Auditions: Picasso at the Lapin Agile

We’re delighted to open casting for our Autumn 2024 production at Theatre@41. Natalie Roe will be directing Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin).

The play is an ensemble piece with roles of all sizes for at least 10 performers (role breakdowns below). We’ll be holding auditions at Southlands Methodist Church on 11, 13, 15 and 16 June. Our auditions are open to all, regardless of whether you’re a YSCP member or have acted in one of our productions before.

About the play

Paris. 1904. Wine o’clock.

On a not-so ordinary evening at the Lapin Agile, Montmartre’s iconic cabaret bar favoured by struggling artists, anarchists and intellectuals alike, two soon-to-be legends find themselves sitting next to each other. It turns out Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein, with egos as big as their intellects, have a lot to talk about. As the streets outside grow darker, the cafe is lit up with dizzying debate about the promise of the 20th century. But events take a surreal turn when a certain blue suede shoe-wearing singer from the future shows up…

American actor, writer and comedian, Steve Martin, plays fast and loose with history in this hilarious absurdist comedy.

Roles

• Freddy, the owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile
• Gaston, an older man, barfly
• Germaine, waitress and Freddy’s girlfriend, seen it all
• Albert Einstein, age twenty-five, genius
• Suzanne, nineteen, street smart and in charge
• Sagot, Picasso’s art dealer, vibrant and energetic
• Pablo Picasso, age twenty-three, quick, moody, brooding
• Charles Dabernow Schmendiman, a young man, thinks he’s a genius, he isn’t
• The Countess, brainy and well dressed, small part
• A Female Admirer, small part, may be multi-roled with either Suzanne or The Countess
• A Visitor, a young singer from the 1950s, wears blue suede shoes, from Memphis

Audition information

Audition will take place on:

• Tuesday 11 June, 7pm-9.45pm (Southlands Methodist Church)
• Thursday 13 June, 7pm-9.45pm (Southlands Methodist Church)
• Saturday 15 June, 2pm-4.45pm (Southlands Methodist Church)
• Sunday 16 June, 2pm-4.45pm (Southlands Methodist Church)

Auditions will be separate and last for 15 minutes. You will be sent a short audition piece for the role(s) you’re interested in beforehand, which you’ll explore with Natalie, the director, at the audition. There’s no need to learn the material off by heart in advance or put on any accents. We ask that you also prepare a short 30 second Elvis impersonation in addition to reading your chosen part. Gender blind casting will be considered for this production.

To register your interest, please fill in this form and we’ll get back to you with a 15 minute audition slot. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop us an email at yorksettlementcommunityplayers@gmail.com. If you are successful in auditioning, please note that you will be required to join YSCP as a member – annual membership is £15 or £7.50 for under 30s, students and unwaged.

Rehearsals and performances

Rehearsals will start in July, an average of twice during weekday evenings and one daytime on the weekend, with a break for August. Production week at Theatre@41:

• Sunday 27 October – get in and tech rehearsal
• Monday 28 October – dress rehearsal
• Tuesday 29 October, 7.30pm – performance
• Wednesday 30 October, 7.30pm – performance
• Thursday 31 October, 7.30pm – performance
• Friday 1 November 2024, 7.30pm – performance
• Saturday 2 November 2024, 2.30pm & 7.30pm – performances and get out