Open auditions will be held June 2nd, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm and June 3rd, 11:30am-1:30pm and 6:00pm- 8:00pm
All auditions will be held at Gateway Dance Theatre 315 East 5th St #12, Des Moines, IA 50309. There are roles for 8 women, 8men, and 1 boy aged 8-12. There will also be an ensemble to portray members of the community. No acting or dance experience required. No need to prepare a monologue, actors will read selections from the script. Bring your calendar with any conflicts until July 10.
Gateway Dance Theatre is proud to bring back its innovative production, Shakuntala, by Kalidasa. It tells the story of a young woman, Shakuntala, who is raised in a secluded abbey and falls in love with a monarch, King Dushyanta, whom she meets in the forest. This classic Indian play was written in 5th Century CE by Kalidasa, who is regarded as the greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist. Shakuntala is considered his masterpiece. In 1789, it became the first Indian play to be translated into a Western language. Shakuntala’s love story has endured through the ages, spreading through Europe and other continents, with adaptations in various languages as dance/dramas and operas – traditional and contemporary. In 2015, it was staged as a rock opera at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Shakuntala is a perfect example of GDT’s vision, which aims at integrating and enhancing the arts across Iowa. The organization seeks to advance an arts movement in Iowa that encompasses global cultures and supports the sharing of resources and experiences among all communities.
Shakuntala
Performances July 7th-9th, 2022, 7:30 pm
at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
4100 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, 50265
Shakuntala Characters
In order of appearance:
Menaka: (main-uh-kuh)celestial nymph, mother of Shakuntala
Kanva: (Kahn-vuh)adoptive father of Shakuntala
Zara: spirit that weaves the story line
Zoya: spirit that weaves the story line
King Dushyanta*: (Do-sh-yawn-th)ruler of the Kingdom, warrior-esque
Shakuntala*: (Shuh-kun-tah-la; with a short u sound)forest hermitage maiden
Priyamvada: (Pree-yahm-vuh-duh; with a soft uh sound at the end)Shakuntala’s hermitage friend
Anusuya: (Ahn-uh-soo-yah)Shakuntala's hermitage friend
Ashram people: (ah-sh-rum)dwellers of the ashram
Madhavya: (Maah-tah-vee-yah)court jester, King Dushyanta's erstwhile companion
Gautami: (G-ow-tuh-me)presiding female hermit
Durvasa: (Durr-vah-suh)traveling sage with a bad temper
Sharadvata: (Shuh-rahd-vah-th)ashram male
Court Attendant: court attendant male
Shangarva: (Sh-ung-arr-vah)ashram male
Fisherman: peasant fisherman
Guard: king's guardsman
Matali: (maht-lee)heavenly messenger-- Indra's charioteer.
(Indra Hindu mythological deity, keeper of the heavens, god of rai guardian of the east)
Child's Attendant: celestial nymph, attendant to the Boy-child
Boy-Child: son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta