Audition: Actor-Facilitation Ensemble

Posted by Gas & Electric Arts on March 30, 2015

Are you—or someone you know– interested in social justice and cultural activism? participatory theatre and arts-based civic engagement? creative place-keeping? community planning and urban development that truly starts with cultivating the voices and ideas of the residents through artist-based practices? cross-sector partnerships where artists are apply their perspectives and skills to bringing people together and collaboratively work towards change? devising original performance rooted in a commitment to civic dialogue about local concerns?

THEN COME Audition for Gas & Electric Arts’ Actor-Facilitation Ensemble! Or pass this email along to others who might!

Gas & Electric Arts is recruiting diverse actors, to be part of an actor-facilitation ensemble that uses Theatre of the Oppressed techniques, improvisation, and related social justice and arts-based strategies for community engagement, healing across difference, and activism.

Initially, performance will be a medium for civic engagement and dialogue, using theatre to stimulate new ways of enacting social transformation. Ensemble members will first receive in-depth training from Lisa Jo Epstein, a seasoned Theatre of the Oppressed facilitator, educator and theatre director, and then be employed for a variety of projects, from participatory theatre residencies to creating site and issue-specific original pieces.

Requirements:

1. Comfort level w/improvisation—acting and movement– and ensemble-devising

2. Experience with Theatre of the Oppressed and/or Playback helpful but not required

3. Experience as a theatre teaching artist is favorable.

4. Previous social justice & diversity training such as undoing racism, intergroup dialogue, etc. will be useful;

5. Work well in a collaborative ensemble;

6. Group facilitation or interest in learning dialogue facilitation skills

7. Ability to travel throughout the Philadelphia region

8. Must be age 20+

Prior to employment working in community settings, team members will go through an intensive training in participatory theatre and facilitation techniques for engaging diversity issues using theatre strategies. These techniques can be applied to all kinds of work committed to social action and transformation—educational, political, creative, cultural, and beyond. Stipends will be provided for the training and subsequent employment with Gas & Electric Arts.

Auditions will be held:

Monday April 13, 2015
6:30-9:30p
@Summit Presbyterian Church in Mt. Airy
6757 Greene Street, Philadelphia PA 19119
Train stop, Chestnut Hill West: Upsal

To secure an audition slot, please email the following to Lisa Jo Epstein, Executive Director of Gas & Electric Arts lisajo@gasandelectricarts.org

1. Brief letter w/information about: what kind of community-based work and/or teaching that you have done; your interest in social justice; a short description of a theatre project that was significant to you.

2. headshot and resume

Auditions will be run as a group workshop so no monologue is required. Come wearing loose, comfortable clothes and be prepared for movement and improvisation activities.