AUDITION CALL: THE SUNSHINE CAFÉ
ABOUT
The Chestermere Historical Foundation is in search of actors for its up-coming production of a brand-new play: The Sunshine Café by Melissa Dorsey and Trevor Matheson, directed by Chris Stockton. The show will be performed in Chestermere Lake schools during June and then reconvene for a general public presentation at the end of August.
The Sunshine Café is a family show exploring the history of the Chestermere Lake community. With the help of a young girl who just moved from the big city and a magical waitress, the mysterious Sunshine Café transports audiences on a time-travelling adventure.
THE CHESTERMERE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
In 2000, then mayor of The Town of Chestermere, Dave Mikkelsen, suggested to resident, Audrey McDonald, that a history book of Chestermere was needed. Supported by a small budget from the Town, Audrey gathered many volunteers and much material over the next four years. In 2005, 'Chestermere a Home for All Seasons' was published.
The citizens who volunteered remained committed to documenting and recording Chestermere's history even after the completion of the project. They gathered to form The Chestermere Historical Foundation in 2011. The Chestermere Historical Foundation meets regularly to fulfill the ten objectives of the Alberta registered society, providing programming, exhibits, and advocacy for the importance of local history.
AUDITIONS
Monday, April 29th from 6:00 – 10:00 PM
Tuesday, April 30th from 7:30-10:30 PM
Auditions will take place at the Theatre Calgary Rehearsal Hall - located at 220 9th Ave SE. Please enter in the STAGE DOOR and ask Security to be directed up to the Theatre Calgary Rehearsal Hall. Signage will be posted inside.
REHEARSALS
Actors must be available for the following confirmed rehearsal dates, also taking place at Theatre Calgary:
May 7, 8, 9: 7:30 -10:30 PM
May 19: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
May 22, 23, 29, 30: 7:30 - 10:30 PM
June 1: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Additional dates in June TBC.
TO AUDITION
To book an audition, please send your headshot and resume to producer, Savanna Harvey: info@savannaharvey.com
For your audition, please prepare a monologue 1 -2 minutes in length. Come prepared to perform it more than once and as two or more different characters (your choice).
Grace - (Playing age 14-17) - protagonist, moody teen; often sarcastic, but still believes in magic.
Server - (Playing somewhere between age 25-65) - mentor, orchestrates events by ordering them up, changes aprons with the times, the force behind the Sunshine Cafe's magic to help people in need, constantly breaking the 4th wall, bringing the audience along on the adventure.
Actor 3 (Woman) - Able to play the following roles:
- LUCY - (14 yrs) working on her dad's farm 1900's
- REFEREE - referee/announcer of boxing match
- EVA - lonely immigrant woman, 1950's
- KAY - the "Weekenders", 1950's
- SECRETARY - note taker for the meeting, also assistant to Mr. Larry Lox, 1950's
- AGNES KUNKLE - fashion show emcee, big personality, 1970's
Actor 4 (Man) - Able to play the following roles:
- PEARCE - a superintendent at the CPR, 1900's
- KITTY - (puppet) gossip, wife of 1st Yacht Club Commodore, 1950's
- LARRY LOX - Western Irrigation District head, 1950's
Actor 5 (Man) - Able to play the following roles:
- GORDON - CPR business man, 1900's
- MABEL - (puppet) gossip, a famous Chestermerian, 1950's
- KENNETH - a generous fixer-upper helping the neighbourhood, 1950's
- CABIN OWNER 2 - Cabin Owner, 1950's
- BUNKEY - son of Agnes, model for summer fashion, 1970's
Actor 6 (Man) Able to play the following roles:
- JIM - (14 yrs) Irish immigrant, 1900's
- PALLISER - Captain John Palliser, Irish, 1900's
- ED - the "Weekenders", 1950's
- CABIN OWNER 1 - Cabin Owner, 1950's
COMMUNITY
Artists of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and identities are warmly encouraged to apply. Artists are invited to remove measurements and physical features from the resume.
Thank you in advance for the work and time that goes in to preparing for and attending an audition. We see and gratefully acknowledge your labour. If selected, this is a paid, non-Equity opportunity.
If cast in The Sunshine Café, all actors will agree to follow the team code of conduct, keeping our arts and work spaces free of harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
The Sunshine Café is a history about the Chestermere Lake community on Treaty 7 territory. The lake for which the city is named was constructed at the turn-of-the-century by building a canal to redirect waters from the Bow River at the traditional Blackfoot place "Moh'kins'tsis", which we now call the City of Calgary. Chestermere Lake was built to facilitate settler agriculture in the area, but there is a much longer history of the Stony, Blackfoot, Peigan, Blood, Sarcee, and Metis people thriving off the Buffalo that the Creator had already provided to this land.
