Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (2008)
music by Janet Hood and lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell
Directed by Ruth Huggett
Performances: Tue 21st - Sat 25th October 2008, Prompt Corner
Contents
Introduction
Elegies is a collection of songs and monologues inspired by the AIDS memorial quilt - a memorial to the lives of people who have died of AIDS related causes.
Surprisingly the show is fun and serves as a celebration of the lives of people affected. The subject matter is dark and moving at times, but overall is presented with humour and joy.
Cast
I’ll be looking for a cast of 4 singers and up to 32 character actors (including 4 from youth theatre). The actors don’t need to be available for the full 2 month rehearsal period as characterisation will be developed on a one-to-one basis.
Auditions in June 2008, any questions please let me know, knittingcorner@hotmail.com
THE SINGERS (all aged 20+)
Judith - Soprano, sister to Bud
Doug - Baritone (has traditionally been black)
Brian - Tenor, believable as Ray’s friend
Angela - Alto, Claudia’s secretary
THE ACTORS
Men (16 Characters)
Patrick - M, Fashion designer 30’s 40’s
Billy - M, All-american boy, early 20’s
Mitch - M, Any age, traditionally costumed in leather
Josh - M, clown and leader of a group of friends
Francis - M, gentleman, older 45+
Ray - M, party-animal, believable as Brian’s friend
Orville - M, middle-class ordinary bloke, 30’s 40’s
Nick - M, drop dead gorgeous, youngish
Dwight - M, a chorus-boy, age 18-30
Roscoe - M, a big, old drag-queen
Lamar - M, fast talking drug abuser, any age
Paul - M, strong leading man, age 30+
Nat - M, fire and brimstone orator, age 50+
Bud - M, all-american boy 20’s/30’s (brother of Judith)
Joe - M, a comedian, any age
Miles - M, believable as Doug’s lover
Women (12 Characters)
Wendy - M/F, physically different somehow (ethnic? size? mobility?), 25+
Tracey - F, gorgeous, age 18-30
Rebecca - F, a typical house-wife, 30/40’s
Claudia - F, a high-powered executive any age
Helen - F, a grandmother, 50+
Rafaela - F, a young mother 20’s
Nancy - F, a no-nonsense woman, any age
Sally - F, any age up to around 40
Christine - M/F, older, a drama queen
Joanne - F, strong woman, any age
Bertha - F, working class, age 40+
Grace - F, strong dramatic actor, age 30+
Younger actors (4 characters):
Kimberley - F, age 8 (ish)
Tim or Tina - M/F, energetic, age 14-18
Charlotte - F, drug abuser, age 14-30
Paco - M, teenager, age 14-18
Crew
- Stage Manager - Michelle Thomson
- Technical co-ordinator - Neil Carmichael
- Vocals - Alan Walker
- Music - David Haviland
- Movement - Brendan Murphy
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.
See Also
References
<references/> From the Wikipedia entry on Elegies: Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is a song cycle with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology. Each of the pieces is written from the perspective of friends and family members dealing with the loss of loved ones to AIDS.<ref>Elegies on Wikipedia</ref>
