Audition Notice
For the StageWorks Staged Reading of
“How A Boy Falls”
By Steven Dietz
Directed by Rick Ellis
A contemporary mystery with a dark comic edge, “How a Boy Falls” is a taut psychological thriller exploring how past events can be weaponized to shape the present.
Audition Times: Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 pm
Auditions will consist of cold readings from sides provided by the director, and are held at Acting Ensemble on the Avenue; 602 E. Mishawaka Avenue, Mishawaka.
To arrange an alternate audition time or for questions, contact Rick at rickwellis@gmail.com
CHARACTERS: Acting Ensemble is looking for 3 men and 2 women to play the following roles (ages can be adjusted):
CHELLE – a woman, twenty-nine
SAM – a man, thirty
PAUL – a man, fifty-two
MIRANDA – a woman, fifty
MITCH – a man, thiry-five
THE STORY: The disappearance of a young boy casts suspicion on his newly-hired au pair, as well as on the wealthy parents who have hired her. As the parents seek revenge upon one another, the young au pair is hatching a plot of her own. “How a Boy Falls” is a psychological thriller with a dark comic edge about the way in which past events can be weaponized to shape the present.
Performance date and rehearsals: One performance on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30pm. This is a staged reading – no memorization, and we will have 4 rehearsals. Please arrive at the audition knowing your conflicts.
History:
“How a Boy Falls” premiered at Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL on January 23, 2020.
Reviews:
“A tense, anxious thriller… masterful plotting.” – Chicago Tribune
“Steven Dietz’s crafty and ultra-twisty storytelling… a shiveringly chilly work.” – Chicago Sun-Times
“Unquestionably gripping.” – Daily Tribune
★★★★★ “75 minutes of taut and tight theater… great storytelling.” – Around the Town Chicago
For the ’24-25 season, Steven Dietz was once again named one of the “20 Most Produced Playwrights in America” by American Theatre Magazine. His 40-plus plays and adaptations have been seen at over 100 regional theatres, as well as off-Broadway and in 25 countries internationally. Recent premieres include new adaptations of Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton and Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie, as well as the serio-comic thriller How a Boy Falls. Other recent work includes Vineland Place, Mirror Lake and Vial Man (The Apothecary’s Story). His widely produced play Shooting Star was adapted by Dietz, Kirk Lynn and Meg Ryan into the movie What Happens Later, starring Ms. Ryan. Awards include the Steinberg New Play Citation for Bloomsday, the Kennedy Center New American Plays Award for Fiction and the Edgar Award® for Best Mystery Play for Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. He lives in Seattle and Austin.
THE STAGEWORKS STAGED READING SERIES IS A MONTHLY STAGED READING, performed with script in hand and utilizing little to no movement, lights, sounds, or costumes. We love StageWorks because it gives us a chance to let you experience quality theater that we might not be able to produce otherwise (because of cast size, space restrictions, time constraints, etc.) at an affordable price, and allows our actors to explore and innovate, honing their craft and elevating their creativity. The series is made possible through the generosity of Erasmus Books and the Paul Saltzgaber Memorial Fund for Reading, Writing and the Arts.
