Auditions are open!
Auditions are open for Eurydice Fragments. Apply by April 30, 2024
The Project
Eurydice Fragments is a contemporary version of the Orphean myth that fuses opera, theatre, dance, extended reality, motion capture and interactive technologies. Through an immersive exploration of our digital and carbon existences, the performance dissolves the binaries we are bound to from birth until death, and strums the threads between heaven and hell, male and female, maker and muse, performer and audience.
The story follows O, a trans person whose sense of gender and identity is expansive — yet who has lived a fractured life. Haunted by past experiences and personhoods that have been suppressed, repressed, or condemned, O journeys to the Styx, a queer bar, where they find the opportunity to express themself through avatars in extended reality. As O navigates the fluid landscapes of identity and technology, Eurydice Fragments challenges us to question: how do we navigate the vastness of our identities in spaces that resist our multiplicity?
Want to learn more? Check out our main project page!
Production Information
Producers:
This is a co-production between re:Naissance Opera (Vancouver, BC) and Arkora (Toronto, ON).
Key Contacts:
- Debi Wong – debi@reopera.com (Lead Producer)
- Stephanie Wong – stephanie@reopera.com (Associate Artistic Director & Audition Coordinator)
Key Dates (subject to change)
- Audition applications close: April 30, 2024
- Invitations to Audition by Self Tape: May 6, 2024
- Self Tape Audition Materials Due: May 12, 2024
- Vancouver In-Person Auditions: May 18 – 19, 2024
- Rehearsals: October 31 – November 7, 2024
- Tech: November 7 – 14, 2024
- Performances: November 14, 15, 19, 20, 2024
Project Fee
This will be a 3-week contract. Fees will be commensurate with equity / union rates.
Roles Available
PLUSEPHONE — Cosmic Royalty and the (exuberant, gender-expansive) presiding spirit of the Styx. Plusephone (she / he / they) creates a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for all and supports patrons in diving deeper into the many aspects of their own identities. If a patron – or a traveller – wishes, Plusephone will journey with them deeper and deeper, uncovering all aspects of the self. Seeking performers who can sing and dance. Performers with a background in drag should especially apply.
CHARON — the Styx’s bartender-gatekeeper. Charon (he / him) keeps the place running, keeps travelers quenched, and when travelers decide to return to the overworld, he makes sure they are properly equipped and informed for the journey home. Musical background and singing experience are beneficial but not crucial.
CHORUS (3) — a fluid trio comprising of:
- The Three Fates (Clotho, Atropos and Lachesis) – they inhabit the Styx and help Plussephone and Charon unite revellers at the Styx with their avatars.
- Three Acting Class Memories (Teacher, Student and Pastore) – they embody aspects of O’s self & others who inhabit the memory-worlds through which O journeys.
- Three Doctors – more figments from one of O’s memories when they learn their child is intersex.
- O’s Shadow – The physical embodiment of O when they are experiencing a memory. This role is silent when onstage but will play all physical aspects of O’s story inside the memory scenes.
Candidates should have acting and singing experience. Dance experience is beneficial as is the ability to read notated music and scores but not necessary. Please also indicate if you have worked with motion capture before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an opera singer?
Not at all! This show is intentionally created with a variety of styles in mind and we want to tailor the music and characters to the unique strengths of each performer. Think of it as a musical-theatre work and show us what you do best!
Do I have to audition in person?
No! Our auditions will happen in two main rounds that take place online. The Vancouver in-person audition is optional for folks who can come. If we feel an in-person is needed, we’ll let you know!
Do I have to read music?
No! People learn music in many different styles and we appreciate that. This is a musical show so being comfortable singing in rhythm and in tune is important.
What kind of previous works should I submit?
It’s alright if you don’t have any previous recordings or examples of work. However, we do ask for this so we can get a sense of your abilities as a performer. If you are able, consider recording something on an iPhone – a monologue, a song, a dance, anything that can show us who you are as a performer.
Are you sure I don’t have to be an opera singer?
We are reimagining what opera can be and we want your voice – however it is trained and expressed – to be a part of that.
HOW TO APPLY
Please share your materials in the form. If you have any questions about auditioning, please feel free to email Associate Artistic Director, Stephanie Wong at stephanie@reopera.com. If you are selected, we will reach out with monologue excerpts from the production.
STATEMENT OF INCLUSION
We strongly encourage applications from BIPOC artists, women and non-binary folks, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and others whose voices contribute to the further diversification of the arts sector. This is a dedicated space for QTBIPOC artists.
Join Our Mailing List to be the first to be notified about news and updates!
Thank you to our Live From the Underworld / Eurydice Fragments Funders, Sponsors, and Partners
