5 @ 50
by Brad Fraser
Onstage: April 1-11, 2020
Director: Louise Mallory
Stage Manager: Hunter Luth
Mentor Director: Kristen M. Finlay
Production Manager: Karin Lauderdale
Audition Location: Walterdale Theatre, 10322 – 83rd Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta
Audition Dates: Sunday, Dec 8, from 6 pm-10 pm; Monday, Dec 9, 6 pm-10 pm
Callbacks: Saturday, Dec 14 2019, 1 pm
Play Synopsis
Acclaimed playwright and Edmonton native Brad Fraser (Kill Me Now, Love and Human Remains) wrote 5 @ 50 for all the “excellent middle-aged actresses who were having trouble finding parts.” When Olivia loses control at her fiftieth birthday party, her three best friends decide to intervene once and for all, much to the irritation of Olivia and her long-term partner Norma. But is she the only one battling a demon or does each of these women face an addiction of one kind or another?
5 @ 50 is a raw and darkly comedic portrayal of turning fifty in contemporary society, and of the friendships we can’t live without.
The Theatre Alberta library, 3rd Floor Percy Page Centre, 11759 Groat Road, has a copy of the 5 @ 50 script available for loan to members.
Casting Requirements
All characters are 50-year-old women who grew up together in a Canadian city. We want to encourage performers of any ethnicity, a range of actual ages, all body types, various gender expressions and sexual orientations, a range of mobility levels, and any level of acting experience to audition for 5 @ 50.
NORMA – Olivia’s partner, successful pediatrician, describes herself as fat
OLIVIA – Norma’s partner, has drinking problem
TRICIA – outspoken journalist, some pain and mobility troubles
FERN – yoga-loving peacekeeper, suburban stay-at-home mother
LORENE – Jewish, real estate agent, estranged from her children
Audition Preparation
Please go to the following link to choose an audition time:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E48A9AC22A0FA7-550
After you have signed up, you may email a headshot and/or a theatre resume to production manager Karin Lauderdale at karin.lauderdale@gmail.com. Headshots and resumes are not mandatory. If the audition signup is full or you have questions about the audition schedule you may also contact Karin.
You do not need to prepare a monologue for this audition. Instead, please tell us a story (2 – 3 minutes long) about a time that you let go of something that was troubling you, overcame a challenge, or discovered something about how your life experience affected who you are. Auditions will also include cold reads of scenes from the play from provided sides.
Please bring your schedule to the audition and let us know of any dates or times you are unavailable during the rehearsal period of Jan 2 – Mar 20.
Rehearsal will be three times a week from January to tech week, days/times dependent on cast/team schedules. You must be fully available during tech week (Mar 22 – Mar 31 2020) and performance run (April 1-11 2020).
Walterdale Theatre is committed to inclusive casting. Artists who are members of under-represented communities are greatly encouraged to audition.
Walterdale Theatre is a volunteer organization and cannot engage Equity performers.
