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POWELL, Wyoming — Big Horn Basin women of all ages are invited to audition for roles in a December performance of “Cody Monologues,” a play highlighting influential women from Cody’s history. The play will be staged in Powell.
Auditions begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, and at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Nelson Performing Arts Center Auditorium on the Northwest College campus in Powell.
“Cody Monologues,” which premiered in Cody in July, features discourses by six female characters who played important, if sometimes forgotten, roles in the founding and shaping Park County’s largest city. First-person history and perspective are given voice through monologues offered by Caroline Lockhart, Etta Feely, Cassie Waters, Dr. Francis Lane, Orilla Downing and Olive Fell.
Each actress selected for a role will be expected to memorize and perform a 15-20 minute monologue Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, Dec. 8, 9 and 10, plus a Friday matinee. Auditions will be done from cold readings; no prepared pieces are necessary.
Personal rehearsals will be scheduled individually for each actress who receives a part, with only a limited number of group rehearsals required.
“Cody Monologues” was written by Bethany Sandvik, who also reprises her role as director for the Powell performance. In selecting her topic for the play, Sandvik said she wanted to bring into the spotlight some of the women who contributed to the character of Buffalo Bill’s town but have been relegated to the shadows by the dominance of his legend.
Sandvik is looking to fill the roles of Etta Feeley, the town’s first madam, and Cassie Waters, another madam who left her mark on the annals of history. She will be casting understudies as well.
Original actors Virginia Schmidt, Annamarie Victor, Karen Grim and Darlene Bos will reprise their roles as Caroline Lockhart, Olive Fell, Orilla Downing and Dr. Frances Lane to fill the remaining parts in the Powell production.
Men of the Big Horn Basin who would like to take part in this production are encouraged to volunteer for stage crew and other offstage positions.
Northwest College credit is available for participants.
For more information, contact Sandvik at BethanySandvik@gmail.com.