Geoffrey Simon Brown is a playwright, actor, and director born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He is a co-creator of the Major Matt Mason Collective and the Wildfire National Playwriting Competition. His plays include The Circle, Michael Mysterious, Night, If I Could Tell You Everything, Time, Still Still Still, Control, Air, Destroy, and the most recent adaptation of A Christmas Carol for Theatre Calgary. As an actor he has worked on most of the major stages in Calgary as well as some living rooms and basements. He is the winner of two Betty Mitchell Awards, Theatre Calgary’s Stephen Hair emerging actor award, and Tarragon’s RBC Emerging playwright award. His play, The Circle, was published by Scirocco Drama in 2017. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Pyretic Productions is holding auditions for the premiere of Michael Mysterious by Geoffrey Simon Brown
Directed by Patrick Lundeen
**UPDATE AS OF 18 MARCH 2020** –> based on the COVID-19 global pandemic defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), in addition to the regulations set in place by the Canadian and Albertan governments, we have made the important decision to cancel in-person auditions for the production. Pyretic Productions takes the health and safety of our local population extremely seriously, and we will not put artists or anyone else at risk. More information about the COVID-19 coronavirus can be found here.
But we are lucky enough to live in a digital world. And as a result, we will be running this first round of auditions through video submissions.
Please continue to submit for an audition until MARCH 23. Please note that due to limited available audition resources only select applicants will be scheduled for an audition.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Please submit for an audition through the following link: https://forms.gle/yQkjydartM7hNEGV8
AUDITION DATES
Submission Deadline – March 23
PRODUCTION & REHEARSAL DATES
Rehearsal Dates: Oct 13, 2020 – November 4, 2020
Production Dates: November 5, 2020 – November 15, 2020
*The project will operate under CAEA Indie 2.2.
PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION
Michael joins a new family. It builds and burns around him. Sometimes he wonders if he is invisible.
When Michael’s grandmother dies, he is taken in by the mother of his estranged childhood best friend and invited to live at her new boyfriend’s suburban home. Arlene wants a family. July wants to leave. Jeremy wants to fit in. Paul wants to be young again. Everyone wants Michael to be something; Michael needs a place to be.
Sex, drugs, wasps, graduation, and matrimony, Michael Mysterious is a hilarious, dark, refreshingly honest portrayal of the awkwardness and loneliness of life and love.
ROLES TO BE CAST:
– Michael (15) – Gentle. Quiet. Sometimes thinks he is invisible. Doesn’t really know how to fit in anywhere and doesn’t try that hard. Defined mostly by a seeming lack of identity. A rich interior world that we don’t get to see very often. An enigma that other people imprint their wants onto.
– Jeremy (17) – Showoff. Braggart. Desperate to fit in. Always changing what his “thing” is. Looking for someone to be lower status than him. Doesn’t really think about other people’s feelings. Arlene’s son.
– July (17) – Smart. Fiery. Doesn’t feel like she really connects with anyone around her. Desperate to leave. Hard exterior armouring a big heart. Doesn’t trust easy. Smokes a lot of pot. Paul’s daughter.
–Arlene (Late 30s – 40s) – Very social. Energetic. Works at the mall. Loves making tiny decorative hats. Has worked a lot of different kinds of jobs. Cares deeply for people. Gets her heart broken often. Wants someone to talk to. Divorced. Dating Paul.
– Paul (40s-50s) – Aloof. Wealthy. Has an important job that takes him out of the house a lot. A little disconnected from his family because of it. Really tries to avoid conflict, but then it slips out in weird places. Doesn’t know how he got to be this old. Divorced. July’s father. Dating Arlene.
Pyretic Productions is committed to diversity in casting. We believe in equity and inclusion and strongly encourage submissions from all artists regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, and physical ability.
*Due to limited available audition times only select applicants will be scheduled for an audition.
*Non-local applicants must be willing and able to work as a local for the duration of the contract. (We will not be able to offer per diems or accommodation in Edmonton)
*Video submission applicants must be available for the callback date.
*Pyretic Productions will reimburse up to 50% of bus or gas expenses within Alberta associated with non-local performers attending a call back.
AUDITION POSTING
