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| AUDITIONS for "Coastal Disturbances" |
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Monday, February 08, 2010; 7:00 PM 
Starlighters II Theatre
Announcing Auditions For...
"Coastal Disturbances"
Auditions for "Coastal Disturbances" by Tina Howe will be held on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, February 7, 8, 9 at 7 pm in The Studio, on the third floor of the Starlighters Theatre in Anamosa.
Bob Furino (Delhi), who directed Henrik Ibsen’s "A Doll’s House" in 2008, will be the director of this play.
This highly acclaimed Broadway hit, and Tony Award nominee for Best Play, takes place on a private New England beach. Leo Hart, a strong, handsome lifeguard, and Holly Dancer, a young, attractive would-be fine art photographer, are both rebounding from troubled relationships and find each other amid the gale winds of romance that engulf this sandy shore. Also inhabiting the coastal retreat these late summer days, struggling with their own stories, are Ariel, who has recently endured a difficult divorce, and her high-energy son, Winston; the pregnant Faith, Ariel’s college roommate, and her adopted daughter, Miranda; and the older MJ and Dr. Hamilton Adams, who continue the quest for a more perfect marriage, even after raising nine children. This beautiful story examines love from all sides, amid the ebb and flow of summer life swirling around these individuals.
Character Descriptions:
( *numbers inside brackets indicate [# of pages character appears in play/# of pages where character has lines/Total # of pages in play] )
Holly Dancer (aged 20 to 35) [67/63/86]:
Holly Dancer has come to her aunt's beach home to get away from her personal and career life, which are both spinning out of control. She is a mixed-up and somewhat depressive young photographer from New York, who fancies Leo but seems to be going through some sort of crisis, perhaps even a nervous breakdown of sorts. She is also recovering from a bad breakup with the European owner of a photography gallery where she had hoped to have her work displayed. Holly does her best to manage her emotions, but can still burst into tears at the drop of a hat. Any time Leo comes uncomfortably close to her, she backs off. She is at once completely awed and overcome by him, and yet keeps pushing him away. Her attraction to him makes her feel totally out of control.
Leo Hart (aged 20 to 35) [70/61/86]:
Leo Hart is an attractive lifeguard who's recovering from a failed engagement, but seems to be willing to try again after one look at Holly. Leo's drifter life style hardly make him Mr. Right for the ambitious Holly but she is drawn to the impulsive young lifeguard nonetheless. Leo has been hired as a lifeguard after a young boy drowned. The uneven process of the relationship between Leo and Holly forms the spine of the play. Leo is attracted to Holly from the second he sees her. He hovers over her. He asks her out. However, Holly always seems just out of reach for the lifeguard, until she witnesses Leo's care for a young child who has just stepped on a shard of glass and gotten it lodged in her foot. This event seems to break the ice and open up possibilities for the lifeguard and the photographer.
M. J. Adams (aged 60 to 75) [25/19/86]:
The changing tide and sky won't stand still for the aging artist, M.J. Adams, to capture it on her canvas. This watercolorist unfortunately is finding that life's experiences can't be contained within a firmly framed emotional canvas. The emotional disgust she exhibits for her own work is mirrored by the unconditional admiration her husband has for everything she does.
Dr. Hamilton Adams (aged 60 to 80) [27/18/86]:
Dr. Hamilton Adams, a retired eye surgeon whose main occupation these days is collecting shells, has come to the beach with his wife, M.J., a watercolor artist who seems constantly dissatisfied by her own work. Although Dr. Adams has only the greatest affection and admiration for his wife, it seems that this has not always been true throughout their life together, and M. J. often reminds him of that fact, much to his chagrin.
Ariel Took (aged 20 to 40) [37/25/86]:
A divorced mother who seems to be at the mercy of her exposed nerves, Ariel Took has developed a deep distrust for men that often borders on hatred. She has brought to the beach a large helping of unhappiness, along with blankets, toys, and her energetic young son, Winston. Ariel has come to the beach at the invitation of her friend, Faith Bigelow.
Winston Took (aged 8 to 11) [45/22/86]:
Young Winston Took, son of Ariel, finds that his fun at the beach can't shut out his mother Ariel's unhappiness. He is very energetic and undisciplined. His high energy and lack of behavior do nothing to help his mother's frail nerves, and leads to a sudden and uncomfortable confrontation between mother and son.
Faith Bigelow (aged 20 to 40) [33/29/86]:
Faith Bigelow is a happy, and pregnant young wife who has come to the beach with her young adopted daughter Miranda. Faith has invited her friend, Ariel Took, to accompany her to the beach, hoping that the experience will help improve her friend's outlook on life.
Miranda Bigelow (aged 7 to 10) [34/18/86]:
Miranda Bigelow is the young adopted daughter of Faith Bigelow. She is good friends with Winston Took, but also finds herself constantly in competition with him. She discovers that her wonderful beach has its imperfections when she steps on a glass shard.
Andre Sor (aged 30 to 55) [11/10/86]:
Andre Sor is a middle-aged owner of a photography gallery in New York. He is also Holly's lover. However this affair seems to be simply one of convenience for him, while Holly has always hoped for it to develop into more. He follows Holly to the beach, having detected that she has been more distant of late.
* [Actors do not necessarily need to be in the age ranges given, as long as they could possibly play someone in that age range.]
Those interested in auditioning may bring a prepared monologue that would give an idea of their acting range. However, the director stresses that monologues or prepared pieces are NOT mandatory. There will be several different elements in the auditions in order to give each actor a chance to show his/her abilities and talents in a number of different ways.
The director encourages both veteran and new actors to audition.
Children auditioning for the roles of Winston Took or Miranda Bigelow MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian, as these roles contain a small amount of strong language.
If you would like to get more information about the show and/or auditions, visit the newly redesigned Starlighters II website at www.starlighters.org, contact director Bob Furino at bfurino@mchsi.com, or call 319-462-4793 Ext.821.
You can also check out our latest Podcast where director Bob Furino answers questions about the auditions and production of "Coastal Disturbances" at www.starlighters.org/podcasts.html.
Also available from our website auditions page (www.starlighters.org/auditions.html) is the full review of "Coastal Disturbances" by John Simon of New York Magazine, as well as a 22-page preview of the script at Google Books online.
To check out a full perusal version of the script, contact the director at bfurino@mchsi.com, or call 319-462-4793 Ext.821.
The production dates for "Coastal Disturbances" are April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25.
"Coastal Disturbances" contains some strong language.
* * *
What the critics said about "Coastal Disturbances:"
"Generously illuminates the intimate landscape between men and women."
N.Y. Times.
"Enchanting."
New Yorker.
"Endearing."
NBC TV.
"Will appeal only to play goers who like charming and sympathetic characters, tender romance, laughs and rueful wisdom about the pitfalls of love."
Variety.
"Whosoever's heart this play does not break, whosoever's soul it does not enthrall, may just lack those organs."
N.Y. Magazine.
“as relaxing and refreshing as a day at the shore!”
Judith Crist
“An enchanting play!”
Edith Oliver – The New Yorker
“Coastal Disturbances is hilarious and erotic! A modern play about love that is, for once, actually about love.”
Frank Rich – The New York Times
“An exhilaratingly believable play, heartbreakingly sweet!”
John Simon – New York Magazine
”Coastal Disturbances is like a set of bright, vividly drawn watercolors which will bring back very special memories.”
Howard Kissel – New York Daily News
“Magic!”
Leida Snow – WINS Radio
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