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OPEN AUDITIONS FOR BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS' A SHAYNA MAIDEL

A SHAYNA MAIDEL
By Barbara Lebow
Directed by Carol Fisher

Audition Dates: July 22, 24 at 7:30 PM
Call backs by invitation only: July 29 at 7:30 PM
Performances: Oct 25-Nov 16

The time is 1945 in NYC. The Holocaust has split apart a family as the father and youngest daughter escape to America and the mother and eldest daughter are left behind. As the play opens the father and daughter have just learned that the older daughter has survived and is on her way to NYC to be reunited with the only family she has left. A touching drama unfolds. Sometimes sad. Sometimes joyful. The question being can this family set aside all that divides them and become one again?

ROLES:
Mordechai- Late 60s but looks wonderful. Father of Rose and Lusia. Could pass for a much younger man. Religious, devout, elegant. Very old Europe. The hub of the family wheel. He represses any emotions which would betray weakness or vulnerability. This does not mean he doesn’t feel them.

Rose: Early to mid 20s. Daughter of Mordechai. Sister of Lusia. Pretty and bright. Assimilated but not ashamed of /or trying to hide her Jewish identity. Very little memory of her childhood in Poland but deeply curious about it.

Lusia: Late 20s to Early 30s. Sister of Rose. Daughter of Mordechai. Very much a stranger in a strange world. Haunted by her past but careful not to let others know. Strong and Stubborn and hopeful. Not self pitying.

Duvid: mid 30s. (appears younger in memory sequences) Husband of Lusia. For most of the play only appears as a ghost/dream. Funny, handsome. Deeply loves Lusia.

Mama: Various ages. Mother of Rose and Lusia. Wife of Mordechai. Pretty and generous woman. Appears only as a memory.

Hannah: Lusia’s childhood friend. She ages from 14-late 20s. Only appears in Lusia’s memory. 

NOTE: Each of the actors with the exception of Rose must be able to sustain a Yiddish accent for various periods of time. Mordechai and Luisa must sustain it for the entire play. Duvid, Mama and Hannah must be able to sustain it for shorter periods of time. 

Audition will consist of readings from the script. If you have any questions please email me at carol.fisher@nyumc.org. Scripts can be emailed to you or I can arrange for you to pick one up. Please let me know what you prefer. Rehearsals will begin the end of July or beginning of August.

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