Acting Auditions for 2010
NEW YORK: Monday March 22nd from 10am-5pm at:
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Ave., New York, NY (between 36th & 37th St.),16th Floor, Room 16 P. Open call, sign-up starts at 9:30am and ends at 4pm. Call back same day.
SYRACUSE: Saturday March 27th from 12pm to 5pm at:
Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genessee St., Syracuse, NY; Room 240. Open call, sign-up starts at 12pm and ends at 3pm. Call back same day.
ROCHESTER: Sunday March 28th from 12 noon to 5pm at:
SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY;
Brodie Fine Arts Bldg., West doors, upstairs, Room
242A. Open call, sign-up starts at 12pm and ends at
3pm. Call back same day.
Our Professional Acting Company
The Bless the Mark Players
The Festival, a 35-acre wooded site containing Renaissance style buildings and open-air wooden amphitheatres, is a whimsical re-creation of an Elizabethan town; Warwick, circa 1585. The core company of interactive actors, The Bless the Mark Players (or BTM for short), brings the town to life by portraying the rogues, vagabonds, and townspeople of Shakespeare’s day. Town characters as well as Queen Elizabeth’s court, roam the lanes and environments of the festival, including the audience in this very unique form of theatre. Other entertainers provide music and period acts. All of this, combined with food, crafts, and games help create an exciting, comic history of the old English trade faire.
Actors portray a given village character throughout the 9 hour performance day through interactive improvisation in the lanes and environments, and take part in pre-rehearsed scenarios on stages. Some Bless the Mark Players are cast in edited versions of Shakespeare, and Commedia Dell'Arte plays, in addition to their village character.
Paid Positions, Salary and Benefits for the 2010 Season
VETERAN BLESS THE MARK: Returning BTM or performers with advanced improv and interactive theatre skills as well as Renaissance Festival performance credits are considered for this level. 16 to 20 male and female roles, ages 20 to 50, are available. Veteran BTM receive a $300 rehearsal stipend ($100/week for three weeks) plus $360 per performance week (seven weeks). Housing is provided.
JOURNEYMEN BLESS THE MARK: Actors with professional performance experience in improvisation, Shakespeare, or audience inclusive styles of theatre are considered for this level. 8-12 male and female roles, ages 20 to 50, are available. Journeymen BTM receive a $300 rehearsal stipend ($100/week for three weeks) plus $340 per performance week (seven weeks). Housing is provided.
YEOMAN BLESS THE MARK: Community theatre or non professional actors seeking an extraordinary experience in training, performance and the community of the Faire, with some experience in improvisation, Shakespeare, or audience inclusive styles of theatre are considered for this level. 4 male and female roles, young and old, are available. Applicants must be at least 16 years old to be cast. There is no upper age limit to Yeoman level BTM. Yeoman BTM receives $180 rehearsal stipend ($60/week for four weeks) plus $175 per performance week (seven weeks). Housing is provided.
The Commitment
ALL BLESS THE MARK PLAYERS: The contract commitment for ALL BTM runs eleven weeks, from June 1st to August 15th, applicants must be available for full-time work, and arrive on-site on June 1st. There are 4 weeks of intensive rehearsals and 7 performance weekends. Performances are Saturdays and Sundays only from 10 AM to 7 PM, with additional rehearsals midweek.
Rehearsals will vary according to how you are cast - and may include rehearsals for scenarios, plays or other scheduled events during a performance day. Rehearsals will include workshops in improvisation, interactive character development, dialect, history, customs and manners of the period. This includes Master Class workshops in improv and interactive theatre from renowned director and author Gary Izzo. Rehearsal days are long and challenging, and usually run from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, six days per week. Between performance weekends, actors will have three days off with the remaining weekdays used for brush-up rehearsals. Actors may be scheduled for promotional outings at any time. Transportation and expenses for promotional outings will be provided. Although the cast is obligated to two rehearsal days per week during the run, this often lessens as the season continues. Informal voluntary workshops in other disciplines as well as cast outings are sometimes arranged. Actors have no required technical duties, other than care of their housing facilities.
Audition Preparation
All of our auditions begin with an open call, followed later by a callback. Plan to arrive within the first hour of the audition if possible to sign up for the open call. For open call you must perform a one-minute comic monologue. Monologues may be either contemporary or period (i.e. modern or Shakespearean), and should show your comic flare and your ability with characterization. Some will be asked to remain for a callback audition held after monologues are heard. Callbacks will consist of an improv audition, held in small groups. Bring an acting resume and an 8”x10” photo. Dress to move, no heels. Casting will be within three weeks of auditions.
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