Audition for The Serpent, by Jean Claude van Itallie

From Sivan Battat ’15:

COME PLAY IN THE GARDEN WITH US

THE PLAY
Beginning at the Book of Genesis, Jean Claude van Itallie’s The Serpent weaves biblical narrative with contemporary experience to craft a ceremonial journey for actors and audience. It traces human existence, from the search for happiness, to first encounters with evil, to our dialogue with our own mortality. The piece takes us from the Garden of Eden and Cain and Abel all the way to Kennedy’s assassination. The key, however, is how we relate to these themes. How do we understand and grapple with violence? How do we as young people respond to and rationalize it? When do we “bite our apple” and how do we respond? It poses the question: what happens if we destroy it all?

THE PROCESS
It is going to be an incredibly collaborative, devising process. Each actor will have an essential role in the creation of what we make and what we say. This is a different way to make theater: together. We will be creating and destroying, both literally and figuratively. Be prepared to get your hands dirty! It’s the Garden of Eden after all….Expect 6-15 hours of rehearsal a week, depending on the proximity to the performance. The production goes up December 4-6 in the ’92 Theater.

WHO
Actors, dancers, musicians, painters, writers, thinkers, movers, curious citizens, everyone who wants to explore their body in space in relation to the oldest stories in history. No experience necessary! You don’t have to consider yourself a performer in any regard to be a part of our process and our exploration.

HOW
No need to prepare anything, I will have some explorations and some text in the room. Just come ready to move your body and with an open mind. Sign up on the google doc here for a slot or just drop in! GOOGLE DOC HERE

Auditions will be held:
Thursday, September 4th from 6:30-9 in the JONES ROOM and
Saturday, September 6 from 4-7 in the EAST ROOM (Theater Studios). Callbacks, if necessary TBA

Please contact Sivan with any questions.
Directed by Sivan Battat: sbattat(at)wesleyan(dot)edu
Stage Managed by Brendan Coakley: bcoakley(at)wesleyan(dot)edu

A quick note: this is Sivan Battat’s directing capstone project. It is still up in the air whether credit will be offered for the production or not but there is a possibility the theater department will provide .5 credit for all actors involved. By the time the cast list is posted, this will be decided.