Auditions in Wimberley for The Elephant Man, EmilyAnn Theatre, December 1

The EmilyAnn Theatre is remounting their productiong of The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance that was a huge success a few years ago [click for AustinLiveTheatre review]. Bringing in a new director, David McCullars, and featuring the same actors as Merrick (Patrick Byers) and Treves (Carl Galante), this production proves to be a heartbreaking and amazing tale of acceptance, betrayal, regret, renewal, redemption, and love. We are auditioning for all roles, except for those of John Merrick, Fredrick Treves and Mrs. Kendal.

Auditions will take place on Saturday, December 1st at the EmilyAnn Theatre from 1-5pm. You must email bridget@emilyann.org to set up an audition time. This show will be running the month of February and will be taking place in our new indoor theatre, Burdine Johnson Studio Theatre.

Click to view a character list with descriptions at AustinLiveTheatre.com

Upcoming: The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, Cameo Theatre, San Antonio, March 17 - April 7

and Fools Productions

present

The Elephant Man

by Bernard Pomerance,

March 17 - April 7

Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3:30 p.m. (no performance Saturday, March 24)

1123 E. Commerce Street, San Antonio, 78205 (click for map)

Tickets $29 general admission, $25 seniors, children under 12 $15, students/military rush day of performance $15

for reservations telephone 210 212 5454 - Purchase online

The play chronicles the true story of John (Joseph) Merrick, treated first as a fairground freak because of his hideously, repulsively deformed body and later exploited more subtly by Victorian society. As a carnival attraction, Merrick is known only as ‘The Elephant Man’. Merrick is discovered by a young doctor, Treves. Treves provides him with a home in the London Hospital where Merrick is cared for well but also shrewdly used for fund-raising. Merrick is then introduced to high society and becomes perplexed at the often hypocritical Victorian values.

cast: Rex Harder, Michael Burger, Victor Trevino, Rick Aragon, Edwardo Suarez-Healy, Alexandria Conroy, Krystal Kohler, Joseph Gomez

San Antonio Auditions for Elephant Man, Cameo Theatre, February 15 and 16

is holding open auditions for The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, Wed Feb 15 @ 6pm and Thu Feb 16 @ 6pm or by alternate appt call 210 535 2241 . Show Dates are Mar 11-Apr 7. Prepare a 2 minute contemporary monologue. The Cameo Theatre is located at 1123 E. Commerce St. just east of I-37, San Antonio, 78205 (click for map).

The play chronicles the true story of John Merrick, treated first as a fairground freak because of his hideously, repulsively deformed body and later exploited more subtly by Victorian society. As a carnival attraction, Merrick is known only as 'The Elephant Man'. Riots are started due to his repulsive looks. Eventually, Merrick is discovered by a young doctor, Treves. Treves provides him with a home in the London Hospital where Merrick is cared for well but also shrewdly used for fund-raising. Merrick is then introduced to high society and becomes perplexed at the often hypocritical Victorian values. Merrick soon develops a close friendship with an actress, Mrs Kendall. With his one working hand, he also manages to create an amazing replica of St. Phillip's church. However, in the end, Merrick dies in his sleep due to the immense weight of his abnormal head. This story takes place from 1884 until 1890, mostly in London (with one scene in Belgium). The play questions the morality of European colonialism, the selflessness of charity, the relative importance of the spiritual vs. the physical, the rampant abuse of exploitation, and the merits of science vs. religion.

Parts will be heavily double cast, ideally to 6 men and 2 women if possible, English and Belgian accents required of most roles. Please call 210 325 8702 for audition appointment.

Click 'Read more' for character list and descriptions at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

The Elephant Man, EmilyAnn Theatre, Wimberley, January 22 - February 14

Director Bridget Farias and the EmilyAnn Theatre crew in Wimberley are running The Elephant Man Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for four weekends in January and February, an intrepid undertaking for a community-based arts group in a town with a population of only about 4,000.

More impressive than their raw courage in taking on a tough script and slow-motion tragedy is the fact that they carry it out with grace and depth. The company creates a protected time and space in which we can muse about arbitrary fate, human connection and our responsibility for one another.

Audiences may be familiar with the story, based on historical fact as recorded by Dr. Frederick Treves, the physician who took in the disfigured young Joseph Carey Merrick. Writing many years after the events, Treves recalled his patient as "John Merrick," the name used by Bernard Pomerance for the Tony-nominated play in 1979. David Lynch made the movie in 1980 with Anthony Hopkins as Treves, John Hurt as Merrick, John Gielgud as chief physician Carr Gomm and Ann Bancroft as the actress Madge Kendal.

I haven't seen that version, though, and I encourage you simply to ignore it. Farias has assembled a capable and convincing cast for this quiet morality play, and they make the story their own.

Carl Galante as Treves and Patrick Byers as Merrick establish the key link and relationship in the story. Galante, playing the physician and man of science, is a protector and ultimately a father figure of conflicted emotions. Byers as the patiently suffering, attentive and sweet-tempered Merrick becomes a mirror to his visitors, once they learn to look past his disfigurement.

Read more and view images at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .