The Diviners. Diamondbacks and Diamonds in the Sky

Transcription

1 The Diviners by Jim Leonard, Jr. & Diamondbacks and Diamonds in the Sky by Jill Pertler Included in this packet Audition Information Crew Information Play Summaries Character Descriptions Audition Scenes Important Dates General Auditions Mon, 8/27 3:30-6:00 A106 General Auditions Tues, 8/28 3:30-6:00 A106 Callback Auditions Fri, 8/31 3:30-8:00 A106 Diamondbacks Performances Wed, 10/24 3:45 Aud Diamondbacks Performances Fri, 10/26 7:30 Aud Diamondbacks Performances Sat, 10/27 7:30 Aud Diviners Performance Thur, 11/15 7:30 Aud Diviners Performance Fri, 11/16 3:45/7:30 Aud Diviners Performance Sat, 11/17 7:30 Aud The Production Calendar can be found at Please make sure you check all dates before committing to the production.

2 Audition Details The sign-up sheet will be posted on the callboard (the bulletin board between the scene shop and A106). You only need to sign up for one of the general auditions. You will be expected to stay for the entire audition. If you have a special circumstance, (need to leave early or come late) tell Mr. Harding or Mr. Basso on the day of your audition and they will do their best to accommodate you. It is our goal that everyone reads two or three times. Check your schedule carefully before signing up for a slot. Example - those in Lights will have to audition on Tuesday. Those in FX will have to audition on Monday. Each person auditioning will read several scenes from The Diviners. The scenes for the general auditions are listed in this packet. Hard copies of the scenes are available in A106. There is no separate audition for Diamondbacks. Everyone who auditions will read for The Diviners. If you are invited to the callback audition on Friday, expect to stay the entire time. Callback scenes will be posted prior to the audition. Those eligible for Diamondbacks will automatically be called back, so be prepared to attend on Friday, August 31. Audition Tips Be as familiar with the play and the characters as is possible. Scripts are available on the website. Be confident even if you have never done this before, walk into the audition as if you own the place. Make bold choices you need to show us your stuff. Don t just stand and read. Others will be doing the same scene. Don t let that throw you. Put you own unique spin on the character. You will be nervous. That is a good thing. The key is to channel your nerves into good positive energy. It is important to remember that directors want you to be great. Have fun!!

3 Crew Details You sign up for crew work by filling out the Interest Sheet located on the website. Please rank your crew choices 1-4. Leadership technical positions generally are assigned to experienced techies, but we do make exceptions from time to time, so sign up for whatever you are interested in. Leadership list usually goes up within a few days of casting. Running crew means that you work the run of the show. It means that you will have to be at every rehearsal starting with production week. You will also have periodic meetings prior to production week. Tech Leadership Positions Assistant Director attends all rehearsals, works closely with the director. May be in charge of some rehearsals. Stage Manager in charge of show once it opens. Calls cues, manages all backstage activities. Starts attending rehearsals one month prior to opening. Assistant Stage Manager assists SM in all backstage activities. Set Construction Crew Chief in charge of set build. Also leads stage crew. Light Board Operator/Master Electrician leads crew in hanging and focusing show, runs light board for run of show. Soundboard Engineer helps design sound for show, runs soundboard for run of show. Prop Master secures all props for show, heads prop run crew for run of show. Costume/Make-up Coordinator in charge of helping actors manage costumes and make-up for run of show. House Manager/Publicity Head coordinates publicity activities (poster run) and manages ushers and Front of House staff during run of show.

