A Life of Galileo By: Bertolt Brecht at The ETOPiA Project at Northwestern University. Translation: Mark Ravenhill. Director: Brian Bell

Brecht's powerful play about a scientific discovery that changed the world and the society that was not ready to accept that change. The production will reduce the play to its essential components, using a small group of actors: one to play Galileo and the others creating a panoply of characters that work with and against Galileo's interests. The focus will be directly on the conflict between Galileo and the society he lived in as well as his students' and supporters' struggle to come to terms with his choices. With a minimalistic production design and engaging directly with the audience, the performers will focus on bringing Brecht's masterful text to life to create an open and fluid performance dynamic and tell the story in a muscular and contemporary way.

ETOPiA: The Engineering Transdisciplinary Outreach Project in the Arts uses performance arts staged in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to inspire a cross-disciplinary dialogue about the role of science and technology in society.

Seeking three actors-1 M 40-60s, 1 M 20-30, 1F-20-30.

Roles Available:

Galileo: M, 40s-60s. Fiercely intelligent, convicted, believes in the power of human reason to conquer ignorance. A hedon, also enjoys a good wine almost as much as an intriguing question. He is the engine that drives the action and the focal point of the play. Must be comfortable breaking the fourth wall/addressing the audience directly. Will work collaboratively with the other actors to create the world of the play with a minimum of design support and a maximum of creative improvisation. Title role in Brecht's play about intellectual freedom, and the struggle to rectify scientific understanding with contemporary society.

Supporting Male Ens. (Andrea, Sagredo, Barberini, et al) M, 20s to 30s. Must be able to embody multiple characters quickly and shift between them smoothly. Will work as the foil or counterpoint to Galileo, transitioning from his student, to an antagonistic intellectual, to the pope and back again. Strong improvisational skills, the ability to assume a role briefly and then drop it, while remaining present and directly engaged with the audience. A strong ensemble collaborator and/or devising experience also a plus. The role also entails a musical number that will be developed with the cast based on Brecht's lyrics. The style is wide open (Pop, Rock, Singspiel, Cabaret, etc.) but the actor must be able to carry a tune. If they play an instrument, so much the better.

Supporting Female Ens. (Mrs. Sarti, Virginia, Little Monk, Inquisitor, et al) F, 20s to 30s. Must be able to embody multiple characters quickly and shift between them smoothly. Will work closely with the other supporting ensemble actor to create the world of the play and transition from Galileo's daughter to a calculating moneylender to the Cardinal Inquisitor among others. Strong improvisational skills, the ability to assume a role briefly and then drop it, while remaining present and directly engaged with the audience. A strong ensemble collaborator and/or devising experience also a plus. The role also entails a musical number that will be developed with the cast based on Brecht's lyrics. The style is wide open (Pop, Rock, Singspiel, Cabaret, etc.) but the actor must be able to carry a tune. If they play an instrument, so much the better.

Auditions will be held at:
Wieboldt Hall
340 East Superior Street
RM-417
Chicago, IL 60611-3008