Dreamwell Theatre continues its “Season of Inciting Theatre” with auditions for The Drag by Mae West. The Drag tells the story of Rolly Kingsbury’s failing marriage to Clair and unfolds with the secrets of his past affair with David Caldwall, growing lust for Allen Grayson and affiliation with the very “out” drag community.

The show culminates to a drag ball where almost anything can happen — and just might (depending on who auditions). The play is set in 1927 and challenges the mindset about homosexuality of the day. West gave her gay characters their own voice in the development of her comedic play.

The production promises to be challenging and rewarding, including an entirely unscripted drag ball. We will incorporate dance, music and songs of the time as well as any other vaudevillian type of talent we might find.

The Audition will consist of:

• cold script reading
• prepared song is preferable (for those wanting to sing) – a pianist will be available, so bring your music and we’ll have some music as well
• any other talent you want to showcase (just as examples, but not necessarily — juggling, comic routine,  dance, trained animals, magic)

Notes:

• not all parts are drag roles or require singing
• women will be considered for male drag roles
• roles span a wide range of ages
• auditioning in drag is not required
• if you have other commitments in early June, we will consider some performers for only the drag ball provided you can make tech week and performances
• copy of script is available at the Iowa City Public Library

Audition Dates:

Saturday, April 18 1:00 – 5:00
Sunday, April 19, 4:30 – 6:30

Audition Site:
First Baptist Church located at 500 North Clinton Street in Iowa City (between cross streets Fairchild and Church Streets); across the street from Dey House Writers’ Workshop (next to Currier Hall on the UI campus).

Performance Dates:
June 19, 20, 26, 27 at the Unitarian Universalist Society

Roles:
Dr. James Richmond (a physician)
Barbara Richmond (his sister)
Clair (his daughter)
Judge Robert Kingsbury (Rolly’s father)
Rolly Kingsbury (Judge’s son and married to Clair)
Parsons (butler)
Allen Grayson
Marion (matron to Clair)
David Caldwell
Taxi-driver
Various drag performers (Clem, The Duchess, Winnie, etc.)

Director: Chuck Dufano
Assistant Director: Vicki Krajewski

For more information about the show write chuck@dreamwell.com or visit www.dreamwell.com for more information about Dreamwell Theatre.

An Enemy of the People Poster

Thank you for a sold out closing weekend!

Dreamwell Theatre launches its “Season of Inciting Theatre” with Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, adapted by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement).

Performances are March 27, 28, April 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Universalist Unitarian Society, 10 S. Gilbert Street in Iowa City.

In a small coastal town, new spa baths have become a source of pride, hope and prosperity. Just as the success of the baths is certain, however, a well-admired doctor and leader of the project makes a disturbing discovery—the baths are contaminated with dangerous bacteria from a nearby tannery.

Though the doctor expects his findings to be celebrated, his community is divided in a bitter struggle pitting security, social position and the opinion of the majority against ideals and individual truths.

According to director, Angie Toomsen, Dreamwell’s production is set mid-20th century. Modern audiences will relate to the themes in An Enemy of the People, but not because the contamination of the baths represents a particular political or environmental topic.

“Though ‘Enemy’ was written nearly 130 years ago, the play’s central crisis—truth versus public opinion—is enduring,” says Toomsen. “Media, politics, food additives, global warming, corporate whisteblowers, banking corruption—today’s ‘poison in the well’ isn’t any one of these issues alone. It’s the spiritual toxicity that causes public opinion to distort the truth to protect itself—and that poison is pervasive.”

An Enemy of the People is the first show in Dreamwell’s “Season of Inciting Theatre,” which presents a colorful selection of plays that each sparked social uproar when initially produced.

“We wanted to take a look at shows that broke new ground to examine just what made them controversial in their time and what that means to us today,” says Brian Tanner, past president of Dreamwell. “It helps us look at modern plays from a different perspective and see the power theatre has.”

In one particular production of An Enemy of the People, helmed by Constantin Stanislavski, revolutionary crowds were so moved by the doctor’s belief in the truth of the individual that they rushed the stage, interrupting the performance. Ibsen himself wrote the play as a reaction to the public protest of his play Ghosts.

Dreamwell will present an adaptation by playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Christopher Hampton, who offers a timely, critically-acclaimed telling that the Times Literary Supplement (London) called “an unequivocal triumph” and Spectator deemed “a revelation…reborn as a passionate debate about the value of the individual.”

Reserve Your Tickets Online!

Chuck Dufano, Kevin Burford and Paula Grady in Enemy of the People.

An Enemy of the People Cast

Dr. Tomas Stockmann – Kevin Burford

Peter Stockmann – Chuck Dufano

Katrine Stockmann – Robyn McCright

Hovstad – Matt Brewbaker

Petra Stockmann – Becca Robinson

Marta Stockmann – Kate Glyten

Eilif Stockmann – Anna Bigelow

Aslaksen – Paula Grady

Billing – Kris Schneider

Captain Hortser – Brian Tanner

Morton Kiil – Nelson Gurll

Citizens – Jackie Allen, Dennis Lambing, Angie Toomsen

Crew/Staff

Director – Angie Toomsen

Dramaturgy – Janet Bentley-Hallberg

Publicity – Angie Toomsen, Brian Tanner, Matt Falduto, Chuck Dufano

Sound Design/Board Operator – Dennis Lambing

Lighting Design – Dylan Wheeler

Light Board Operator – Brandon Tanner

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