ANNA IN THE TROPICS BY NILO CRUZ - Merely Players Presents Non Equity Auditions

REQUIREMENTS:

• Actors auditioning for all roles must be bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Auditions will consist of cold reading from the script in both English and Spanish
• Additionally, actors should prepare a dramatic monologue (60 to 90 seconds) in either English or Spanish (your choice) showcasing your ability to convey emotion and depth.
• The actors cast in the roles of Juan Julian and Conchita will have intimate scenes; an Intimacy Director has been hired to coach and guide actors through these delicate scenes and actors must be comfortable working with this type of material.

To Schedule an Audition: Please
sign up for an audition slot.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Audition sides will be provided upon arrival
• Read through will be held late June or early July (TBD)
• Rehearsals will take place every Tuesday 7:00, Thursday 7:00, Saturday 10:30 beginning on 7/16/24 (PLEASE BRING A LIST OF CONFLICTS TO THE AUDITION)
• All who are cast will receive a stipend of $100 minimum

SYNOPSIS:

Anna in the Tropics is a poignant and sensual drama set in a Cuban-American cigar factory in 1929 Florida. The story revolves around the lives of the workers, deeply impacted by the introduction of a new lector who reads to them from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. As the characters become engrossed in the novel, their own lives start to mirror the themes of love, betrayal, and societal constraints present in the classic Russian tale.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

5 Men Ages 30s – 50s
3 Woman Ages 20s – 40s

Juan Julian: (Age: Late 20s to early 30s) - Juan Julian is a charming and well-educated man in his late 20s to early 30s. He exudes an air of sophistication and brings a sense of romance to the cigar factory. His presence as the lector introduces the workers to literature and serves as a catalyst for change in their lives.

Conchita: (Age: Late 20s) - Conchita is a woman in her late 20s, married to Palomo. She is passionate and introspective, finding solace and inspiration in the story of Anna Karenina. Conchita grapples with her desires, her role as a wife, and her longing for something more in life.

Palomo: (Age: Early 30s) - Palomo is Conchita's husband, a man in his early 30s who works alongside her in the cigar factory. He is traditional and proud, but also prone to jealousy and insecurity, particularly in response to Juan Julian's presence and his wife's growing infatuation with the lector.

Santiago: (Age: 40s to 50s) - Santiago is the owner of the cigar factory, a man in his 40s to 50s. He is a businessman who values tradition but is open to new ideas, as evidenced by his decision to hire Juan Julian as the lector to boost morale among the workers.

Marela: (Age: Late teens to early 20s) - Marela is Conchita's younger sister, a woman in her late teens to early 20s. She is idealistic, romantic, and deeply affected by the story of Anna Karenina. Marela forms a close bond with Juan Julian and seeks to understand her own desires and dreams.

Cheché: (Age: 30s to 40s) - Cheché is Santiago's half-brother, a man in his 30s to 40s who resents him and desires control of the factory. He represents the encroachment of modernity and capitalism on traditional Cuban ways of life, serving as a foil to Santiago's more traditional values.

Ofelia: (Age: 40s to 50s) - Ofelia is the powerful wife of Santiago, and she spends a great deal of time reviling him for all of the problems that he brings upon himself (drunkenness, excessive gambling). Nonetheless, she is not at all a stern woman, but rather someone who enjoys fantasizing about a better life and indulging in romantic daydreaming.

Eliades: (Age: 30s-40s) - Eliades is a gamester who takes wagers on the local cockfights he runs. (this role may be double cast with Cheché)