AUDITION reminder

THE COOK

a recipe for revolution by Eduardo Machado

Directed by Kym Moore

A production of Sock & Buskin and the Dept. of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies.

First rehearsal: February 15th. Runs April 8th– 18th.

When?
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st: 2 – 5 PM & 7 – 10 PM
Callbacks will be held in the Cave (Lyman 002) on Monday, February 1st from 7 PM – 10 PM

Where?
LEEDS THEATRE (inside Lyman Hall)

Seeking an ensemble of 5 (3W, 2M) to play the following roles:

Gladys, the cook, early 30's. Works/lives in the mansion of Adria Santana, a member of the Cuban aristocracy before the Revolution. Gladys is passionate about her food, independent minded, provincial and loyal to a fault.

Carlos, Gladys' husband, early 30's. Works for the Santana household as a chauffeur. He is passionately committed to "the Revolution.” His machismo acts as a shield against profound feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability.

Adria/Lourdes, 30’s. As Adria, a wealthy Cuban aristocrat. Elegant, well traveled, and fearful of the impending social change that promises to transform her life forever. As Lourdes, Adria's Cuban-American daughter. Upper middle-class, educated, and suspicious. She is her mother's daughter and resents the losses incurred by her family during the Revolution.

Elena/Rosa, 20’s. As Elena, Gladys' cousin. Accommodating, kind, and willing to "serve.” As Rosa, the illegitimate child of Carlos and his mistress. Bold, independent, and smart. She's been raised by Gladys and is obviously close to her. She is studying engineering, but longs to be a cook like her step-mother.

Julio, 20, Gladys' cousin. Lean and "beautiful." He has his own sense of style, wit, rebelliousness and a touch of the poetic.

* With the exception of the actresses playing Adria/Lourdes and Elena/Rosa, all actors can expect to work on aging 40 years as the play progresses.

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If you have a monologue, the casting board would like to see it. If not, sides from the play will be provided at auditions, which you may prepare with a partner if you’d like.

You are strongly encouraged to read the play in advance. Copies are available in the Becker Library (2nd floor – Lyman Hall) and by e-mailing sockandbuskin@gmail.com.

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PLEASE NOTE: If cast, you must return early from Spring Break for tech at 11 AM on Sunday, April 4th. Please be aware that Sunday, April 4th is Easter.

PLEASE NOTE: All plays cast under the supervision of the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University are cast without regard to race, color or ethnic identity except when such identity is central to the production's thematic content. Although this play takes place in Cuba, Cuba is a multi-racial society and this play will be cast accordingly. ALL students are encouraged to audition.

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ABOUT THE PLAY: It’s New Years Eve1959 and Fidel Castro is coming to power in Havana. Gladys, a provincial but passionate cook, prepares Baked Alaska in the kitchen of a wealthy Cuban household for an array of guests. Suddenly, her mistress announces that she and her bourgeois husband must flee the country. Gladys promises to protect the house until they return. Over the course of the next four decades, Gladys keeps her promise…but also discovers the high cost of her loyalty.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: Eduardo Machado was born in Cuba and came to the United States when he was nine. He is the author of over forty plays, including The Floating Island Plays, Once Removed, Stevie Wants To Play The Blues, A Burning Beach, Havana Is Waiting, and The Cook. They have been produced at many major regional theaters, as well as in Europe and Off-Broadway, including among others Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, The Actors Theater Of Louisville, The Mark Taper Forum, Hartford Stage, The Long Wharf Theater, The Williamstown Theater Festival, The Cherry Lane Theater, INTAR, America Place Theater and Hampstead Theatre in London. He is a member of the Actors Studio, The Ensemble Studio Theater, and an alumnus of New Dramatists. He has served on the boards of TCG, New Dramatists and Theatre for the New City. His plays have been published by the Theatre Communications Group and Samuel French. Currently, Mr. Machado is the Artistic Director of INTAR Theatre in New York City. He is also the Head of Playwriting in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. "Tastes Like Cuba: An Exile's Hunger for Home," a food memoir by Eduardo Machado and Michael Domitrovich, was just released in paperback by Gotham Press.