Friends, As I imagine you know by now, ACT will not be able to move ahead with the production of "Sweat". As the show's director, I was excited about the prospect of being a part of bringing this important show to Aiken and collaborating with the outstanding team that was assembled as well as the cast that would have been assembled.
Thank you for having considered auditioning for "Sweat". Please take care of yourselves and stay healthy as we do what needs to be done to keep our community and theatre family safe until we can all work together again.
Nancy
This 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning drama focuses on a group of lifelong friends and coworkers in an industrial town as they struggle with a changing economy and a changing world. “...passionate and necessary.. a masterful depiction of the forces that divide and conquer us...” The New York Times
Auditioners should review the play before auditioning – the script contains adult language and situations. Scripts may be borrowed from the Box Office with a refundable deposit. (please return promptly – a limited number are available.)
Auditions will consist of cold readings. However, pages for the auditioning sides will be listed prior to the auditioning dates. Auditions will be open only to the auditioners, the production team and assistants.
Scenes are set in either the year 2000 or 2008. Actors need not be the exact ages indicated, but they do need to be able to “play” those ages. The setting is Reading, Pa.
Production dates are July 17, 18, 24, 25 at 7:30 pm and July 19 at 2 pm.
Audition dates are May 17 and 18 at 7:00.
Director: Nancy Gamba Hansen
Assistant Director: Meredith Boylan
Stage Manager: Cory Herbst
Assistant Stage Manager: James Raby
SETTING: Reading, PA. TIME: 2000/2008
CHARACTERS
(Ages have some flexibility)
ACT cast and crew positions are open to all members of our community. If, due to the essential thematic elements of the play or the playwright's requirements, roles must be performed by actors of a particular ethnic heritage, it will be indicated in the character description.
EVAN. 40s, African– American. Jason and Chris's Probation Officer. Tough, no-nonsense.
Compassionate but he's seen it all.
JASON. 21/29, White American of German descent. Tracey's son, works at the main employer of the
town - Olsteads
CHRIS. 21/29, African-American. Cynthia and Brucie's son. Works at Olsteads and is Jason's best
friend
STAN. 50s, White American of German descent. Worked at Olsteads until he was injured. Now the
manager of the local bar where the workers hang out.
OSCAR. 22/30, Colombian–American. Works for Stan at the Bar. Quiet, hard-working. Observes it all
but stays in the background.
TRACEY. 45/53, White American of German descent. Single Mom of Jason. Longtime worker at
Olsteads. Longtime best friends with Cynthia and Jessie. Tough, feisty, opinionated, brash.
CYNTHIA. 45/53, African-American. Chris's Mom, Tracey's best friend. Also works at Olsteads but
dreams of getting off the factory floor with a better job. Steady, thoughtful, ambitious.
JESSIE, 40s, Italian -American. Went to work young at Olsteads, giving up dreams of travel and
seeing the world. Drinks too much and is looked out for by Tracey and Cynthia.
BRUCIE. 40s, African-American. Chris's Dad and Cynthia's estranged husband. His union has been on
strike for months and he is struggling with an opiod addiction.