Casting Call: 'Body Awareness'

Circle Players will be holding auditions for Annie Baker's "Body Awareness."

Auditions are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 19. Sides will be provided at the auditions.

It’s 'Body Awareness Week' on a Vermont college campus and the organizer, Phyllis, and her partner, Joyce, are hosting one of the guest artists, Frank, in their home. Frank is a photographer famous for his portraits of female nudes.His presence in the home and his chosen subject create tension from the start. Phyllis is furious with his art, but Joyce is intrigued and considers posing for him. As Joyce and Phyllis bicker, Joyce’s young adult son, Jared, who may or may not have Asperger’s Disorder, struggles to develop relationships with young women, with heartbreaking results.

Roles are:

Phyllis 40-45	A psychology professor at the school and is running the Body Awareness program. She is feeling the stress of the project as well as the stress at home. She loves Joyce, but might be happier if Jared was able to find his way in the world.
Joyce 45-55	A high school teacher who gave birth to Jared during an earlier marriage. She loves Phyllis and champions Jared as only a mother can for her son. There is the suggestion that her father might have molested her when she was a child.
Frank 50-60	An artist who embraces the bohemian life. He becomes something of a mentor to Jared. Relaxed and happy in his life and lifestyle. The actor who plays Frank must either know how to play the recorder or be willing to learn. The production will provide the teacher if needed.
Jared 21	Joyce’s son. At the start of the play, he works in a fast-food restaurant and is obsessed with his Oxford English Dictionary. He insists he does not have Asperger’s. His behaviors seem to indicate otherwise. Has no sense of how to interact with females of his own age. Walks around with an electric toothbrush, the use of which seems to soothe him.

Rehearsals will take place 3 to 4 times a week, and performances will take place Jan. 16 to 23.