Auditions for The Lifespan of a Fact
Synopsis
Jim Fingal is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker hired by Emily Penrose, the Editor-in-Chief of a prominent but sinking New York magazine. John D’Agata is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about the suicide of a teenage boy—an essay that could save the magazine from collapse. When Emily assigns Jim to fact check D’Agata’s essay, the two men come head to head in a comedic yet gripping battle over facts versus truth. But the clock is ticking—will the essay be ready to publish in time?
Director Vision
My vision for The Lifespan of a Fact is to create a performance that feels more film-like than a typical theatrical production. This will be done by using an expanded three-dimensional stage, through naturalistic movement and dialogue, and by keeping the set relatively black box to remove distraction from the actors.
Audition and Performance Information
Audition Dates
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- Thursday, June 26th at 7pm. Feel free to prepare an optional 1 minute contemporary monologue
Audition Location
315 Fisher Road, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230
Required Dates
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- Performance Dates: September 19-21, and 26-28
Performance Location: Grosse Pointe Congregational Church
Rehearsal Schedule:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, all 7pm-10pm beginning July 1st.
Final Notes
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- Content Advisory: Some coarse language, mention of suicide, and depictions of drinking alcohol. Suitable for teens and up.
Production Staff
Director: Virginia Lee
Character Descriptions
Please note: the character ages listed are for appearance only and don’t need to match the actor’s actual age. All actors auditioning must be 18+
John D’Agata—40s and up* Renowned essayist. John’s essay has been accepted for publication by Editor-in-Chief Emily Penrose and is to be fact checked by Jim Fingal before it goes to print the following week. However, Jim is all-too-happy to label John’s artistic liberties as inaccuracies, which is completely missing the point; John is portraying something greater than mere truth and he chafes against Jim’s criticism.
Emily Penrose—40s and up* Seasoned Editor-in-Chief of an illustrious but struggling New York magazine. When Emily reads John D’Agata’s essay she recognizes it as a piece that could save the publication from financial ruin. She hires Jim Fingal to fact check the essay before it goes to print the following Monday, but what should be a quick job is taking longer than expected and the clock is ticking…
Jim Fingal—early to mid 20s* Fledgling fact checker. Freshly graduated from Harvard, Jim is hired by Editor-in-Chief Emily Penrose to comb through John D’Agata’s essay for inaccuracies before it can be published the following Monday. However, the essay is riddled with half-truths and embellishments, making it not fit to print. Jim is just doing his job but the writer refuses to listen to reality and fix his mistakes.