Staged Reading of Revolutions We Write, Revolutions We Live Audition Notice
Synopsis
Revolutions We Write, Revolutions We Live, written by Najy Knee, opens in Cambridge, MA in 1943 on Stella, a washed up writer looking for inspiration. To fight her writer's block, Stella assembles a group of women from her alma mater to write a novel. Among Stella's collaborators are an ex-flame, a radical older butch, a housewife with a passion for literature and science, a factory worker with upper-class origins, and a Puerto Rican woman from New York who credits Stella as one of her trailblazers and inspirations. Half of the play focuses on these women and the friendships they build (and rebuild) amidst their experience in World War II America. The other half, is the high fantasy world of the novel these characters are creating in response to their daily lives and inner turmoil and desires.
Production Team
Director – Najy Knee
Producers – Michael Borges, Devin Dumas, and Kelly Gagner
Preparation
For your audition, please choose and prepare one of the provided character selections (located at the bottom). If the role or none of the roles you are auditioning for have a monologue listed, please choose and prepare any one monologue from the selections that best speaks to you.
Auditions will be accepted via video submission until 11:59PM on February 17, 2025.
Please upload your audition video when filling out the audition form at the bottom.
All are encouraged to audition regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
Rehearsals
The rehearsal process for the staged reading of Revolutions We Write, Revolutions We Live will have a short turnaround time - depending on cast and production team availability, a read through will be held one evening the week of February 23, and 3 to 4 evening rehearsals will be scheduled between March 1 and March 5. Some rehearsals may occur over Zoom as necessary. When registering to audition, please note any dates that would conflict with a pending rehearsal schedule and performance dates. Please be honest to the best of your knowledge - this is to build a schedule that works for the entire cast, and this cannot be done without accuracy.
Performance Dates and Times
Friday, March 7 at 8:00PM
Saturday, March 8 at 8:00PM
Sunday, March 9 at 2:00PM
Performances will be held at Exit 7 Players Theater, 37 Chestnut St., Ludlow, MA.
Please note there will be an optional talkback at Sunday’s matinee reading - the cast is welcome to but not required to stay for this.
Characters
Stella (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45, mixed race / racially ambiguous) - A woman in her early thirties. She is mixed race and appears racially ambiguous / white passing. She is ambitious, but struggles with depression which hinders her creative output. She sees college as her glory days and wants to relive that time in her life, so she decides to gather a group of alumni from her women’s college to write a novel. Stella is double cast as Claude.
Claude (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45, mixed race / racially ambiguous) A character in the novel who is a hopeless romantic peasant in love with the dutchess Audrianna. Claude’s reckless behavior lands her in trouble with the king sending her on an epic quest that is not what it seems to be. Claude is double cast as Stella.
Lucile (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45) - A woman in her early thirties. A former historian and recent widow. She loved the freedom of her husband away at war, but is grieving his death. She always thought she was happy with her husband and did not regret leaving grad school to marry him, but war is making her doubt everything she believed. Especially when she reunites with a familiar flame. Lucile is double cast as Audrianna.
Audrianna (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45) - A duchess in the novel held in exile on the island of Ness for trying to fight against her corrupt family. Audrianna is a no-nonsense leader and supportive friend. Audrianna is double cast as Lucile.
Vera (non-male presenting, age ≥40, white / white-passing) - A middle aged spinster. The comic caricature of an empowered woman on the surface. Everything fathers fear their daughters will be if they send them to college. Below the surface, she is tender and a ray of light. Vera is an experienced writer and radical. Vera is double cast as Adeladia.
Adeladia (non-male presenting, age ≥40, white / white-passing) - A stereotype defying witch filled with compassion and humanity in the novel. An enemy of the king and an ally of the rebellion. Adeladia is double cast as Vera.
Charlotte (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45) - A woman in her mid-late twenties. A new mom with too much and not enough time on her hands. Terrified of being a single mom. Angry that she was unable to put her degree to use and join the workforce when her husband left for war because he left her three months pregnant. Although she studied science, she has grown fond of literature since her husband’s draft. Charlotte is a bit sheltered and naive, but truly does mean well. Charlotte is double cast as Amice.
Amice (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-45) - A character in the novel who is wrongly imprisoned on Ness for crimes she didn’t commit and a surprising asset to a budding rebellion. Amice is double cast as Charlotte.
Alma (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-30, Latina / Latinx) - A woman in her early twenties. Fresh out of college and already putting her degree to use in a library. She is a Puerto Rican woman born and raised in New York City who credits Stella as an inspiration for her college career. When the chance to work alongside Stella comes along she is eager to write with someone she looks up to, but comes away with an even more important relationship with fellow writer Jean. Alma is double cast as Nina.
Nina (female-aligned presenting, age ~18-30, Latina / Latinx) - A peasant girl in the novel who gets to fulfill her lifelong dreams of adventure and romance by tagging along on Claude’s quest. Nina is double cast as Alma.
Jean (non-cisgender male presenting, age ~18-30) - A woman in her early twenties. By study she is a student of the classics and philosophy. Currently by trade she is taking on the man’s world working in a factory. She didn’t financially have to - she comes from good money - she just wanted to. She is bookish and shy, but wants to break out of her shell and be strong and powerful. Jean is double cast as Wilmot.
Wilmot (non-cisgender male presenting, age ~18-30) - A character in the novel inspired by Jean’s desire to be confident and take charge. Wilmot is a key player in the revolution with a short temper. Wilmot is double cast as Jean.
The King - A character in the novel. He is the ruler of Korr. He is a selfish and secretive ruler who does not like to get his hands dirty. As a dictator, he expects to have complete control and does not take lightly to those who want to usurp his authority. The King may be double cast as Cyneric and The Masked Fighter.
Cyneric - A character in the novel. He is a foil to The King. He is an isolated humble man in hiding after being accused of treason. He is a key figure Claude meets on her journey. Cyneric may be double cast as The King and The Masked Fighter.
The Masked Fighter - An adversary Claude meets on her journey in the novel. This role has minimal dialogue and, if not portrayed by the ensemble member playing The King or Cyneric, will be portrayed by another cast member.
Hilda (female-presenting) - A character in the novel. She is imprisoned on Ness with Audrianna and Amice. In her time in exile, she has accepted the royal brainwashing and is ultra loyal to the King she once betrayed. Hilda is nosey and self righteous. Hilda may be double cast as The Messenger.
The Messenger - A loyal servant to The King in the novel. The Messenger reports to The King on how Claude is fairing on her quest. The messenger is a loyal servant to the king and is content with the status quo. The Messenger may be double cast as Hilda.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues submitting an audition video, please contact the production team.