Sylvia Auditions

Show Synopsis:  Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found in the park or that has found him – a pup bearing the name “Sylvia” on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and Poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age, but to Kate, Sylvia is a rival for affection. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives.  The twist in this crowd-pleasing comedy is that Sylvia is played by a woman, making her rivalry with Kate for Greg’s affection feel all too human.

Auditions will consist of readings from the script.

The script calls for two female and two male performers to fill six roles.

Characters:

 Greg: Late 40s – 60s, New York or New England accent. Greg is a man heading towards middle age, an empty-nester restless in his Wall Street job, who has recently moved into Manhattan with his wife, following the departure of their last child for college. Leaving work early one evening he finds a dog, Sylvia and decides to bring her home

Kate: Late 40s – 60s, New York or East Coast accent. Kate is a high school teacher whose career has started to take off as she develops an innovative curriculum to teach Shakespeare to inner-city children, and gains fame and appreciation in her professional community. She is not pleased with Sylvia

Sylvia: female, 20s – 30s, New York or Standard American accent. Sylvia is a dog, an adorable mix suspected of being labrador and poodle, who meets a kind man named Greg while wandering, lost, in Central Park. Their bond is instantaneous, and Sylvia flourishes as the spoiled pet of Greg’s. She is full of energy.

Actor- Male Plays three parts

            Tom: Male, 30s – 40s, New York accent. Tom is a friendly man, who enjoys taking his dog Bowser to play in Central Park. He makes friends with Greg, a new dog owner, and advises him on the difficulties that the dog/man relationship can have for a marriage. Tom is friendly and cheerful,

            Phyllis: Female. 40s – 60s, American accent — East Coast, WASP. Phyllis is a socialite, a wealthy New York City matron, paying a visit to an old friend from Vassar who has moved into Manhattan. She is a stylish, sophisticated lady who lunches, a politically conservative member of the upper class.

            Leslie: 30s – 60s, Standard American or New York accent. Leslie is a therapist, a marriage counselor, living and working in New York City. As a deliberate tactic for interacting with their patients, Leslie is gender neutral, acting and dressing in a pointedly androgynous manner.

Questions? Contact Bob Frame at presencelighting@gmail.com