Description:

Goodman Theatre | Chicago, IL





Contract

LORT Non-Rep

B+; actor minimum $832/wk + travel/housing



Personnel

Music Director Doug Peck, Choreographer Christopher Gattelli, Associate Choreographer Lou Castro, Chicago Casting Director: Adam Belcuore will attend with casting authority.



Other

In the submission email, please highlight any physical theatre, circus arts, movement or dance expereince





Other Dates

Goodman Theatre:*

1st Reh.: 4/30

1st Pre.: 6/21

Runs: 7/1 - 7/28

Possible Ext.: 8/18



Huntington Theatre:*

1st Reh.: 8/27

1st Pre.: 9/6

Opens: 9/13

Closes: 10/20

*Casting is contingent on actors being avail. for both sets of dates.

Seeking

Photo and resume submissions for all principle and ensemble roles. Please see Breakdown.





Breakdown



General notes on all submissions:

We are looking for unusual and interesting physical types vivid in their look and energy, wildly imaginative actors with strong physical vocabularies, and good ensemble players who are young at heart. Mary Zimmerman creates an ensemble to tell her stories; all actors are likely to play multiple parts.



Principals:

BALOO: (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, 30s-50s)

Baritone or Bass. Wonderfully relaxed, easeful; a kind of fun Uncle. He is both irresponsible and a little goofy, and yet a tutor to Mowgli and protective of him. A sweet, big bear who is also rather heroic, but also silly; a "lug." "Lazy", but somewhat wise in the end.



BAGHEERA: (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, 40s -50s) No specific vocal range. He is a very wise and old soul. Elegant; wry; ironic. He is serious about life, the rules of life, and the laws of the Jungle. Born in a cage in Udaipur and very sensitive about that. That wound from childhood makes him see that Mowgli belongs with people, just as he knew he had to get from Udaipur to the jungle. He is impatient, private and a bit secretive.





MOWGLI: (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, should seem 10-12 y/o) No specific vocal range. Small, spunky, independent, stubborn, unafraid, thinks he can manage when he really can't. A live wire, sparkly, charming. Singers and non-singers welcome.



GRIM LITTLE BOY: (Male, Caucasian or other ethnicity, should seem 10-12 y/o) No specific vocal range. A mirror to Mowgli; his European contemporary. Silent and pasty; he is reading the story we are seeing. Mostly non-speaking, but very expressive. Singers and non-singers welcome.



KAA: (Male or Female, South Asian or other ethnicity, 20s – 50s) Alto, Baritone, or Tenor. A sly, but charming villain. Looking for a physically adept actor. Sinewy, lithe, serpentine. Puppetry experience is a plus.



SHERE KAHN (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, 40s – 60s) No specific vocal range. Arch-villain. He limps. He has a vendetta towards Mowgli in a Voldemort-ish way. Elegant but possibly more brutal in the end. He is the bad King to Bagheera’s good king. Sly, crafty, powerful and dangerous. Singers and non- singers welcome.



KING LOUIE: (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, 30s-50s) Tenor or Baritone. An ambitious Orangutan. Smarter than his comrades but still doesn't get that he can't be other than who he is. He can’t become a man. He is somewhat threatening, but also comic in his limited intelligence. He cannot stay focused on anything for any length of time. Deeply loose-limbed; a good physicality is paramount. Looking for a unique physical type and a strong swing singer.



LITTLE GIRL/BABY ELEPHANT: (Female, South Asian or other ethnicity, 10 – 16 y/o) Soprano. Young Performer with strong singing and dancing abilities. A young beauty from the man-village. Looking for strong young actors with vibrant physicality.



COLONEL HATHI (Male, South Asian or other ethnicity, 40s – 60s)The Colonel of the Elephant brigade. Probably British or Indian. Full of himself. A blow-hard. He lives in a fantasy empire. Perhaps a bit delusional. Funny. Barrel-chested; someone of size.



MRS. HATHI/MOTHER WOLF (Female, South Asian or other ethnicity, late 20s – 50s) Alto or mezzo-soprano. Mrs. Hathis is the wife to the Colonel; silly, fawning, distracted. Mother Wolf is a warm and motherly presence, but has ferocious claws when her children are threatened. Looking for a strong singer and dancer.



VULTURES: (Male or Female, South Asian or other ethnicity, 20s – 50s) Possibly tall, or skinny, or squat; birdlike features are a plus. They are dark and morbid. The four vultures make up a barbershop quartet. They are actually out to eat Mowgli though they say they are his "friends." Looking for good character types and strong singers.

Ensemble:



ELEPHANTS/WOLVES/MONKEYS: (Male or Female, all ethnicities, 20s-30s)

Looking for strong and interesting dancers with jazz and ballet experience, as well as specialists in tap and traditional Indian or South-Asian dance forms. Also interested in traditional South Asian singers. Ensemble actors will play bugs, vultures, monkeys, elephants, and wolves.