CASTING FOR NY CONCERT READING OF A NEW MUSICAL (ARMENIAN/AMERICAN/IMMIGRANT STORY)
PlayBill
CATEGORY: PERFORMER
When Two of Us Meet – An Armenian/American Musical in Concert
New York , NY
JOB DETAILS
DESCRIPTION
Seeking vocalists for a concert reading of a new musical, When Two of Us Meet, at a NY theatre district cabaret venue on March 21, 2025 at 7pm.
Selected Performers will be required to attend:
-2 rehearsals in NYC (to be scheduled around performer’s availability 2 weeks ahead of the concert in early March)
-1 soundcheck
-60-70 minute performance on March 21, 2025 at 7pm
SYNOPSIS: When Two of Us Meet follows an Armenian family’s turbulent journey from Armenia to America during the early 20th century, focusing on the roles of faith, love, and hope in their survival and cultural evolution.
Act One – 1915 Armenia: Avo and Shogho cherish their traditional life, but their teenage children—Aram, Aleck, and Filor—challenge their values with progressive views. Aram is preoccupied with love, Aleck searches for purpose, and Filor dreams of leaving their village. Rising tensions between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian people shatter Avo and Shogho’s dreams of keeping their family together. When Avo is arrested and jailed for killing two Ottoman soldiers in self-defense, the family grieves his absence, but Avo escapes prison and returns to fight as Ottoman soldiers invade his village. The Armenians win, but the family must flee Armenia to secure their future.
Act Two – 1918: Avo and Aram work as rubbish haulers in California while Shogho, Aleck, and Filor are refugees back East. Filor contracts the Spanish Flu en route to America and ends up in Cuba. There she finds work but struggles with her identity. Grieving, Shogho and Aleck reach the U.S., with Aleck leading efforts to search for Filor by building a family business. Filor eventually disguises herself as a man to board a ship to America, reuniting with her family in Los Angeles where the Armenian-American community celebrates their strength and perseverance.
When Two of Us Meet features a contemporary pop/jazz-influenced musical theatre score with Armenian instrumentation. The musical received favorable early reviews and earned the 2024 Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts Grant from the Armenian International Women’s Association. The concert will be open to industry, with several producers expressing interest and confirming attendance as of October 2024.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
[AVO]
Male, age range 30-50, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred). Vocal range: Flexible – baritone preferred
Vocal style: If Tevye from Fiddler sang classic rock
AVO is an Armenian father of 3 teenagers, mid-forties, and husband of Shogho. He is a tough but loving farmer, with a heart of gold and old-world traditional values.
[SHOGHO]
Female, age range 30-50, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred)
Vocal range: Alto or Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal style: Classic musical theatre, dramatic, maternal. i.e. Les Mis, Fiddler
SHOGHO is an Armenian mother, mid-forties, and the wife of Avo. A baker, she is strong-willed, loyal, and fiercely maternal.
[FILOR] – Role filled.
Avo and Shogho’s youngest adolescent daughter. A dreamer that is a bit naive. Progressive, ahead of her time, wild, and brave.
[ARAM]
Male, age range 18-30, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred).
Vocal range: Tenor
Vocal style: Justin Timberlake/Boy-Band pop
ARAM is Avo and Shogho’s eldest adolescent son. He is exceptionally kind, and extremely handsome. The village knows him as “pretty boy Aram”.
[ALECK]
Male, age range 18-30, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred). Vocal range: Tenor
Vocal style: think patter songs, youthful charisma, pop/rock
ALECK, the narrator, is Avo and Shogho’s middle adolescent son. Hard-working, a visionary, and perpetually seeking his parents’ approval.
[BENITA]
Female, age range 18-30, ethnically ambiguous (Latina, Latinx preferred).
Vocal range: Alto or Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal style: Anita from West Side Story.
BENITA, featured in Act Two, is a Cuban teenager, and Filor’s first friend/love interest in Havana. (Ensemble role in Act One).
[NELLIE]
Female, age range 18-30, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred). Vocal range: Soprano
Vocal style: Eliza from Hamilton
NELLIE is Aram’s teenage love interest, and eventually his wife.
[KEVORK]
Male, age range 30-50, ethnically ambiguous (Armenian, Greek, Middle Eastern preferred). Vocal range: Flexible – baritone preferred
Vocal style: Pop/Classic Musical Theatre
KEVORK, featured in Act One, is an Armenian village man with a bit of a temper. (Ensemble role in Act Two).
MUSICIANS
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUMENTS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY OF THE SCORE:
ARMENIAN DUDUK
ARMENIAN OUD
ARMENIAN DUMBEG
To submit, please email esimonian@alumni.
This is a paid opportunity with more information about salary to follow. Please submit before November 26th, 2024. We look forward to hearing from you! 🙂 Thank you so much!
DURATION
Mar 5, 2025 – Mar 21, 2025
SALARY
$150.00 – $300.00 per gig
