Title

The Obituary

Playwright

Xiaoyan Kang

Director

Kayla Adams

Stage Manager

Colin Kiernan

Category

Gallery

First Rehearsal

February 5

Load In/Tech /Dress

February 20-22

Performances

February 23-25

Roles to be cast

Age (Presentation)

Gender (Presentation)

Description

Yitong

18 & 33

female

18-year-old self: a confused teenage girl trying to figure out the “right” path to success, at the same time holds a passion for theatre and is intrigued by grand and dramatic narratives.

33-year-old self: a playwright looking back at a turning point in her life.

Mrs. Lee / Mingzhen

40s - 80s

female

A woman with a privileged upbringing. She left her family for love and was never able to return.

Mr. Lee / Soon Ho

40s - 80s

male

A once-bright student turned into a celebrated pilot by war. That fame was a spark in his life that he could never let go of.

Oliver

18

male

An aspiring and sensitive 18-year-old boy troubled by the restrictions imposed by his parents and the larger socio-political environment. Mingzhen and Soon Ho’s son.

Synopsis

While volunteering at a hospice ward, a high school senior in Singapore was asked to write an obituary. The obituary unraveled the untold story of a diasporic family and led the 18-year-old to reimagine her “American Dream”. This is a memory play, or, an obituary itself.

Notices

Content warning: death of loved ones

Intimacy Choreography Breakdown

Important Dates/Holidays

2/7 Lailat al Miraj*, 2/10 Seol-nal, 2/10 Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon), 2/10 Tet Nguyen Dan, 2/10 Tsagaan Sar, 2/10 Losar, 2/11 Superbowl, 2/13 Mardi Gras, 2/14 St. Valentine's Day, 2/14 Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent), 2/15 Nirvana Day, 2/19 Presidents’ Day (Fed. Observed), 2/24 Magha Puja Day

Time:

What:

Who:

12:00 PM

Mr. Lee & Mrs. Lee Callback

Josh Sazon, Kristina Rutkowski

12:20 PM

Yitongs Callback

Lara Zeng, Emma Schroeder, Niyati Deshpande, Grace Hahn

12:30 PM

Interview Session #1

Josh Sazon

12:30 PM

Mrs. Lee joins Yitongs in Callbacks

Lara Zeng, Emma Schroeder, Niyati Deshpande, Kristina Rutkowski, Grace Hahn

2:00 PM

Individual Interview Session #2

Lara Zeng, Emma Schroeder, Niyati Deshpande, Kristina Rutkowski

4:00 PM

End of Day

Auditioner

Character

Sides

Lara Zeng

Yitong

2

Niyati Deshpande

2

Emma Schroeder & Grace Hahn

2

Oliver

1

Josh Sazon

Mr. Lee

3

Kristina Rutowski

Mrs. Lee

1, 2, 3

Cast List

Note from the Director: “Thank you to all who auditioned!”

ACTOR

ROLE

Lara Zeng

Yitong/Oliver

Kristina Rutkowski

Mrs. Lee/Mingzhen

Josh Sazon

Mr. Lee/Soon Ho

--

PLEASE EMAIL COLIN KIERNAN [COLIN-KIERNAN@UIOWA.EDU] TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE YOUR ROLE.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL!

---

See you in February!