Auditions will be held by appointment on Saturday, September 26th for the staged reading of “Rustic Appeal,” a new stage play by Kevin Michael West.
“Rustic Appeal” is about four gay men in their twenties, long term friends who go on a camping trip together. As the weekend progresses, secrets are revealed, long buried passions are acted upon and each of the men learn something important about themselves.
“Rustic Appeal” is a warm and funny play with four rich and complex characters. We’re looking for talented and experienced male stage actors in their twenties. The play is an ensemble piece, and all four roles are of around equal size.
JOHN, 25. A sad sack, frequently lost in thought. Given to making clever jokes and pop culture references. Above average good looks. (Character has two brief male/male kisses during the performance.)
HAROLD, 24. The group’s organizer. Neurotic and frequently irritable. Bossy, competitive and well organized. More “average” looking type. (Character has a brief male/male kiss and some dialogue with gay sexual content.)
BENJY, 22. The “kid” of the group. The least worldly and also the most at peace with his life. A virgin and deeply spiritual. “Cute” boyish look. (Character has two brief male/male kisses.)
DIRK, 36 (appears 25). Athletic and muscular. Pragmatic. Boldly sexual. The mostly “manly” and “straight” of the group regarding interests and personality. (Character has a brief male/male kiss and some dialogue with gay sexual content.)
This casting notice is for a staged reading (several night/weekend rehearsals and one performance). The play will receive a full out production in 2010. (Actors who participate in the staged reading are more likely to be cast in the full production than those who didn’t.) This staged reading is open to equity and non-equity actors. (There’s no compensation, although I usually give everybody a small gift in gratitude.) The full production will likely be an equity-waiver show.
“Rustic Appeal” is not like some gay plays you may have seen or read, which pander to certain segments of the gay theater audience by over emphasizing sex and the male body. This is a “real” play. Nevertheless, please note that “Rustic Appeal” does include some mature content, including dialogue that references gay sexuality and some brief moments of male/male kissing. Actors uncomfortable with these elements should consider carefully before submitting. Actors will be provided with a PDF copy of the full script prior to auditioning.
Kevin Michael West is a playwright and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. His stage play “Top and Bottom” had successful runs in Los Angeles, Provincetown and off-Broadway at the New York International Fringe Festival. His gay-themed screenplay “Easy On The Eyes” has been optioned by Select Services Films. In January, he will be attending USC’s prestigious film school, as a grad student, majoring in directing for the cinema.
Respond by emailing a photo and resume to RusticAppeal (at) Yahoo dot com. It’s not necessary that you specify which character to read for.
Thank you for your interest in “Rustic Appeal.”