaboratively-generated, highly physical theater piece that retells a riveting true story of murder and suicide in the largest chimpanzee colony in captivity. Human characters explore our true nature in a play that offers new ideas and questions about power, sex, violence, kindness, and morality through study of our closest primate relatives.
Female role:
Mama (40s – 50s): The matriarch of the community. Ruled before the men came. The arbiter, the dispute settler, the peacekeeper. You better listen to Mama if you know what’s good for you.
Male roles:
Scientist (mid 30s – 60s): A primatologist studying the human ape community, passionate about his research, highly perceptive, trained to be objective and unemotional, but can’t help forming personal attachments to his subjects.
Jerome (40s – 50s): The oldest man in the community, over the hill, a calculating old fox, an Iago.