Theater Mu

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Seeking actors for 'Today Is My Birthday'

SYNOPSIS

Directed by Artistic Director, Lily Tung Crystal, and fully designed and produced in Mu’s virtual theater, Susan Soon He Stanton’s quirky comedy highlights life with a thousand friends on Facebook and no one to have dinner with on Saturday night. 

Emily is a would-be writer whose bubble life in NYC has popped. Finding life back home in Hawaii chaotic and unfulfilling, she becomes strangely activated after creating a sassy alter-ego for a radio bit. Told through a playful mixture of live radio, voicemail, and phone calls, this play captures people trying to connect despite isolation and separation, making it a play for our current time. 

SEEKING

Both Equity (AEA SPT6 contract) and non-Equity (paid roles). Since this production is virtual, actors will work from their own location.

AUDITIONS

All auditions and callbacks will take place through Zoom.

  • Sunday, November 15, 2020 from 12:00-5:00pm CST

  • Monday, November 16, 2020 from 5:00-10:00pm CST

Callbacks

  • Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 6:00-9:00pm CST

  • Saturday, November 21, 2020 from 12:00-3:00pm CST

REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DATES

All rehearsals and performances will take place virtually.

  • Rehearsals: January 12 - February 1, 2021

  • Tech Rehearsals: February 2 - 6, 2021

  • Preview: February 5, 2021

  • Live Performance Opening: February 6, 2021

  • Live Performance Closing: February 14, 2021

  • On-Demand available for streaming: February 15 - 21, 2021

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

  • Emily: Asian, Pacific Islander, or Part Asian, mid-20s to early-30s. She’s lost but seeking, a journalist who’s currently working as a temp. She’s moved from NYC back to her hometown of Honolulu. 

  • Mom (Emily’s Mother), and others: Asian, Pacific Islander, or Part Asian, 50-70. Also plays: Mrs. Kobayashi, receptionist; Alyssa, Bill Tapia's manager; Joyce, public radio hostess; Mrs. Asuncion, Landon's mother and editor for newspaper.

  • Dad (Emily’s Father), and others: Asian, Pacific Islander, or Part Asian, 50-75. Also plays: Bill Tapia, 103-year-old ukulele player, world's oldest performing musician.

  • Kurt, Sebastian, and others: Any ethnicity, late 20s-30s. He’s a bit alpha and clueless. Plays: Kurt, Artistic Director of Hawai'i Repertory Theatre; Richard, Emily's boss; Sebastian, Emily's ex-boyfriend; Keoni/Jonathan/Franklin, Emily's on-air love interest.

  • DJ Loki, Landon, Harumi, and others: Asian, Pacific Islander, or Part Asian, mid-20s to 40s. He’s an over-the-top radio host. Should be great with voices, can play DJ. Also plays: DJ Loki, FM DJ; Grandpa Z, caricature grandpa performed by DJ Loki; Dr. Johannes Connection, German radio shrink performed by DJ Loki; Landon, Emily's high-school friend; Amazingpresence83, a phone helpline volunteer; Harumi, Emily's ex-boyfriend.

  • Halima, DJ Solange, and others: Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Black, mid-20s to late-30s. Halima: Emily's best friend. She’s a mother to two young children. Even though her life's falling apart, she's able to give lots of advice to her best friend. Should be good with voices. Also plays: DJ Solange: FM DJ; Goddess Sweet Leilani: advice guru performed by DJ Solange; Restaurant Hostess; Generic Female Voice.