In view of the new restrictions announced on the 8th September, we have put these auditions on hold.  Further information will be available shortly.

We love you all and we want everyone to stay well.  To ensure we can run the auditions and use our premises safely if you are interested in auditioning for this production you MUST contact the director, whose details are below.  The director will be able to give you an appointment for the day and all the information you need to audition safely.  Under the current circumstances we will not be able to offer auditions to anyone without an appointment.

 Alice Howland is a University professor at the height of her career when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Fiercely independent with a husband and two children, Alice strives to make sense of her changing world as her memory begins to fail.

 This heartbreaking and hopeful adaptation of the award-winning book by Lisa Genova puts Alice on stage with Herself, providing the audience with an extraordinary window into the experience of living with dementia. Lisa Genova’s 2007 book was adapted into a screenplay and released as a film in 2014, starring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin. It won every major award for Julianne Moore, including the Oscar for best actress. The play was published in 2018. It is, understandably, upsetting, bleak and uncompromising.

Characters

Alice – Cognitive psychology professor at Harvard University. Driven, ambitious. A respected leader in her field. Has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Alice can hear and talk with ‘Herself’. Playing age is 50.

Herself – played by an actress who looks the same age as Alice. Herself and Alice are the same person in two bodies. She is Alice’s inner thoughts. She talks directly with Alice (and at others). Only Alice sees or hears Herself. Playing age is 50. Note that Alice and Herself do NOT have to look alike.

John – Alice’s husband. A biology researcher/professor at Harvard. Brilliant, outgoing and friendly. Deeply committed to his research. Playing age 53.

Thomas – Son of Alice and John. Litigation attorney. Self-focused. Has always been close to Alice. Married and trying to have a child. Playing age is late 20’s.

Lydia – Daughter of Alice and John. An artist/actor. Brilliant, but not interested in traditional formal education. Playing age is mid-twenties.

Dr. Tamara – Alice’s doctor for many years. They are on a first-name basis. Female role. Age 40-55.

Dr. Davis – Neurologist. Specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Male or Female role. Age 35 – 55.

Beth and Dan – short party scene, probably doubled.

All characters have American accents.

Audition pieces

Scene 5 page 22, start of scene to page 23 Alice ‘No street drugs’ – Dr Tamara, Alice, Herself.

Scene 10 page 31, start of scene to page 32 Alice ‘but I can’t hear it right now’ – Lydia, Alice, Thomas, Herself.

Scene 11 page 36, start of scene to page 37 John ’We’ll get one’ – Dr Davis, John, Alice, Herself.

Scene 12 page 44, entire page – Herself and Alice.

Scene 16 page 57, Thomas ‘No, it’s me’ to bottom of page 58 ‘with your mother’ – Thomas, Alice, Herself.

Scene 16 page 60, top of page to page 61 John ‘I want you to be happy for me’ – John, Alice, Thomas, Herself.

Play duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes, NO interval.

I am looking for a Set Designer to create a set which can present multiple locations and Lighting and Sound design to suggest the passing of time. I would welcome input and ideas on this exciting new play. Wardrobe is modern dress.

Home: 01474 874588,

Work: 01622 699127,

Mobile: 07903994232

Email: jwilson@datateam.co.uk