Auditions for A Staged Reading of Ushuaia Blue March 8-9
By Caridad Svich
Directed by Gabriela Yepes-Rossel*
* PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies
Rehearsals begin: Monday, April 7, 2025
Performances: April 26-27, 2025
This project is being produced as a special faculty-led research project and in conjunction with Professor Megan Reilly’s Experience Design Class, TD 219. Enrollment in the TD 219 class is not required.
If cast, actors will be required to enroll in TD 360 Performance in Practice for 1 credit hour.
General Information:
Auditions are open to all students, regardless of major, as well as staff, faculty, and members of UW-Madison communities.
Generals: Saturday, March 8 9am-4pm in Vilas 1132.
Please sign up for a time via this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D49AAA822AAF49-55357225-astaged#/
Callbacks: Sunday, March 9, 10am-11:30am Vilas 1132.
Audition Requirements:
For Generals:
Please read the full play prior to auditions and prepare the side (scene/excerpt/monologue) corresponding to your character indicated in the Google Drive. You can also prepare an additional scene/section/monologue of your preference, which you could present if time allows. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uG2LX4ww5rsmdwjxQ2cS0J5dgWDsgA7-?usp=sharing
Actors are encouraged to read the full play prior to auditions. Perusal copies of the script are available in the Department of Theatre and Drama Main Office, 6173 Vilas, 821 University Ave, during regular hours 8 am-5 pm Monday to Friday. For a digital copy, please email Scot Shepley, Communications Manager, at sshepley@wisc.edu for access.
The Play:
In a world where science, art, and love intersect, a scientist and a filmmaker pursuing their dream research in Antarctica's fragile environment suddenly find their lives disrupted. A tragedy forces the couple to examine the lives they've built for themselves, while healing the deep wounds that climate change has inflicted on them and the people around them. Inspired by conversations with marine biologist James McClintock, and set in Ushuaia, Argentina, Palmer Station in Antarctica and the American South, this gripping new play by Caridad Svich will leave you breathless and inspired.
CONTENT ADVISORY: The script illustrates climate change impacts around the world, including its effects on all the characters in the play. Sensitive topics include climate-change trauma, PTSD, coma state, depression, generational trauma. Also, as climate change also exacerbates existing social inequalities, topics like classism, racism and sexism are suggested throughout the play.
Production Information:
Rehearsals for University Theatre will take place Monday-Friday 6-10 pm plus 1-2 TBD Saturdays.
Student actors cast in this production must register for 1-3 credits of THEATRE 360.
A Note on Staged Intimacy: There are no instances of staged intimacy in this staged reading.
A Note on Staged Violence: There are no instances of staged violence in this staged reading.
***There will be no staged intimacy or violence of any kind in auditions or callbacks***
Important Note on COVID-19: Please note that with safety considerations related to COVID-19, staging, including movement, intimacy and violence may be curtailed, abstracted, or cut.
The University Theatre adheres to all University policies on COVID-19 concerning events and classes UW COVID information https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/covid/. As such, UT highly recommends practices that align with the current CDC guidelines https://archive.cdc.gov.
Roles Open For Audition:
Roles may be cast by actors who identify as any age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, or nationality, unless indicated below:
JORDAN, marine biologist, 30s-40s, white. Character is written as cis-het male preferred, but cis-female, trans or non-binary is absolutely an option.
SARA, his wife, bio-acoustics artist and filmmaker, 30s-40s. Latinx or Black ancestry preferred, not required.
PIPER, Sara's distant cousin, Latinx or Black ancestry preferred, not required.
ASH, friend to Piper, Latinx or Black ancestry preferred, not required.
ZANE, friend to Piper, Latinx or Black ancestry preferred, not required.
PEPA, born in Ushuaia (Argentinian Patagonia). Ageless quality. Latinx, of Spanish and Indigenous descent. Spanish-speaker preferred, not required.
Do you have questions?? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ann Shanahan at amshanahan@wisc.edu, Aly Amidei at aramidei@wisc.edu or Jahana Azodi at jadzodi@wisc.edu