NMSU-A Calendar, Expanded Descriptions
Auditions for “The Nerd”
Posted August 18, 2008 by admin
Calling all actors!
All college and community performers who aspire to be part of a rip-roaring comedy, should mark their calendars because NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill will hold auditions for “The Nerd” on Tuesday, August 26 at 8 pm and on Thursday, August 28 at 8 pm at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center.
Roles are available for 4 men and 2 women who can play an age range from late 20s to mid 50s. Plus, there is also a role for a boy who can play between 8 to 12 years old.
“The Nerd” will kick off the 2008-2009 theatre season on November 7, 8, 14, 15 & 16.
Director Connie Breding expects “The Nerd” to be a real crowd pleaser. “If audiences like to laugh, then ‘The Nerd’ will certainly tickle the funny bone. I always feel a good indicator of a play’s comic value is when I laugh out loud when reading the script. I definitely laughed when I read ‘The Nerd’.”
The plot of “The Nerd” centers around Willum Cubbert an aspiring young architech in Terre Haute, Indiana, who has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in the war. Willum has written to Rick to say that as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you”—so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his thirty-fourth birthday party. But, Willum’s delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless “nerd”—a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leading to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence—a dire development which, happily, is staved off.
In addition to Willum Cubbert and Rick Steadman, other characters in the play are Tansy McGinnis, Willum’s girlfriend; Axel Hammond, Willum’s friend; Warnock Waldgrave, a wealthy client of Willum’s; Clelia Waldgrave, Warnock’s somewhat eccentric wife; and Thor Waldgrave, the Waldgrave’s young son, who is both a bit precocious and bratty.
People interested in auditioning are encouraged to read the script prior to try-outs. Scripts can be checked out for a twenty-four hour period up in the ProTech Division Office. Call Diana at 439-3670 for more information on obtaining a reading copy of the play.
Anyone who would like to work backstage is also encouraged to stop in during auditions and sign up for crew assignments. College credit is available for students who provide technical assistance by enrolling in THTR 249, Running Crew. “The Nerd” has a very demanding list of props, so anyone who would like to help in that area would be kept busy.
Any student enrolled in an NMSU-A theatre course can audition with the assurance that, if cast, rehearsals for “The Nerd” will not conflict with theatre class schedules. If students are enrolled in Introduction to Stagecraft, Acting, or any other theatre class, they can participate both in theatre classes as well as the production.
Will Bartlett, NMSU-A scene designer and technical director, will handle set design and construction duties, assisted by members of the stagecraft class.
Contact Connie Breding at 442-1340 should you have additional questions about either auditions or the production.
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