American Theater Group | East Brunswick, NJ
Monday, January 20, 2025
11:55 PM - 11:59 PM (E)
SPT
$538 weekly minimum (SPT 5) + health/pension/travel
Equity actors for roles in PURLIE (see breakdown). Some roles will be understudied.
Please prepare a song in the style of the score (traditional Broadway with Jazz/Gospel/R&B influences) with material of your choosing. In the event that a performer does not have access to audition accompaniment tracks of their own, the theatre has provided audition accompaniment cuts of Irving Berlin's Always, now in the public domain, which you are welcome to use as a general singing audition. It has been provided in 4 separate keys (Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass) and tracks/sheet music can be obtained from:
Dropbox. Please do NOT feel obligated to sing this song, however. You are welcome to use any material of your choosing, but we do strongly prefer that you sing with accompaniment or an accompaniment track. The Equity video submission deadline is January, 20th, 2025, at 11:59pm ET.
Via Submission
New York, NY 10036
Producer: American Theater Group (James Vagias, Producing Artistic Director)
Music: Gary Geld
Lyrics: Peter Udell
Book: Ossie Davis, Peter Udell and Philip Rose
Based on Purlie Victorious by Ossie Davis;
Director/Choreographer: Kenny Ingram
Music Director: Danté L. Harrell
Viewing Submissions:
Casting Director: Michael Cassara, CSA
First rehearsal: on or after 2/13/2025 (TBD)
First preview: 3/6/2025
Closes: 3/23
Rehearsals and performances will take place at Hamilton Stage, in Rahway, NJ (about 40 minutes from Penn Station via NJT). As part of a concession, the employer will accept 25 video submissions from Equity members. Members will sign up online for one of the 25 slots. Only members who get one of the 25 slots will receive a confirmation e-mail with the preparation and submission information. An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
PURLIE
Purlie is the 1970 musical adaptation of Ossie Davis's comedic play Purlie Victorious about a raveling preacher who returns to his hometown in Georgia and concocts a scheme to reclaim his church. Nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction and Best Choreography, the original Broadway production received Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Cleavon Little as Purlie) and Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Melba Moore as Lutiebelle.
[PURLIE VICTORIOUS JUDSON] Black. 30s to early 40s, male. A charismatic con man (think Harold Hill). He must dominate the stage as soon as he sets foot on it. Like any good preacher, he sometimes sings when he talks and talks when he sings.
[LUTIEBELLE GUSSIE MAE JENKINS] Black. 18+ to play early 20s, female. From the backwoods of Alabama, she has been a servant in a white household. Naive, innocent, good-hearted - she met Purlie in Alabama as a preacher and accompanied him back to the plantation to assist him with his scheme. Purlie is planning to have her impersonate dead cousin Bee. Lutiebelle helps Purlie with his plans but she has plans herself: to make Purlie her husband. The audience falls in love with her immediately. Sings I Got Love.
[MISSY JUDSON] Black, female, late 30s/early 40s. Aunt Missy is Purlie's sister-in-law. Kind-hearted (but firm) matriarch of the Judson family. Married to Purlie's brother Gitlow Judson.
[GITLOW JUDSON] Black, male, late 30s/early 40s. Purlie's brother who does little to lessen the sibling rivalry. He accepts the realities of plantation life. Appointed Deputy for the Colored by the owner of the plantation.
[OL’ CAP’N COTCHIPEE] white, male, 50s+. The Plantation Owner who is Purlie's antagonist. A white southerner who is not with the movement and can't understand why 'the old ways' need changing. His symbol of authority is a bullwhip.
[IDELLA LANDY/CHURCH SOLOIST] Black, female, 40s-60s+. [IDELLA LANDY] is Charlie’s nurse and confidant since birth. Self-assured and wise. Doubles as [CHURCH SOLOIST] The lead singer of the church choir, she opens the show with a rousing raise-the-roof gospel solo.
[CHARLIE COTCHIPEE] white, male, 20s. Ol’ Cap’n’s son. A (not particularly talented) aspiring folk singer for justice. He represents the New South and has more in common with Purlie than his father. Plays guitar, at least a bit.
[ENSEMBLE ROLES] Black, any gender identity, 18+. Strong singer/dancer/actors.
Videos