4 Play Summary - The Diviners Set in the early days of the Depression in a small southern Indiana town named Zion, Buddy Layman is a mentally-challenged boy whose sweet nature touches most people he meets. One day a stranger and retired preacher, C.C. Showers, passes through Zion looking for work and food. C.C. takes an immediate liking to Buddy and vice versa. C.C. is able to relate to Buddy in ways that most people aren't. The two become close friends and C.C. soon finds himself as Buddy's mentor and teacher. Jennie Mae, Buddy's sister, is attracted to C.C., and though he likes her, Jennie Mae isn't the only single girl near Zion that finds C.C. a catch of a man. The town s dry goods owner has her eye set on bringing old-fashioned revival to the community. The local diner owner would love to see the church rebuilt and all the Sunday customers it would bring to her establishment. CC s relationship with the people of the town changes drastically when they learned that he was a former preacher who has given up preaching. That knowledge changes everything and leads to a horrible tragedy. The dry goods owner, despite C.C. trying to tell her multiple times that he's done with preaching for good, is adamant that C.C. will rebuild the town church and bring back traditions of worship service and songs on Sundays and Wednesdays. She leads the town in singing hymns when C.C. tries to help cure Buddy of his aquaphobia and the ringworm that has gotten into his feet, believing that he is actually baptizing Buddy. While C.C. is trying to explain to the still singing townspeople that he isn't doing a baptism, Buddy walks further downstream, when he is pulled under and drowns. The play is bookended by the funeral of Buddy Layman, with the farmer and farm hand recounting their experiences as Buddy dies. Cast of Characters Buddy Layman : A boy who has the special gift to find water and is very curious yet frightened when learning about different things. He suffered brain damage from his previous drowning accident and lost his mother in the same accident. C.C. Showers : A former preacher battling his own demons who befriends the boy. He and Jennie Mae have an attraction that ends as quickly as it begins due to major age differences. Ferris Layman : Buddy's father and local mechanic. He is short tempered and hesitant to do anything that might cause his son anguish, even if it is for his own good. Jennie Mae Layman : Buddy's patient and caring sister. She fills the maternal role of her family. She has a crush on the preacher. Basil Bennett : A farmer who relies on Buddy's abilities and is an amateur doctor. He is the one who diagnoses Buddy's problems. He is married to Luella. Luella Bennett: Basil's wife who doubts Buddy's abilities. Norma Henshaw : The owner of the Dry Goods Store. She wants the church back in Zion. She thinks the preacher's arrival is a sign from God. Goldie Short : The owner of the Dine Away Cafe. Agrees with Norma about C.C.'s arrival. Darlene Henshaw : Norma's niece. Imaginative and charismatic. She has a rebellious streak that fights her Aunt's rules but loves her Aunt. Melvin Wilder : Basil's farmhand who helps Dewey ask Darlene out to the dance. He is older and takes Dewey under his wing. He teaches Dewey to be "suave". Dewey Maple s: Basil's farmhand who doesn't love Darlene or nothin. He is young and naive. He looks to Melvin as his "older brother." Some gender changes of the characters are a possibility.

5 Play Summary - Diamondbacks & Diamonds in the Sky What do you get when you combine a wedding with the end of the world? The Carter family is about to find out. Daughter, Janie, is set to marry Parisian, Michael Dubois, while Janie s father, Bob, seems more intent on preparing for an apocalypse. Add to the mix a lost ring, feuding decorator and caterer, recluse grandma who never steps outside the house, rattlesnake hunting brothers, ghostly mother-in-law, runaway bride, best man and maid of honor who haven t met but are already in love and all the wonderful, wacky emotions and mayhem that ensue when two families prepare to unite. What starts as a simple tale of a wedding grows into a story about the complexities of love, with a dash and a half of humor thrown in on the side. And just when you think things couldn t get any worse, the asteroid hits. Is it the end of the world, or just the beginning? List of Characters - Diamondbacks Bob Carter - Father of the Bride, astronomy professor Carol Carter - Mother of the Bride, local news anchor Janie Carter - Bride with case of wedding jitters Shirley Cavanaugh - Grandmother, past Broadway star, now a recluse Leo/Leah Carter - Janie s younger brother/sister Albert/Allie Carter - Janie s other brother/sister Michael Dubois - Groom, originally from France Isaac Carter - Bride s older brother Tina Carter - Isaac s wife Philippe Dubois - Groom s father, French, bumbling Emilie Dubois - Grooms mother, Ghost Bernard Dubois - Groom s grandfather Miss Finnigan - caterer, bossy Mr. Rossi - decorator, persnickety Jack - Best man, cowboy Diane - Maid of Honor, tomboy Steve Carter - Bob s brother, a free spirit Trixie Carter - Steve s wife, hippy-like Cactus Carter - Steve & Trixie s daughter/son Tumbleweed - Steve & Trixie s other daughter/son & Pastor, Gardeners, Construction Workers, Cameraman, Director, Waiters, Waitresses, others

6 Audition Material (Be prepared to read all character for all scenes) All who audition should be prepared to sing the first verse of Rock of Ages (acapella). The words are on page 28 of the script. Here is a link for those not familiar with the song: Buddy, Showers, Jennie Mae p start with Showers at top of page Hi. end middle of 18, Showers - chock-full a knowledge Luella, Norma p start top of page with Norma singing end with Norma speech at top of 29 Showers, Jennie Mae p start top of 38, Showers - Then there s me... end middle of 39, Jennie Mae - Mr. Showers, I can t. Ferris, Showers p. 44 start at top end at bottom You can find the play on our website