November 24, 2009

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Job Details
Title Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers - Equity Principal Auditions
Category Performer
Description New York Theatre Workshop Off-Broadway Currently $525/week minimum.

Authors: Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons

Director: John Rubinstein

Casting Director: Jack Doulin

Casting Assistant: Jenn Haltman
1st rehearsal: February 4, 2010 (some rehearsals in LA (pending Equity approval)). Runs February 24 - March 28, 2010.


Based on interviews and documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act, the piece is an inside look at the "Washington Post" newspaper's decision to publish the classified study documenting US involvement in Vietnam. The epic legal battle went to the nation's highest court and asked the question, "In a democratic society, when, if ever, should a government be allowed to protect secrets in the name of national security?" The piece will be performed as a radio play, with scripts in hands.


Seeking (all roles available unless otherwise specified):


Katharine Graham:
Caucasian woman, 45 – 55. Publisher and Chairman of the Board of the "Washington Post." Her final decision to publish the Pentagon Papers got her a reputation as a "gutsy broad."


Ben Bagdikian
: Caucasian man, 45 – 55. Assistant Managing Editor of the “Post”. Portions of the Pentagon Papers were leaked to him.



Fritz Beebe / Henry Kissinger:
Two roles for one actor. Both roles are Caucasian men. Beebe: 50 – 60. After arranging the purchase of "Newsweek" for one of his best clients, the Post Company, he abandoned his law practice at Cravath, Swaine & Moore to become Post's chairman of the board in 1961. Kissinger: National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under Richard Nixon.


Meg Greenfield:
Caucasian woman, 35 – 45. Known for her wit, she was a Washington insider and the editorial page editor for the "Washington Post." A pioneer for women in op-ed journalism, she was eventually awarded a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, in 1978.


John Mitchell / Chal Roberts / Lamont Vanderhall:
Three roles for one actor. All three are Caucasian men. Mitchell: 40 – 55. Attorney General under Nixon. Roberts: Senior Washington correspondent for the "Post." Vanderhall: Lawyer composite defending the White House

Richard Nixon / Dennis James Doolin:
Two roles for one actor. Both are Caucasian men. Nixon; 50 – 55. Thirty-seventh President of the United States. Doolin: Deputy Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. He was called upon by the government to testify as to the propriety of classifying the Pentagon Papers as top secret.


George C. Wilson / Eugene Patterson:
Two roles for one actor. Both are Caucasian men. Wilson: 35 – 45. Reporter and military correspondent for the "Washington Post." Patterson: Won the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for his civil rights editorials in the "Atlanta Constitution." Later, he served three years as managing editor of the "Washington Post."


Ronald Ziegler / Others:
Caucasian man, 30 – 35. White House Press Secretary and Assistant to the President in the Nixon administration. Actor also plays Soldier and Clerk – Bailiff.



The following three roles are cast. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary.


Ben Bradlee:
CAST. Caucasian man, 50 – 60. Executive Editor of the "Washington Post." Fought for the publication of the Pentagon Papers.


Murray Marder / Judge Peel:
CAST. Caucasian man, 50 – 60. Staff reporter for the "Post" during the Pentagon Papers episode; later became the paper's Chief Diplomatic Correspondent. Actor also plays Judge Martin Peel.


Brian Kelly:
CAST. Caucasian man, 50 – 60. Lawyer from a New York firm, sent down to calm tempers. Conservatively holds out for not publishing. Effective, passionate and forceful in court. Well-spoken. Emotional.



Note from Equity: When casting personnel state that a role has been formally offered and accepted, EPA notices list the role as "CAST."
 
Job Start Date  
Job End Date  
Union Information  
Salary 525/week min. 
   
Company New York Theater Workshop 
Address New York City, NY 10036
US
Contact -
Respond Method(s) At Audition
Audition Information When: Equity Principal Auditions:
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Lunch from 1 - 2.


Where: Actors' Equity Association Audition Center
165 West 46th Street, 2nd Floor
NYC
Notes/What to bring: Please prepare a brief, contemporary monologue.



Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together.

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