Audition Call Out: Visually Impaired Actors and Performers for New Musical Workshop
Seeking blind and visually impaired performers for an upcoming workshop of the new musical, ‘Otto Weidt’s Brush & Broom Workshop for the Blind’.
Submission deadline: 23:59 (GMT) on Friday, 8th of November 2024
Workshop dates: 13th of January to 4th of February, 2025
Fee: A fee of £1,972 will be paid. Where necessary, accommodation, meal, and travel allowances will be paid according to ITC guidelines.
About ‘Otto Weidt’s Brush & Broom Workshop for the Blind’
Otto Weidt is a new musical by Caitlyn Burt and Amir Shoenfeld. The show is inspired by the true story of Otto Weidt – a blind German man who employed visually impaired Jewish people in his brush and broom workshop and shielded them from Nazi persecution. The show features integrated “stealth” audio description, weaving visual information into dialogue, lyrics, and soundscapes to create an elevated experience for audiences with any level of sight. Below is a link to a demo from the show for reference:
About the Workshop
Where: Leeds Playhouse (Leeds), and JW3 (London)
When: 13th of January to 4th of February, 2025
What: A three-week workshop hosted by Leeds Playhouse to stage approximately 60 minutes of excerpts from the show. This will include a preparation week for work from home with rehearsals taking place the following two weeks in Leeds. There will be one sharing performance in Leeds on Friday 31st of January, and another at JW3, London, on Tuesday 4th February. The cast and creative team will feature a majority of blind and visually impaired people, as well as sighted theatre makers committed to access and representation.
We encourage blind and visually impaired actors and performers with an interest in musical theatre to audition. Prior experience in musical theatre is welcome, but not required. We welcome applications from artists 18+, of any co-existing disability, gender identity, race, faith, sex and sexual orientation. We encourage submissions from Jewish performers and welcome submission from anywhere in the UK.
Access
We will consult with each individual performer about their formatting preferences and send materials in accessible formats. Access Support Workers will be engaged and available throughout the workshop. Travel from Leeds to London will be provided by coach. Further access requirements can also be discussed at the interview stage. Information about access at Leeds Playhouse and JW3 can be found on their respective websites and in the following links:
How to Audition
Please submit an existing showreel or a self tape of yourself singing a musical theatre song, along with a short scene or monologue. For reference, the show is a dramatic musical with references including Parade, Ragtime, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Please also include either a short bio, CV, spotlight link, or any other equivalent. These can be in any format including, but not limited to, audio or video. Performers are also encouraged to mention any additional skills such as movement or dance.
Submissions should be sent to OttoWeidtMusical@gmail.com by 23:59 (GMT) on Friday 8th November 2024. Online interviews with shortlisted performers will be held throughout the week commencing Monday 11th November. Final decisions and offers will be sent by Friday 1st December.
We look forward to your submission. For any further questions, clarifications, or requests, our email address is OttoWeidtMusical@gmail.com