The Ruins

Auditions are now open for our staged reading of The Ruins, written by Mae Philippe-Auguste, taking place in New York City this fall. Rehearsals begin virtually on October 18th, and will move to in-person about halfway through, with performances on November 10th and 15th at The Studio at The Tank. All roles in this production are non-union and unpaid. Only video auditions will be accepted for this production, and all auditions are due by October 5th at 11:59pm Eastern time.

Characters:

Mike: he/him, 50s, a forgetful storyteller. The unofficial leader of the group, born long before.
Grace*: she/her, 20s to play late teens, a godless Christian. In a relationship with Caleb, born after.
Caleb*: he/him, 20s to play late teens, a violent lover. In a relationship with Grace, born after.
Hope**: she/her, 20s, an idealistic nihilist. Falls in love with Fern, born during.
Moss: they/them, 30s-40s, a living ghost. Has the most tangible survival skills, born before.
Fern**: she/her, 20s, a hopeless optimist. The outsider, falls in love with Hope, born during.
Stage Directions: any age.

*potential for intimacy together, to be determined in rehearsals: hand holding, kissing a forehead, kissing an arm, hugging. If not staged, it will be read as part of the stage directions.

**potential for intimacy together, to be determined in rehearsals: hugging, holding the other’s face. If not staged, it will be read as part of the stage directions. There are several kisses between Fern and Hope; these will be read as part of the stage directions and not staged.

All actors must be 18 years old or older.

Video Audition Requirements:

1. A slate stating your name, pronouns (optional), confirming you are non-union, and a fun fact about yourself.

2. Monologue/scene for the character you are auditioning for. If you would like to be considered for multiple characters, please perform the material for just one of them. If you would only like to be considered for stage directions, please pick any one character’s material. Please only submit auditions using the provided show materials. Acting reels and other monologues will not be accepted. Memorization is not required, we just want to see you work through the material! Show Material

ABOUT THE PLAY:

After the climate disaster has led to the wealthy colonizing Mars, the working class are left to fend for themselves on a post-apocalyptic Earth. With most of the human population dead, a small number of survivors are left scattered in the remains of the Earth: The Ruins. 

After struggling for too long, a small community of survivors is planning to trip on psilocybin mushrooms before ending their own lives, but their plan is interrupted when an outsider arrives. Can she convince them to stay, to rebuild and start again? Or will she join them?

The Ruins explores living in the results of the climate crisis and the cost to humanity that comes with that, as well as some things that will never change: the grief when you lose a loved one, struggles with mental illness, forming community with those you’ve found, and the yearning to do better, to make a better world than those who came before you.

CONTENT NOTICES:

Effects of climate disaster, drug use, suicide by poison, implied depression and other mental illnesses, depictions of neurological disease/decline, ableist language, violence (murder, intimate partner violence and manipulation), discussion of: suicide, infanticide, grief, loss, sexual violence, religious motifs and trauma.

There will be blood mentioned, but no blood will be seen onstage in this staged reading.

This content is most suitable for those 18+.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of these content notices, please feel free to contact us at amalgamationtheatreco@gmail.com for more information.

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