Migration: An Exploration in Art, Words and Music, inspired by Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series, Panel no. 1: During World War I there was a great migration north by southern African Americans., between 1940 and 1941, Casein tempera on hardboard 12 x 18 in.; 30.48 x 45.72 cm. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC. Acquired 1942. © 2018 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

 

The Kent County Arts Council (KCAC) will hold auditions for their presentation of staged readings of a series of five new plays commissioned by and written for The Philips Collection in Washington DC to commemorate an anniversary of “The Migration Series” in 2015. The KCAC will produce the plays with Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Lawton, Theater Department, UNC Chapel Hill, and the plays will be directed by Michele Volansky, Chair, Department of Theater and Dance, Washington College.

The evenings (November 1-4) will feature these five plays as act one, and Robert Earl Price & Pam Ortiz’s RED DEVIL MOON as act two. The evenings will begin at Chestertown RiverArts with an exhibition of student art work based on The Migration Series.

Below is a list of the five short plays, and the character descriptions for each.
Actors will read from pre-selected scenes, scripts will be provided
Actors are invited to audition for multiple roles. All roles are non-equity and are paid.

BAGDAD CARPET by Norman Allen
A Young Man – 16 or 17, African American
A Conductor – Male, 50s, African American

IN CONSTANT PURSUIT by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm
MOTHER, African American, regal, ageless
FATHER*, African American, earnest, ageless
SON, African American, as earnest as FATHER, perhaps more so.
BROTHER*, African American, innocent
*The roles of FATHER and BROTHER could potentially be played by the same actor.

A LEGACY OF CHAINS by Annalisa Dias
MAY, a young adult woman, in her 20s or 30s as of 2016. Woman of color
COP, a police officer. White Male
TEACHER, person of color, Male or Female, 30’s

A LONG ARDUOUS JOURNEY by Jacqueline E. Lawton
Sabeen, Middle Eastern early 20s
Malcolm, African American early 30s

#51 by Laura Shamas
KAMIL …………………………………………………..A woman (40’s – 50’s)
BURHAN……………………………………………………A man (40’s – 50’s)
ELIZABETH, their daughter …………………………….A teenaged girl (17)

Questions about auditions? Email john@kentcountyartscouncil.org or
mvolansky2@washcoll.edu Or Call the KCAC at 410-778-3700

PLEASE RSVP to Auditionjohn@kentcountyartscouncil.org or 410-778-3700