CASTING CALL FOR PLAYREADING (Los Angeles)
Dan Kwong and Ruben Guevara are conducting two more readings of their new play-in-progress, Masao and the Bronze Nightingale, based on Ruben’s short story of the same title.
The next reading will be on July 20th, 3PM at Casa 0101, 2102 E. 1st St. in Boyle Heights.
BACKGROUND:
With all West Coast Japanese Americans being incarcerated during WWII, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles is transformed into a major Black community known as Bronzeville. By Spring of 1946 JAs are finally returning home and African Americans are leaving Bronzeville — a transitional period that has JAs and Blacks rubbing shoulders as never before.
STORY SYNOPSIS:
When a rebellious JA jazz musician from multicultural Boyle Heights falls in love with an ambitious Black jazz singer in Bronzeville, he’s forced to confront the racism around and within himself and re-assess his connections to family, identity & community.
WE ARE SEEKING ACTORS (PREFERABLY JAPANESE/JAPANESE AMERICAN) TO READ FOR:
LEAD: MASAO IMOTO – 23, Nisei, working-class, born and raised in Boyle Heights. An oddball, rough around the edges, rebellious hipster. A lifetime of facing racism and a difficult relationship with his hard-nosed father has resulted in Mas rejecting his own culture in favor of Mexican American pachuco style (therefore speaks like a vato). A jazz musician (alto sax) who digs bebop, he falls in love with an Black jazz singer — much to his bigoted father’s horror.
LEAD: MRS. IMOTO – mid-40s, Issei, working-class (housewife); Mas’ immigrant mother is warmhearted and kind but with a backbone of steel; she is un-cowed by her husband’s bluster and can hold her own in the face of his gruffness. Likes to sing Japanese folk songs. Must be able to convincingly speak some short Japanese phrases.
SUPPORTING: JUNKO – early 20s, Nisei, working-class (waitress), born and raised in Boyle Heights; a deadpan, straight-talking, no-bullshit kinda gal. Mas’ former girlfriend from before the war, she sees through his internalized racism and challenges him on it. Comic ability good.
Please send resume, headshot, link to demo reel to: dkbb12@aol.com
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