The Sparrow - Adlai E. Stevenson High School

AUDITION INFORMATION FOR THE 2011 WINTER PLAY:The SparrowBy Chris Matthews, Jake Minton & Nathan AllenAbout the Play:In 2006, The House Theatre of Chicago found critical success with their originalplay, The Sparrow. It is the story of Emily Book, a small-town girl returninghome ten years after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her entire class.As the town struggles to accept the strange girl who reminds them of what theylost, Emily attempts to hide the special powers that make her different.WHEN:Tuesday, January 18, 3:40pm.Wednesday, January19, 3:40pm. (Callbacks)WHERE:West AuditoriumHOW:Sign up for audition slot on the East Theatre Call Board (outsideLittle Theatre)FIRST REHEARSAL: Thursday, January 20th: 3:45pm – West AuditoriumREHEARSAL TIMES:January 20 – March 4th: 3:40-6:00pm.DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE MULTI-MEDIA ASPECTS OF THE PLAY, THEREWILL BE 2 WEEKS OF TECH REHEARSALS (March 4- March 17). Theserehearsals are mandatory. Tech rehearsals may run from 3:40 to 8:00pm . Pleasenote that there will be rehearsals on February 21 and March 4 and 7 eventhough there is no school.There will also be some Saturday rehearsals to cover the show’s choreography.PERFORMANCE DATES:Friday, March 18, 7:30 pmSaturday, March 19, 7:30 pm.(There will also be an in-school performance on Thursday, March 17)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY•Auditions for The Sparrow are Tuesday, January 18 at 3:40 pmCallbacks are Wednesday, January 19 at 3:40 pm in the West Auditorium.•Performances of the play are March 18 & 19, 2011. Before you try out, check thesedates in addition to the listed rehearsal dates with your parents/caregivers and be sure thatyou do not have prior commitments including doctor or orthodontist appointments,college visits, and other family travel plans. Please list all known conflicts on yourconflict sheet.•When you audition for a show at Stevenson High School, you are auditioning for everyrole. It is the Director’s job to cast you or not cast you as he/she sees fit.•If you drop out of the show after you have been cast, you will NOT be eligible toaudition for another show at Stevenson unless you can prove through work in theatreclasses and crew that you can accept the responsibility of being cast in a show. Do notdamage your reputation by dropping out of a production.•Sign up for an audition slot at the Theatre Call Board located at the outside of the LittleTheatre (4200). Do not leave open slots. Sign up in the first available opening. If a slot isnot available just show up and we will accommodate you.•All cast members are required to help in building sets, hanging lights, etc. Crew dateswill be announced at the beginning of the rehearsal process.•You may be asked to furnish your own costume. The budget does not always allow theluxury of designing costumes for each character. Additionally, if and when costumes areprovided for you, you must take care not to damage your costumes. Any rented orborrowed costume or costume piece for which SHS is charged “excessive wear” and/orreplacement fees, the student will be expected to cover that cost. So, please take care ofall the garments you are issued for production.THE AUDITIONS:Prepare one of the monologues included at the end of this packet. Copies of the script areavailable for overnight checkout in the SHS Library. Reading the script beforeauditioning will help you understand the characters and story.Callbacks: A callback list will be posted by Wednesday morning on the TheatreDepartment Website. Callbacks will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19: 3:40-8:00pm.Be prepared to attend for the full time if necessary.If you have any questions please e-mail Mrs. Rawitz at: breakalegx4@me.com

Monologue Options:Prepare one of the following monologues for the audition. Memorization isrecommended. Copies of the full play are available in the school library and will help toput the monologues in context. Take your time. Please be aware there is a reason for thestyle and punctuation.JOYCE: (To Emily)About the other night….I know you’re not my daughter, Emily Book.But I’ve been calling you SweetieBecause I want you to feel loved here.I want you to feel safeAnd I want to kiss you on the head and make you feel lovedEven though we don’t know each other yetBecause I think that you should have a place where you can feel thatway.And I’m sorry if I…I come into Sara’s room when I feelOverwhelmed, because I don’t want to bring that into the rest of thehouseBut this is your room now, Emily, and I won’t bring that in hereanymore.I just…I look at you and I…I start to think aboutWhat happenedIt’s not fair to you, and it’s not your fault, but when I look at youI think about SaraI get stuckI want to be better than that for youBut I get stuck.….EmilyI’m looking forward to getting to know all about you.

ALBERT:(To Emily)That’s for you.That’s a-That’s a corsage.It’s, uh, it’s for your wrist.I thought you couldIf you wanted to wear itTonight for the dance,That’s what we used to….If it’s not too corny.Listen.Emily.I’m glad you’re here and……I’m glad you’re here and I hope you feel like you’re home because…I feel like you’re home.…I’m glad you’re home.I didn’t think I’d feel like thatSo I haven’t been…But I…You make this feel like home.You know you oughta put on a dress andGo down there and justHave a good time andDance with everybody andIt’s the homecoming dance, you know?And you’re home…So…And Margaret Rosenthal talked me through thatCorsage dealAnd if you don’t use itI’ll hear about it…Okay?

