Posted by the Associate Artistic Administrator, Houston Grand Opera

Where: Houston, TX
This casting notice was posted on auditionsfree.com

Type: Theater

On March 22, Houston Grand Opera will hold auditions for actors for the roles of Hunter Bledsoe (actor around age 50) and Elsie Bledsoe/Clerk (actress in her 40s or 50s) for a new chamber opera by Ricky Ian Gordon and Leonard Foglia based on the play A COFFIN IN EGYPT by Horton Foote. A COFFIN IN EGYPT will be directed by Leonard Foglia, conducted by Timothy Myers, and will feature the legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade as Myrtle Bledsoe, the only sung role in the piece.

Hunter Bledsoe – Hunter is Myrtle’s husband and is the owner of a vast plantation in Egypt, Texas. He is in every way lord of his kingdom. He has never been more than 20 miles from Egypt his entire life and he is very content with this. He is a man of the land. A tough, uncompromising man who is used to getting his own way. He is described in the libretto as being “short, strong as a bull,” but the actor does not need to be short. But strong as a bull is important. His coarseness and abrupt manner is in sharp contrast to his wife’s refinement. He appears in the script at age 34 (1908), 42 (1916), and 64 (1938), so around 50 would be the ideal age range for the actor cast in this role.

Elsie Bledsoe/Clerk – An actress in her 40s or 50s will play both roles. Elsie is the sister-in-law of the lead character Myrtle in a scene taking place in 1948. She is married to Hunter’s brother. She is a woman who accepts her role as wife and mother in a way that Myrtle doesn’t. To her, a man’s infidelities are something one accepts as part of marriage. She and Myrtle are friends even though the only thing they have in common is having married into the same family. This actress will also play a clerk in a Houston department store in 1954. She is a bright personality, chatty and up, who overshares.

All interested candidates should have availability to be called up to 30 hours per week during the following periods:
June 21 – 25, 2013 (Workshop of the piece)
December 10 – 20, 2013 (Pre-production rehearsal period)
February 24 – March 23, 2014 (Final rehearsal and performance period)
Artists selected will be compensated $1,350 per week (for seven weeks).

Auditions will be held the evening of Friday, March 22, with possible call-back auditions on the morning of Saturday, March 23.

Please call Houston Grand Opera’s rehearsal department at 713-980-8679 to register for an audition. Additional detailed information will be provided by e-mail upon registration.

Payment: Paid

City or Location of call: Houston, TX