Looking for Video Submissions for workshop presentations of A COLLECTIBLE SENSATION, a new musical by Amy Engelhardt & Arianna Rose. Reading Producer: Robert Hofmann, Reading Director: Clayton Phillips, Reading Music Director: Amanda Weis
LOCATION: Duluth, MN
Rehearsals will run January 3rd-10th (in Duluth, MN rehearsal room)
Public Presentations in Duluth, MN): January 11th, 12th, 13th
$200 stipend
*Housing in Duluth may be negotiated.
*Please note the exact times for rehearsals will be decided after auditions and
based on availability, but you can expect 5-6 hours a day with one day off*
Audition Requirements: 2 contrasting musical theater styles
- 16 bars of a legit song
- 16 bars of a contemporary song
- 2 minute monologue
PLEASE UPLOAD SUBMISSIONS TO THE FOLLOWING LINK:
Audition video submissions on website: https://sites.google.com/view/two-week-workshop-series/auditions
DEADLINE: ASAP, hard deadline November 20th NOON.
EMAIL QUESTIONS TO Robert Hofmann [email protected]m
A COLLECTIBLE SENSATION is a musical adaptation of the full-length play THE EQUIVALENT OF SENSATION by Amy Englehardt & Arianna Rose.
At the unveiling of the million-dollar renovation of their renowned Cone Collection at the Baltimore Museum of Modern Art, long dead sisters Etta and Claribel Cone suddenly materialize. "Family friend" Gertrude Stein and her paramour Alice Toklas (equally dead) also pop up, uninvited (much to Etta’s dismay). Their mission: to settle once and for all how the “friendship” between Etta and Gertrude fell apart. Their younger selves appear to help them sort it all out, and surrounding artwork miraculously comes to life, each woman represented by a painting with special significance. Etta struggles with her feelings for Gertrude and her modern proclivities, at direct odds with her Victorian mores. Through a series of evocative vignettes, we are transported back to Baltimore, Paris and Italy at the turn of the century to learn
what derailed the relationship (and suspected affair) and how Gertrude and Alice came to be a couple. The musical is non-linear, moving between present time in the Cone Wing and memories of the women’s younger selves and artwork that comes alive to move the story forward. Fantasy sequences are created when past and present merge. At its heart, A COLLECTIBLE SENSATION is about learning valuable, timeless lessons of love, and covert and overt feminism in a time when women were expected to be heterosexual homemakers.
Featuring a cast of twelve women of any race and ethnicity, the score is written for a modern rhythm section (pop/rock) with strings for a more chamber-like, period feel.
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
12 women/female presenting, any race/ethnicity. Optional additional ensemble to portray additional artwork.
ETTA CONE: woman, 40+, timid, subservient to older sister Claribel. Household Manager, Art Collector.Repressed, finds her path through the study and collecting of art and textiles. Loves lace, piano, family. Her looks are plain. Her figure buried under layers of petticoats and a black skirt, white blouse.
CLARIBEL CONE: woman, 40+, Etta’s older sister,“the Empress”, Research Doctor, Public Speaker, Art Collector, charismatic, imperious, austere, demanding. A handsome and imposing woman. Petticoats and black skirt, white or black blouse. Often wore a black velvet cape with purple lining.
GERTRUDE STEIN: woman, 40+, charismatic, outspoken, melodic voice, Writer and Art Collector. Lesbian. Large in every sense of the word. Flouts conventions and dresses for comfort; more masculine look, bohemian.
ALICE B. TOKLAS: woman, 40+, quiet, determined, jealous streak, writer, lover of music, flowers, cooking, lesbian, life partner of Gertrude Stein. Always dressed well, wears a succession of fabulous hats, often wears sandals instead of shoes.
YOUNG ETTA: woman, 20s.
YOUNG CLARIBEL: woman, 20s.
YOUNG ALICE: woman, 20s.
YOUNG GERTRUDE: woman, 20s.
The artwork come to life, from the Cone Collection (also play various ensemble roles):
ODALISQUE: Based on "Standing Odalisque Reflected in a Mirror" 1923 by Henri Matisse. Special connection to Etta.
WOMAN 2/WOMAN IN TURBAN: based on the 1917 painting
WOMAN IN TURBAN (LORETTE) by Henri Matisse. Special connection to Claribel.
WOMAN 3/PORTRAIT OF GERTRUDE STEIN: based on "Portrait of Gertrude Stein" by Felix Vallaton, 1907. Special connection to Gertrude.
WOMAN 4/PORTRAIT OF A GIRL: based on "Portrait of a Girl" by Marie Laurencin, 1927. Special connection to Alice.