Anton’s Well Theater Company and Actors Ensemble of Berkeley are happy to announce auditions for their co-production of the Bay Area Premiere of Sam Shepard’s last play, A PARTICLE OF DREAD: OEDIPUS VARIATIONS, playing at the Old Finnish Hall in Berkeley from October 18-November 10. Directed by Robert Estes. Produced by Jerome Solberg. Assistant Directed and Associate Produced by Wm. Diedrick Razo. Costumes by Paula Dodd Aiello.

In A PARTICLE OF DREAD’s fractured retelling of the Oedipus myth, Sam Shepard takes on the greatest primal father/son/mother myth of them all—which is a perfect last subject for a playwright so concerned with family dynamics throughout his prolific career.

The following roles are available (the role of Uncle Del/Traveler/Maniac of the Outskirts has already been cast):

Oedipus/Otto (40s-50s): Left to die as a human baby. Unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. Dual role as Oedipus of old myth (as imagined by Shepard) and Otto, the modern version. Interesting contrast in roles as Oedipus is pained and doomed; Otto is scholarly and obsessed. Otto seems to be older than Oedipus, so the actor will get to journey in age. The Oedipus ages even more at the end.

Lawrence/Langos: (30s-40s) Father of Oedipus. Puts him out to die because of the foretelling of future doom. Dual role. Confused disbeliever of the Oracle/flashy Vegas mobster.

Annalee/Antigone (20s-30s): Daughter/Sister of Otto. Most of the play will be Annalee. Silent role at the end as Antigone. Fierce. Protective. Part of role requires singing.

Jocasta/Jocelyn (40s-50s): Queen to Oedipus/Wife to Otto. Passionate and defiant as Jocasta. A bit skeptical, happy to be at home as Jocelyn.

Officer Patrick Harrington (30s-60s): Cop. Old school gruff manner. All about the gut.

Forensic Investigator Ronald J Randolph (20s-40s): More Analytical than Officer Harrington. Totally Quantitative.

The auditions will take place at the Berkeley City Ballet, 1800 Dwight Way, on Sunday, August 4, 6-9PM, and Monday, August 5, 7-10PM with callbacks on Saturday, August 10, at 11AM.

The auditions will by appointment. To secure a spot, please email antonswell@gmail.com with your preferred date and time. There IS a stipend. Non-AEA.

All races, ethnicities, and genders are welcome. We do not discriminate against anyone on account of race, gender, or sexual orientation. We do cast cross-gender and cross-type on occasion.

Sides are provided before the auditions. Please send electronic headshot/resume with your audition inquiry, or bring paper headshot/resumes to the audition.

Rehearsals will begin on September 15 or near that date. Rehearsals will take place at the Finnish Hall or another location in Berkeley. The rehearsal schedule will run Mon-Thurs, 7-10PM, and Sundays, various times.

The tech will take place from Sunday, October 13-Thursday, October 17.

The performance schedule is Friday, October 18 to Sunday, November 10. Friday-Saturday, 7:30, Sunday, 7PM, The Old Finnish Hall is located