Aug. 18, 2021
The Bus Stop - Auditions
The Bus Stop
By Gao Zingjian
Directed by MFA student Nick Wang
Auditions: Sept. 10–11
Performances
Fall 2021
Nov. 26 - Dec. 4
Reeve Theatre
Watch video by Director Nick Wang to learn more.
The Bus Stop, an absurdist play by the 2000 Nobel Prize winner for literature, Gao Xingjian, is receiving its first production in Canada. We are looking for performers from all ethnicities. The play has been compared to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
About the play and characters
A group of people are waiting at a bus stop with their longing for the “city.” They are…
OLD MAN, Male. He’s heading to the city for a chess game.
GIRL, Female. She’s heading to the city for a date.
HOTHEAD, Male. He’s heading to the city for a cup of fine yogurt.
GLASSES, Male. He’s heading to the city for college entrance exams.
MOTHER, Female. She’s heading to the city to take care of her son, Peipei.
CARPENTER, Male. He’s heading to the city to learn more about the
DIRECTOR MA, Male. An officer from the General Supplies Store. He’s heading to the town for a treated meal.
SILENT MAN, Male. He likes reading a lot. He has no line.
ENSEMBLE: Silent on stage but present.
They have been waiting for ten years until they find out that the bus would never come…
Director's notes
The play is about waiting. Relating to the global epidemic, many societies were forced to pause and wait. Some people have finished waiting, some are still waiting, and some are no longer waiting. Crossing languages, histories, geography, and cultures, this 1980s Chinese play celebrates human’s common vulnerability and inspires in the post-epidemic era.
There will be some Mandarin spoken in the play. But, don’t worry, no previous Mandarin experience is required.
Rehearsal
Rehearsal starts on Oct. 12 and will usually be 10-26 hours per week (including breaks). The actual rehearsal plan depends on the size of your role.
No rehearsal during the Fall Break (Nov. 8 – 14).
Audition information
If you can commit this time to the play and you would like to audition, wow, here’s some things you might want to know!
- Download and read the play.
- Fill in the audition form and email it to: fangzheng.wang@ucalgary.ca or bring to the audition
- Sign up for an audition on Sept. 10 (5:30-9 p.m.) or Sept. 11 (1-5 p.m.).
- For the audition:
- If you are unable to get familiar with the play, please prepare a 1-minute monologue. OR
- You can choose the excerpts from the play upon your arrival.
- Imitation Exercise: prepare a body sequence that represents animals or objects or anything under 30 seconds. (prepare one, and improvise one)
- You might be asked to do more scenes.
- Mandarin Pinyin: if you are not a Mandarin speaker, we will learn a Mandarin song together, easy, fun, short, and you will have something to show off!
- If you have something more to show us, your talent, your strange skills, please do it!
Notes: Some characters might be pre-cast.
Questions?: Fangzheng Wang (Nick): Fangzheng.wang@ucalgary.ca
*** Drama majors/minors may be eligible for a practicum credit