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Casting Call for Fall 2022 K-State Theatre Production

By April 29, 2022News

CASTING CALL * ACTORS WANTED 

EBONY THEATRE AND K-STATE THEATRE 

Present 

LET ME DOWN EASY 

By Anna Deavere Smith 

Directed by David Mackay 

PLEASE NOTE: This play will replace THE LIGHT, originally scheduled in this slot. 

PERFORMANCE DATES: September 22-25 CHAPMAN THEATRE 

REHEARSALS: Starting date to be confirmed 

ABOUT THE PLAY:  

Constructed from verbatim interview transcripts, Anna Deavere Smith examines the miracle of human resilience through the lens of the national debate on health care. After collecting interviews with over 300 people on three continents, Smith creates an indelible gallery of 20 individuals, known and unknown—from a rodeo bull rider and a World Heavyweight boxing champion to a New Orleans doctor during Hurricane Katrina, as well as former Texas Governor Ann Richards, cyclist Lance Armstrong, film critic Joel Siegel, and supermodel Lauren Hutton. A work of emotional brilliance and political substance from one of the treasures of the American theater. Originally created as a one-person show, the author encourages multi-actor productions of the play. 

DAVID’S NOTE: There is a tremendous power to this piece. While not only dealing with healthcare, but the play also examines the resilience people have in the face of illness, age and death. With humor. With Love (Tough Love sometimes) But also with rich characters. Great acting challenge for performers.  

CASTING:  

The play is a series of 20 monologues.  

We are looking to cast 5 – 7 actors to each perform 2-4 monologues. These monologues are based on the text of over 300 interviews the playwright had with real people. (Traditionally, this play has been performed by the writer herself.) 

Ebony Theatre is in the process of revisioning their mission statement to go beyond Black and Anti-Black experiences. We aim to include all underrepresented voices including Indigenous people, the Queer community, people with disabilities, neurodiverse people and also people who may not be underrepresented but want to learn and support opportunities for everyone.  

As the director, I am looking for actors who are willing to commit and work on memorizing their monologues over the summer break. There will be a lot of work to do when we get in rehearsal, but with each actor having that foundational base, we can create some exhilarating characters. This is an excellent acting/performance opportunity. If interested and available do let me know.  

PERFORMING IN THIS PLAY WILL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING CAST IN THE MUSICAL.   

If you are interested in being considered for the cast of LET ME DOWN EASY:  

ALL VOICES WELCOME 

PLEASE READ THE PLAY AND EMAIL ME THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING dbmackay@ksu.edu 

We are hoping to cast this play before the Spring semester ends. Please notify me of your interest in this play no later than Noon Tuesday, May 5th. Thank you.  

A DIGITAL COPY OF THE PLAY CAN BE FOUND HERE