The University of the Virgin Islands Theatre is pleased to
announce the first play of the 2009 season, Truth on Trial: The
Ballad of Sojourner Truth. It will be performed April 17, 18,
19, and in the days immediately before the Carnival celebration,
April 24, 25 and 26 at the Pistarckle Theater.
Auditions and technical positions are open to all members of the
UVI family and the entire Virgin Islands greater community who are
over 18 (or 16 with parental consent). It is possible to earn
university credit for participation if desired.
The winner of the 21st Century Playwrights Festival in
New York City, Truth on Trial is a powerful and
provocative play with music based on the life of Sojourner Truth,
an illiterate former slave who fought for the causes of abolition,
women's rights, temperance and evangelical Christianity all her
life. The play features conflict over issues of race, gender and
affirmative action, angry harangues and debate, bloodthirsty
reporters, whippings, escapes, courtroom drama, appearances by
Frederick Douglas and Harriet Beecher Stowe, Civil War scenes,
women's rights meetings, slave songs and dances and a lusty Pinxter
celebration. The play surges to life with the powerful oratory,
song, poetry and the delightful Mark-Twain-like humor of Sojourner
Truth.
Truth on Trial was written and will be directed by new UVI
Playwright-in-Residence, Dr. Doug Larche, who is an internationally
honored playwright, professor, poet, performer, composer and human
rights activist. Dr. Larche spent over twenty years researching and
then writing the play as a member of the University of Iowa
Playwrights Workshop and the Yale University Playwrights
Workshop.
The play requires a multi-cultural cast of nearly thirty, ranging
in age from late teen-agers to senior citizens. There are six major
roles - three for men and three for women, including the
challenging role of Sojourner Truth - and many smaller roles, which
are incorporated into two large ensembles of 19th
Century characters, one of color, one white.
Auditions are open to all members of the Virgin
Islands community who are 18 or older (16 with parental consent).
They will be held at two venues on two different days, and by
appointment. The first three sessions of auditions will be held on
Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the CA Building on UVI's St. Thomas campus, at
noon, 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The second set of auditions will be held
a week later, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the
Pistarckle Theater.
Auditioners should wear comfortable clothes and bring personal
calendars to the auditions, and will be expected to: 1) read aloud
a short poems or song lyric, 2) tell a short personal story from
childhood, 3) sing one verse of a spiritual or "Happy Birthday"
(doesn't have to be good!), 4) try some simple movement exercises,
5) try some simple improvisational interactions, and 6) read
monologues or duologues provided from the play.
While it is not required or expected, individuals who have a
monologue prepared, should plan to perform it. People who cannot
attend any of these sessions, or anyone with questions, may call
340-693-1341 or send email to dlarche@uvi.edu to make an
appointment or to get answers.