"The Empress of China" Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America Open Call (NY)

Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America is currently casting the American Premiere of "The Empress of China", following the popular and critically acclaimed world premiere commissioned and produced by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre in Hong Kong in January 2011. Show opens on June 3rd, 2011 and runs through June 26th, 2011 with 16 performances total at Theatre for the New City.

"The Empress of China" is set in the year of 1784 during the 49th year of the reign of the Qing Emperor. It tells the legend of the first trading ship from the US to China. Blending significant historical figures and fictional characters, it examines the initial encounter for two peoples of drastically diverse experience and exceedingly different ways of looking at themselves and at the world. In the forbidden encounter between the dashing Supercargo of The Empress of China, Samuel Shaw, and the young beautiful Purple Lotus, daughter of a rich Chinese merchant, a common language was found in their belief in trust, honor, and integrity.

Open Audition at: April 3,4, 6, & 7 2011 from 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Callbacks on Sunday, April 10th, 2011.

First Reading & Rehearsal on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5:45pm - 9:45pm starting April 11th, 2011 in Chinatown area.

Show opening on Friday, June 3rd and runs for 16 performances (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) with an additional performance on June 22nd, 2011.

Last performance on June 26th, 2011.

Performance Location: Theater for the New City.

Compensation: $300 stipend at the end of the entire production, and 4 complimentary tickets to any of the shows.

Seeking Non-Equity Actors only. Please only come to the audition if you are available and comfortable with the production schedule.

Open Call Location:

Transfiguration Church lunchroom (right next to the auditorium) at 29 Mott Street in the heart of Chinatown, entering from the side door on Mosco Street. (The first door on your right when you walk down the gentle slope of Mosco Street. Over the door, you will see the sign that says: " Transfiguration Church.")

For the audition, please prepare a short monologue. Please also bring a hardcopy of headshot & resume.

Actors auditioning for the role of "Father Pierre" and any of the Chinese characters, we will conduct a short interview in either Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese.

CAUCASIAN MALE ACTORS with one who must be able to speak Mandarin or Cantonese:

• Samuel Shaw - Caucasian Male. early 20s - 30s. A former officer of the Continental Army and the principal Supercargo (businessman afloat) of The Empress of China. Fencing/Stage Combat experience a plus.

• Father Pierre - Caucasian Male. late 30s - 60s. A foreigner Missioner. Actor must be able to speak English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)

• Robert Morris - Caucasian Male, late 30s - 40s. One of the investors in the voyage, he owned half interest in "The Empress of China." Fencing/Stage Combat experience a plus.

• Daniel Parker - Caucasian Male, late 30s - 40s. Owner of Daniel Parker & Company of New York. A major investor in the voyage.

• Captain Green - Caucasian Male, late 30s - 50s. A mariner with 20 years of experience through the stormy era of the Revolution.

• Doctor Johnston - Caucasian Male, mid 30s - 40s. The attending physician of "The Empress of China."

• Thomas Randall - Caucasian Male, early 30s - 40s. A former officer of the continental army and a close friend of Samuel Shaw. second supercargo of "The Empress of China."

CHINESE CHARACTERS (Mandarin or Cantonese speaking)

• Master Pan- Chinese Male, age 40s - 60s. Father of Lotus and Wen-Da.

• Pan Wen-Da - Chinese Male, age 20s - 30s. Brother of Lotus. Martial Arts / Stage Combat Training a plus. Actor must be able to speak English and Chinese.

• Custom Chief Officer/Fan: Chinese male, age late 30s - 50s.

• Mayor Zhang of Canton: Chinese male, middle aged

• Zi-Lian (Lotus) - Chinese Female, age 15. Sister of Wen-Da. Actress must be able to speak English and Chinese

• Madame Pan - Chinese Female, middle aged. Mother of Lotus and Wen-Da.

• Mistress Pan - Chinese Female, age late 20s - 40s. Mistress of Master Pan.

• Ai-Ping - Chinese Female, age early 20s - 30s. Wife of Wen-Da.

• Su-Fen - Chinese Female, age 18 - late 20s. Lotus's teenage maid.

This is a Non-Equity production; however all cast & crew will be covered by the Volunteer Insurance.

For more information regarding the theatre company, please visit: http://www.yangtze-rep-theatre.org

纽约长江剧团现为话剧《中国皇后號》在美首演招募演员。该剧由香港話劇團委約長江劇團藝術總監陳尹瑩博士創作及導演, 于2011年一月在香港成功完成世界首演，社会反响强烈, 叫好叫座。现计划将于今年六月三日至二十六日在纽约新城市剧场演出十六场 。

“《中国皇后號》：以第一艘由美国开往中国商船的传奇经历为背景所展开的奇妙故事”。本剧故事发生在1784年，清帝乾隆49年，借数位历史人物及几位虚构角色，探讨当日中美两国民族首次接触时怀有的遐想和善意，以及因彼此的民族差异和文化不同而引出的碰撞和深层交流。中国皇后號大班山茂召跟中国富商娇憨明媚的女儿潘紫莲无意邂逅，在无从沟通交往的情况下，却在对忠義坦诚的信念上，找到了共通的语言。

演出日期：2011年6月3日（首演）至6月26日（最后一场）期间每周四、五、六、日；6月22日（星期三）加演一场。

演出地点：紐約第一大道八至九街之間新城市剧院（Theater for the New City，155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets)，New York, NY 10003）

演员面试时间：2011年4月3日，4日，6日，7日晚上六点至八点半。

演员面试地点：纽约市中国城顯聖容天主堂樓下禮堂（Transfiguration Church auditorium, 29 Mott Street， 请由侧门入内。即顺着Mosco Street小斜坡往下走，在您右手边的第一道门，门上标有“Transfiguration Church”）。

複試时间：2011年4月10日。

演出排练时间：2011年4月11日起每周一、周三、周四和周日的晚上5：45至9：45。

演员补助：基于美国长江剧团为非盈利性团体，所有的演职人员都为义务工作志愿者，不被支付工资和演出费。演员在全部演出完成后可获得300美元的车马费补贴，及本剧任何演出场次的赠票，共计四张。

招募非工会演员，如下：

七名白种男演员；其中一角色(彼尔神甫)年龄在25岁至55岁之间, 需會说普通话或广东话。

九名华裔男演员，要求会说普通话或广东话，年龄在18岁至60岁之间（其中四位为主要角色，五位为多重配角）。

五名华裔女演员，要求会说普通话或广东话，年龄在18岁至45岁之间。

面试时，请准备一小段独白。并请携带一张写真照片和一份简历。

另外，对面试“彼尔神甫”角色的演员和所有华裔演员，将会用普通话或广东话进行简短面试。

所有参加面试的演员，请您确保以遵守剧团的排练日程和要求为前提。

本剧为非工会制作演出，但是所有演职人员都会有义务工作者保险。

了解更多剧团信息，请登录：http://www.yangtze-rep-theatre.org