JENNY: (To Emily)Hi.I was just-Sorry.Nobody else ever comes out here.…I’m sorry about your grandmother.…It must be hard to be back here.Everyone knows you.That must feel good.…You know me.People are going to stare at you, Emily.You remind them…They’re all so heavy.But you can remind them that there’s life…You can…Be what people need you to be.You can help them.…Well, you picked the right week to come back.We’ve got the big homecoming game tomorrow, and the dance onFriday…You could be a cheerleader!Usually, you’d have to try outBut I’m the captain, so…Or the boys need a bench manager for the game…We could hang out together on the sidelines.Tweet! You’re officially involved.It’ll be fun, I promise.

EMILY: (To Mr. Christopher)I’m so sorry.I’m embarrassed.Mr. Christopher, I didn’t mean to-I didn’t mean for that to happen.I can control it.I’m in control. It does what ITell it to do, I just…SometimesIf I get overwhelmed or overExcited.It can get a little…Unmanageable.And just now in class…I got excited.…It’s just that it’s not easy to be hereBut you-…Everybody looks at me likeI’m a-….But you understand andYou make me feel normalAnd special at the same time.I feel like I can just be myself with youAnd like I belong here.…I’m sorry.

PRINCIPAL SKOR: (male or female)Hello, Students,Skor hereHappy Homecoming everyone,Bug Game TonightAgainst our biggest rival—The Greenview HORNETSThey’ve beat us every year for the past twenty years andThat victory banner of theirs hangs in our gym to shame usHangs way up in the rafters there, defying us to tear it down!But this year, I feel it,This is our HomecomingThis is the year we Tear That Hornets Banner Down!So let’s spell V for Victory!And P. for Sparrow PrideAnd remember…If you need guidance on your principlesYou can always talk to….your principal.Teachers, back to you.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER: (To Emily)Okay.The first thing I want to tell you, Emily, is that I think you’rewonderful.Absolutely.Completely apart from the fact that you haveAstonishing magical powers,You’re smart, and funny…You’re pretty.You’re dark and mysterious in a kind of…Well I just think you’re the cat’s pajamas.You’re a catch.But I’m not the guy that you should be…Emily…I put a lot of thought into trying to beThat cool teacher, you know?I mean, hey---I remember when I was your age…The point is, it’s okay to acknowledge what you’re feeling.There’s nothing wrong with feeling---things.It’s just a matter of what you do with it,We, all of us, just have to be responsible with our feelings.We have to stay in control.…Tell me you’re going to the dance tonight…Of course you are.You’re gonna cut some rug, slow-dance with a boy-You know…a cute boy, without a receding hairline.And have some fun.We’ll leave the dancing on the dance floorAnd the biology in my classroomNow get outta here, Supergirl.

MR. CHIRSTOPHER: (To Emily)Emily…that wasn’t supposed to happen.Jenny was feeling…She came in thereAnd I was trying to…She needed someone----She needed me to beThereAnd she looked at me likeSheI said all those things to you today aboutBeing responsible---And being in control.I believe those things I saidAnd I didn’tThink that was going to happenBut I let it happen.I could see how it…I could see how it was about to goAnd I let it go.How does that happen?When you see it comingAnd you know you’re about to hurt someoneAnd you let it happen?I know I hurt you too, EmilyBut I’m glad you were there.I don’t know what else….I should tell someone.It was my fault.I should stay here and—I have a responsibility to..…I’m a good person.I should tell everyone.….I wish I could tell my wife.

The Sparrow: Student Information SheetFill out the following information neatly (I must be able to read your name and ID numberclearly) and bring it with you to the auditions on Jnauary 18. You will not be cast without thisform.Name ____________________________________________ ID Number _________________Parent Name(s) _____________________________________ Phone ____________________Email _____________________________________________________________________Year in School: 9 10 11 12Dance experience in ballet, modern, jazz and tap ______________________________________(use back if you need more room)Student Directors will be asked to attend all rehearsals and will be a vital part of the creativeprocess.Are you interested in Student Directing? YES NOPlease check which positions besides acting you are interested in:Lighting Set Construction Props Costume/Make-up Stage ManagementWhat possible conflicts might you have with after school rehearsals? Be VERY SPECIFICAND HONEST about times and dates. Availability is crucial and will impact casting. Conflictsare NOT permissible during tech week. Please list Saturday during the day conflicts.Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday3:304:004:305:005:306:00

Other Conflicts (Please check with your parents/guardian regarding medical and dentalappointments, college visits, family trips...etc.):I have read the audition packet and fully understand its contents. I also understand thatrehearsals for The Sparrow will be held after school from 3:40pm-6:00pm and during tech weeksfrom 3:40pm-9:00pm. There will also be some Saturday rehearsals and non-school dayrehearsals on Feb. 21 and March 4 & 7. It is clear to me that my participation in the auditionprocess indicates a willingness to accept any role that I am cast in. I understand that if I auditionand then decline a role I have been given, I will forfeit the privilege of auditioning for otherTheatre Department productions until a crew or staff position has been served.____________________________________________Student SignatureI am aware that my son/daughter is auditioning for the Winter Play and that rehearsals will beheld after school during the months of January, February and March at the aforementionedtimes. I am also aware that the performance dates for The Sparrow are Friday March 18 andSaturday March 19 at 7:30p.m.____________________________________________Parent Signature*Senior Option: (Only fill out if you are a Senior)Signify which statement applies:I will accept any role.*I will accept only certain roles.*Signify which roles:____________________________________________________________________________Please be honest. I would rather not cast actors as ensembles members who don’t really wishto be there.