Contract for BLACK ORPHEUS

CONTRACT FOR BLACK ORPHEUS

The fall play production this year will be BLACK ORPHEUS, based on the 1959 movie by Marcel Camus. The story is an ancient Greek myth of two lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice; Orpheus is a young man who can make the sun rise with the beauty of his voice, and Eurydice is his tragic love. On their wedding day, Eurydice is dancing through a meadow when she is bitten on the heel by a snake. She immediately dies and her soul goes to Hades, the underworld where all souls go after death. Bereft of his young bride, Orpheus decides to go down to the underworld and plead with Hades to release Eurydice back to him. At first, Hades refuses, but when Orpheus begins to sing, even the God of the Dead is moved to tears and agrees to allow Eurydice to return above ground to join the living, but on one condition - that Orpheus cannot look upon her face until they ascend to earth. If Orpheus looks  at her while they are still in Hades’ dominion, then Eurydice will return to him as his prisoner and Orpheus will never see her alive again. The two lovers begin their trek but just as Orpheus sees the sunlight breaking through the mouth of the cave above ground, he can no longer restrain himself and he turns with shining eyes to gaze upon his beloved. But alas, in his eagerness to be with his love, Orpheus has broken Hades’ condition and with a cry of despair Eurydice is drawn back into the depths of the underworld, never to be seen by Orpheus or any living creature again.


The story has been updated to present day Mardi Gras in New Orleans. A young girl arrives in the big city and there meets a handsome young musician. They both fall deeply in love with each other, but the timeless story is acted out again with the same terrible results.

The play, set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, is filled with music and dancing. Everywhere one turns one hears the incessant beating, like a heart, of the drums. The characters are made up of the people from the community of Bourbon Street and they are both young and old, fat and lean and all are filled with life and love and rhythm. We are not looking for trained dancers or singers but rather people who can dance to the drumming of life. We need people who are filled with the joy and exuberance of life and love, and can focus that positive (and disciplined) energy on stage.

Rehearsals will start September 27th and will run from 6th period through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are in H20, do not despair, you can be in the show. However, rehearsals with performers from H20 will be Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You do not have to be in 6th period to be in the show, but we would prefer that you are.

Starting in November, selected actors will stay until 6 p.m. As we get closer to opening (which is December 9th) everyone will begin staying late - from 7 p.m., to 8 p.m. and finally, the last week before we open, until 9:00 p.m. There will be Saturday rehearsals starting in November.
We have a preview of the show at 1:15 on Thursday, December 9th for the school; our official opening is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 9th. The show runs Friday and Saturday, on December 10th and 11th, at 7 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon on December 12th.

You must be courteous and professional at all times. This means that you must arrive punctually to every rehearsal, and that you must stay until you are dismissed. It also means that you arrive at rehearsal ready to work with your lines and blocking memorized. Cell phones and ipods are strictly prohibited on stage! And at all times it is understood that you must behave in a mature, courteous manner to everyone. Keep outside baggage outside - there is no space in theatre for personal drama.

Finally, it is imperative that you keep at least a 2.0 average in your classes. Failure to do so may result in your immediate dismissal from the show.

Now, let’s get to work, have fun and create some magic!

I have read this and agree to comply with the conditions of working on the show.

Actor:_________________________________________



Parent:________________________________________