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AE Auditions - San Francisco

Lila Theatre is expanding the cast of Abbreviated Enlightenment, our late night sketch show which debuted in San Francisco in November 2005. 

Abbreviated Enlightenment is a series of short sketches (not exceeding 3 minutes) written and performed by a company of multi-format performance artists. The show is a fast-paced smorgasbord of live music, improvisation, art, storytelling, poetry, satire, vulnerability, and artistic risk-taking. Performers come from a place of absolute honesty while utilizing diverse artistic forms to reach the audience.  Thus, AE is a perfect complement to Lila’s mission of “Truthful Artistic Play.” Each short sketch is written by a performer, developed by the ensemble, and randomly pieced together with other sketches through fun-filled audience participation. Simultaneously, a live visual artist interprets the show.

We are searching for performer/writers with a minimum of two of the following artistic disciplines:

- Improvisational Theatre

- Playwriting

- Dance/Movement

- Acting

- Music (instrumental or voice)

- Visual art: cinematography, painting, sketch, sculpture

Click on the pictures below to see videos clips from the San Francisco Workshop Production. This will give you a better idea of the aesthetic of the show. All videos are in QuickTime format, download QuickTime for free.

Pre-screening submission 

Submit by: 8 pm, Thursday February 16th to be considered for audition invitations

Submit to: auditions@abbreviatedenlightenment.com

Submit what: resume and headshot or amazing alternative plus sketch samples below

Save the date: Saturday February 18th, 11am-5pm (audition workshop), Sunday evening (call-back)

Part 1: Everyone to submit

Submit a written piece, no longer than 2 minutes, about a personal episode in your life. Avoid re-enactment or situational comedy. (i.e. don't cast you, mom, dad, sis around the table to re-enact dinner.) Utilize other artistic elements to add layers of meaning rather than dialogue.

Part 2: Pick one of the following roles (for now…) and submit accordingly.

Musicians: Write or refine a musical piece that can be performed within 2-3 minutes. Submit written staging for this piece that would convey its meaning without re-enactment. Think symbolically. Extra bonus points for political subtext. Please submit audio recording of song along with written lyrics (if any) and staging.

Dancers: Create choreography to a 2 minute (or cut to 2 minute) song to convey a personal truth, common feeling, or political statement. Submit written choreography and name of song. Choreography must include at least 4 people.

Improvisors: Create and submit an improv format that can be done in 2 minutes. Avoid short-form game formats, rather think long-form truthful characterization within a short-form timeframe. You can involve the audience.

Writers: (A) Submit a written piece no longer than 1:30 minutes that is a satire without being a re-enactment, AND (B) Submit a written piece no longer than 1:30 minutes that uses a scientific discovery as a metaphor.

Artists: Create and submit an idea for how art can be used in a 2 minute sketch involving audience participation. Also submit a few photos of artwork you have done within a short time constraint.

Videographers: Submit a video under 3 minutes that explores a personal problem or a concept/issue where you air your personal view in some manner. Be creative with visual elements, don't just film a mono/dialogue.