OPEN AUDITIONS: Rossum's Universal Robots

RUR: Rossum’s Universal Robots

By Karel Čapek

Directed and adapted by Brandi Douglas

Table Read: Saturday, October 25 at 1pm

Open Auditions: December 8-9 at 6:30 PM; Callbacks December 10

Rehearsal Timeframe: Example: December-March

Evening Performances (7:30pm): March 13, 14, 20, 21

Matinee Performances (2:30pm): March 15, 22

Content Label: PG-13

This theatre is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to creating a welcoming place for actors of all backgrounds to explore their craft. We are eager to work with artists of color and other artists from marginalized communities. All auditions are free and open to the public. This audition is for an amateur, volunteer production. Theatre staff and volunteers do not discriminate on the basis of age, national origin, race, gender, ethnic background, ability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or any protected class.

Auditions will be held in person.

If you'd like to learn more about the director's vision and experience the script prior to auditions, there will be a table read of the play on Saturday, October 25th at 1:00pm in the Lab space on the second floor of the theatre. Anyone is welcome to come and read or listen!

SHOW SYNOPSIS

R.U.R., or Rossum's Universal Robots, is a play adapted by Brandi Douglas, set in a world where AI humanoid robots called Synthetics, created by AiTopia, have become integral to human society.

FROM THE DIRECTOR Brandi Douglas

Rossum's Universal Robots, or RUR, was written in 1922. A play ahead of its time, it's left a mark on the world and science fiction, in particular. RUR introduced us to the word 'robot' and laid the groundwork for sci-fi classics like Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica, and the Westworld TV series. In the original play, the robots turn on their human masters. They kill all but one, dooming humanity. 

In this adaptation, I wanted to explore what RUR could be with some modernization. Specifically, I wanted to introduce artificial intelligence. AI, just like robots, was once only regulated by sci-fi. Now, AI is slowly becoming a part of our daily lives. From chatbots like ChatGPT to digital assistants like Alexa, AI is no longer a dream but a reality. An ever-changing reality. AI has been utilized in education, healthcare, cars, finance, security, entertainment, etc. Because of this, this play would be performed at the perfect time as AI continues to be implemented into our lives.

This adaptation of RUR asks what happens as AI continues to embed itself deeper and deeper into our daily routines. It introduces you to Domain, the CEO of AiTopia, and his willingness to push technology to its limits and beyond. The decisions Domain makes will have the audience questioning whether technology is a helper or a hindrance in the human pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. The main themes ask what it means to be human. And is there a line between man and machine? 

If you’re interested in finding the creativity in very complex themes, I would encourage you to audition for this show.  

PREPARATION NOTES

You do NOT need to prepare a monologue or piece. 

Wear comfortable clothes to audition; be ready to move as part of your audition.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Most characters do not have a specific race or ethnic background; we're excited to see a diverse pool of actors audition for all roles. Ages listed are the approximate ages of the characters themselves. We invite actors of any age to audition for any role.

DR. NOEL DOMAIN

Character Age: 35-55

Character Race/Ethnicity: White

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for most of the play. Does not require fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: Brilliant, driven CEO of AiTopia. Obsessed with pushing technological boundaries, often at the expense of ethics. He carries the legacy of the company's founder, Dr. Julian Rossum, and is haunted by Rossum's brilliance, constantly seeking his own historical breakthrough. Domain comes from a privileged background, immersed in research from childhood. He tends towards isolation, prioritizing work over personal connections.

HELENA GLORY

Character Age: 22-35

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: female-presenting

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for most of the play. Does requires intimacy choreography with Max Desai.

Character Description: Brilliant robotics engineer at AiTopia, a recent Princeton graduate starting her dream job. She's eager to impress and believes her designs can advance robotics. Helena comes from a privileged background with government connections and a balanced childhood.

DR. GALL

Character Age: 35-55

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for most of the play. Does not require fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: Head of Wellness at AiTopia and a member of the executive team. Gall serves as the voice of caution, driven by humanism and concern for the long-term consequences of unchecked AI development. They anticipate the dangers of uncurbed ambition and provide a critical, outsider perspective among their tech-worshipping peers. Gall's background is in psychology, leading to an interest in the psychology of synthetic robots.

G. REED

Character Age: 35-55

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for a few scenes in each act. Does not require fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: AiTopia's CFO is a ruthless, cunning member of the executive team. Reed sees limitless profit potential in Synthetics and believes money can solve everything. Their sole motivation is pure profit, and they care little for ethical dilemmas. Reed is antagonistic and represents the real-world financial pressures on the company. Reed has a business background.

MAX DESAI

Character Age: 28-38

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for a few scenes in each act. Does requires intimacy choreography with Helena Glory.

Character Description: Architect and Labor leader at AiTopia. Initially, Max is a strong voice against Synthetics due to job displacement, fiercely protecting human livelihoods. As the situation escalates, their fight shifts to survival for both humans and Synthetics. Max is a Cornell graduate who fought for student employee unionization, having learned from their union steward father to advocate for the 'common people.' Max is grounded and empathetic but faces disillusionment as technology outpaces human adaptation.

ARNOLD (Synthetic)

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for a few scenes in each act. Does requires some active movement, but no fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: Part of the new rollout of Synthetics, AI humanoid robots with strict emotional parameters. Initially, Arnold focuses on simple fulfillment of purpose and finds satisfaction in service. Over time, influenced by Christina and the world, Arnold may develop a desire for genuine choice and connection beyond task-oriented functions.

CHRISTINA (Synthetic)

Character Age: 20-35

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: female-presenting

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage for a few scenes in each act. Does requires some active movement, but no fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: Part of the new rollout of Synthetics, AI humanoid robots with strict emotional parameters. Idealistic, Christina believes Synthetics can disrupt exploitative human systems and lead to a more just world where humans and synthetics coexist as equals. Witnessing human cruelty eventually leads to her radicalization.

NARRATOR

Character Age: Any

Character Race/Ethnicity: Any

Desired Actor Gender: Male-presenting

Ability/movement/intimacy: On stage via projection for most of the play. Does requires some active movement, but no fight or intimacy choreography.

Character Description: The disembodied voice of the Central Hub. The Narrator can be initially glitchy, later calm and reassuring, and also embodies the voice of news anchors.

SUPPORTING CAST PLAYING MULTIPLE ROLES: 8 to 10 people 

Creative character-actors for the development of multiple roles. Being able to utilize movement and change voice to demonstrate different characters is a must. 

Age: 15 and up

Desired Actor Gender: Any

Race/Ethnicity: Any

Ability/movement/intimacy: Mobility for quick entrances and exits, down on the floor at times, and comfortable with stage fight movements.