WVU Parkersburg Theatre Department auditions

The Theatre Department at West Virginia University at Parkersburg will hold open auditions for two one-act plays by Joseph El Guindi: "Such a Beautiful Voice Is Sayeda’s" and "Karima’s City."

Auditions will be held from from 4 to 7 p.m., Feb. 26; Noon-4 p.m., Feb. 27, and 4-7 p.m., March 1, in the College Theatre, Room 1305. Alternate audition appointments may also be scheduled.

Auditions are open to the general public as well as the campus community. Copies of the scripts are available at the circulation desk in the college library. Roles in "Such a Beautiful Voice Is Sayeda’s" are available for four women and two men who play ten roles. "Karima’s City" has 25 flexibly cast roles for seven male and female actors. Those wishing to audition may choose to be in one or both short one-acts.

Based on the short story, “That Beautiful Undiscovered Voice,” by Egyptian author Salwa Bakr, "Such a Beautiful Voice Is Sayeda’s" “lyrically examines the oppression of the human spirit, “according to Andrew Clovis, production director.

“In this short work, Sayeda, a dowdy house-wife, suddenly discovers a mysterious, potentially transformative new voice within herself,” comments Clovis. He adds, “The conflicts that arise stem from the recognition that a woman spontaneously and inextricably singing can bring disgrace not only to herself and her family but to the society at large.”

Based on Bakr’s story, “Thirty-One Beautiful Green Trees,” "Karima’s City" revolves around the angst felt by Karima, a government worker, who sees the daily destruction of the once beautiful and magical city around her.

“Unlike the docile Sayeda,” notes Clovis, “Karima challenges the injustices and inequities that she sees in her world.” He notes that, “As she becomes more and more of an iconoclast, she tragically seals her fate in the judgmental, conservative society in which she struggles to express herself.”

Clovis “plans to emphasize the universality of the pieces,” both of which he feels “deal hauntingly with what happens to an individual’s spirit when that individual is denied opportunity for self expression.”

Show dates for the two one-acts are 8 p.m., Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24, and 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 25. All performances will take place in the College Theatre. The free plays are being presented as part of WVU Parkersburg’s “Focus on the Middle East.” Other events in this series include a discussion on “The Future of the Middle East: Hope and Reality” by Dr. Peter Moore, Associate Professor of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University. This discussion will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the College Theatre.

Additional information is available by contacting the college Theatre Department at 304 424-8295.