Audition Notice:
Chagall in School

The Most Acclaimed Show of Chicago’s 2022-23 Season, JEFF Awards Recommended and JEFF Award Winner

A Louisville Premiere

Chagall in School by James Sherman
Directed by David Chack

Chicago JEFF Awards Recommended and Winner of One JEFF Award

“Highly recommended: by Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune; Hedy Weiss, WTTW Television; and Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review

Chagall in School is “…a perfect evening of theater, art, laughter and education.” Alan Bresloff, Around the Town Chicago

“…Filled with unexpected, sometimes off-the-wall humor, as well as intelligent, enticing arguments about the nature of art and creativity, James Sherman’s new play… is charged with electricity and enlightenment.” Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review

Casting: 6 men, 2 women

Rehearsal Schedule: 

  • Table Read and dramaturgy in early December TBD  

  • Rehearsals January 2 – February 7, Sundays at 4pm, weeknights Mon-Thurs 6:30-9pm

Performances: February 8-18, Thurs, Friday, Sat (evenings)- Sun (Matinee)

  • Performances at the Kentucky Center in the MEX Theatre

Auditions will take place at Bellarmine University, Wyatt Center for the Arts (1700 Loftis Circle, Louisville, KY 40205) on August 13th from 4-6:30 and Keneseth Israel Congregation (2531 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205) on August 20th from 4-6:30pm. Please sign up for a time slot through SignUp Genius Link below. You may be asked to stay longer to read with the other performers. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4DAEAE23A7FDCF8-chagall 

“It’s 1920, a few years after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The great artist to be – Marc Chagall – is asked to head a school for artists in his Russian hometown of Vitebsk. With the support of his loving wife, Berta (Bella) and other artists, Jewish and otherwise, Chagall endeavors to realize his dream of a free school, without exclusion, for anyone who wishes to explore their artistic aspirations.

But things are quickly complicated by the clash of personalities and differences between these artists, as well as Chagall’s own inability to take on the role of stern administrator. Then the most impressive artist of the time, Kazimir Malevich, who represents a new art form, arrives to join the faculty, and the artistic soul of the school and Chagall’s own future are contested.

Raising questions about diversity and exclusion, the quality of beauty, the antisemitism of the time and the uncompromising soul of the artist, this play delivers in its whimsical and empathic characters, a testament to the belief that creativity is the foremost measure of love and freedom.” 

Characters: 

Marc Chagall. An Artist. 32, M. Jewish. 

El Lissitsky. An Artist/A Rebel. 29, M. Jewish. 

Vera Ermolaeva. An Artist/An Administrator. 26, F. Jewish. She walks with crutches. 

Alexander Romm. An Artist/A Rogue. 32, M. Jewish. 

Yuri Pen. An Artist/A Teacher. 65, M. Jewish. 

David Yackerson. An Artist/A Student. 23, M. Jewish. 

Berta (Bella) Chagall. Marc’s Wife/Ida’s Mother. 24, F. Jewish. 

Kazimir Malevich. An Artist/A Leader. 40, M. Christian.

While specific genders and ethnicities may be referenced in the descriptions above, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities whether noted or not. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide.

-Above language adapted from work developed by Kevin Kantor and Emily Tarquin of Actors Theatre

A stipend will be provided for those non-Equity cast.

Please visit www.shpielperformingidentity.com or contact Holly Kissel at [email protected] if you have any questions.