Manual Cinema Fall 2023 Season Auditions
MANUAL CINEMA FALL 2023 SEASON AUDITIONS
Manual Cinema is casting for multiple roles and understudy positions for two touring shows and a sit down run at Writer’s Theatre in Fall 2023. Auditions will take place June 19-23 at Manual Cinema Studios in Pilsen (2415 W. 19th Street). Please contact Artistic Director Sarah Fornace at sfornace@manualcinema.com for audition materials and schedule an audition slot.
Leonardo (Fall 2023 Tour) – Lead Puppeteer
Frankenstein (Fall 2023 Tour) – Actor/Puppeteer
Christmas Carol (Writers Theatre) - Understudy Actor/Puppeteers
Leonardo (Future Touring Opportunities) - Understudy/Actor Puppeteer
Frankenstein (Future Touring Opportunities) - Understudy Actor/Puppeteer
LEONARDO: A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster
Leonardo/Lead Puppeteer
(hand and rod Muppet-style puppetry) for Fall Tour
Manual Cinema is seeking a puppeteer for the lead role of LEONARDO in Leonardo: A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster, inspired by the books of Mo Willems, for a two city tour over 12 days in Sept/Oct 2023.
This is a multimedia production that integrates music, puppetry, live voiceover, and on-camera acting. The LEONARDO track involves animating and voicing a muppet-style puppet in front of a live fixed camera and video monitor on stage. Performer will also manipulate simple paper puppets and props in front of a camera on stage.
Rehearsals will take place in Chicago before the first engagement. Full dates and fee and audition info below.
We are looking for performers of all genders and race/ethnicities with hand and rod puppetry experience as well as strong voice acting skills. Audition will consist of on-camera puppetry of a side from the show. Sides will be provided in advance. Audition puppet provided, but personal hand and rod puppets are also welcome if the auditioner prefers.
Chicago Rehearsals:
August 28-Sept 7: Daytime rehearsals: dates and times TBD (these could potentially shift)
September/October Tour Dates: Arkansas Museum of Fine Art and Ann Arbor, MI
September 27: Travel to Little Rock, AR
Sept 28: Load in and Tech Day
Sept 29: 2 shows
Sept 30: 2 shows
Oct 1: 2 shows
Oct 2: Travel day from Little Rock, AR to Ann Arbor, MI
Oct 3: day off
Oct 4: Load in/tech
Oct 5: 2 shows
Oct 6: 2 shows
Oct 7: 2 shows
Oct 8: Travel from Ann Arbor to Chicago
Rehearsal and Tour Total Fee:
$1,760 + $40/day per diem while on tour. (All housing and transportation is provided while on tour.)
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SAM/Puppeteer (Future Touring Opportunities)
On-Camera Acting and Puppetry Understudy Role for Fall Tours
Manual Cinema is seeking an understudy for the role of UNDERSTUDY SAM/PUPPETEER in Leonardo: A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster, inspired by the books of Mo Willems.
This is a multimedia production that integrates music, puppetry, live voiceover, and on-camera acting. The UNDERSTUDY SAM/PUPPETEER track involves manipulating paper puppets on camera and portraying the character of Sam on camera.
Rehearsals will take place in Chicago before the first engagement. Full dates and fee and audition info below. Understudy will be asked to observe rehearsals and hold the tour weeks in case needed. No travel outside of Chicago required.
We are looking for white female and non-binary performers with interest or experience in puppetry, clown, physical theater, and/or experimental performance.
FRANKENSTEIN
Shadow Puppetry and Acting Role (PERCY SHELLEY/PUPPETEER) for Two Fall Tours of Frankenstein
Manual Cinema is seeking a performer for the role of PERCY SHELLEY/PUPPETEER in their touring production of Frankenstein. The role involves shadow puppetry, acting in shadow, on camera acting, and on camera puppetry.
We are looking for female and non-binary performers of color for this role. Performers will ideally have interest and/or experience in puppetry, physical theater, or dance. A strong sense of musicality is also very helpful!
Audition will consist of short nonverbal scenes in shadow and short shadow puppetry sequences. We will teach these sequences in the audition. No preparation necessary.
Chicago Rehearsals:
Sept 11-19: Daytime rehearsals: dates and times TBD
September Tour Dates:
Sept 21-23: Eiseman Center (Dallas, TX)
Sept 24-27: Performance Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM)
October/November Tour Dates:
Oct 24-26: AZ Live Arts (Tucson, AZ)
Oct 27-31: Mondavi Center (Davis, CA)
Nov 1-7: Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Rehearsal and Tour Fees:
$600 rehearsal fee
$650 + $40/day per diem for September Tour
$1300+ $40/day per diem for October/November Tour
(All housing and transportation is provided while on tour.)
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Shadow Puppetry/Acting Understudy Role (MARY SHELLEY/VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN) for Future Touring Opportunities
Manual Cinema is seeking an understudy performer for the role of UNDERSTUDY MARY SHELLEY/VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN in their touring production of Frankenstein. The role involves shadow puppetry, acting in shadow, on camera acting, and on camera puppetry. Understudy will be asked to observe rehearsals and hold the tour weeks in case needed. No travel outside of Chicago required.
We are looking for female performers of all race/ethnicities for this role. Performers will ideally have experience in puppetry, physical theater, or dance.
Audition will consist of short nonverbal scenes in shadow and short shadow puppetry sequences. We will teach these sequences in the audition. No preparation necessary.
Manual Cinema's CHRISTMAS CAROL
PUPPETEER UNDERSTUDIES for Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol at Writer’s Theatre
Manual Cinema is seeking PUPPETEER UNDERSTUDIES for a run of Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol at Writer’s Theatre in Nov/Dec 2023. Two of the understudy tracks include 13 guaranteed performances at the end of the run (Dec 15-24).
The puppetry tracks involve toy theater puppetry and shadow puppetry. We are looking for performers of all genders and race/ethnicities who have interest in or experience with puppetry, physical theater, or dance. A strong sense of musicality is helpful for these roles!
Audition will consist of short toy theater and shadow puppetry sequences. We will teach these sequences in the audition. No preparation necessary.
Dates:
Rehearsals and Put-In Rehearsals at Manual Cinema Studios in Pilsen: Oct 16-22 and Nov 6-9, dates and times TBD
Tech at Writer’s Theatre: Nov 10-15
Previews/Tech at Writer’s Theatre: Nov 16-19
Performances at Writer’s Theatre: Nov 24-Dec 24
Pay Rate:
$200 per week (includes one understudy rehearsal and observing one show). Additional pay for put-in rehearsals and performed shows ($65 per rehearsal or show).