We are thrilled to announce The Ume Group's Core Ensemble for the 2016-2017 season. This year's company includes a mix of Ume-veterans and previous performance apprentices, with backgrounds ranging from martial arts to puppetry, clown to Irish dance, butoh to Lecoq and lots in between. We can't wait to see what we'll create together.

From top left: Miles Butler, Karina Sindicich, Clara Kundin, Fabio Motta, Laura Aristovulos, Yokko, Brantley Ivey, Jennifer Marinelli, Jorge Luna, Annie McCoy, Keelie Sheridan. 
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The Core Ensemble will be the driving force behind our performance and educational initiatives this season, but we are currently on the lookout for more rockstars to join our ranks. We'll be holding auditions for Guest Artists for the upcoming season on September 27th. We're looking for physical performers with a willingness to share their skills, learn new techniques and create big, bold new works.

​Email: keelie@theumegroup.org with a headshot and resume to request an audition appointment, no later than September 21st. 

WHEN: Initial auditions take place Saturday, April 23, 9:30am - 12pm and Tuesday, April 26, 7pm - 9:30pm with callbacks for those invited on Thursday, April 28, 7pm - 9pm. 

Please arrive no later than the specified start time to register and warm-up.  Attendees may attend EITHER audition day (4/23 or 4/26), but MUST be prepared to stay the entire time (and ideally to return on Thursday, April 26 if invited to callbacks) in order to be considered for a position.

WHERE: The Ume Group School at Grace & St. Paul’s Church
123 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
​(1, 2, 3, C, or B trains to 72nd Street.)

WHO:  We are interested in seeing MALE & FEMALE physical performers, ages 18+, with strong backgrounds in acting, clowning, or commedia del arte.  Experience with acrobatics, yoga and butoh dance is also encouraged, but not required.  You must be comfortable with rolls, weight sharing, lifts, falls and aerobic activity.  You MUST be available for the majority of the classes, rehearsals, and performances listed here.

Auditioners should be particularly suited for the following roles in our show “Lysistrata Project” (a Commedia Dell’Arte-styled adaptation of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata)...

• Harruk - Age 18 - 28, a zanni (lower-class) lover.  Ambiguously foreign accent and mannerisms. Wears a turban and a judo outfit. Formerly a shepherd in the middle east, he is now the servant and bumbling assassin to a Capitano-inspired financial tycoon, Ahmadd Nakamura.
• Dr. Bartholomew James Lewis, Esquire, M.D., E.D.M., W.H.N.P. - Age 28, a variation on the Dottore (doctor) stock character.  An unnaturally well-credentialed, yet socially awkward adult man who lives at home with his rich father.  Has crush on his hot step-mother.  Rat-like movements and behavior.
• Ensemble & Understudy for Clarice & Lyzzie - CLARICE: Age 20 - 30, the much younger 2nd wife to a wealthy businessman.  A Rosaura stock character type.  Loves sex, money, and to play tricks.  LYZZIE:  A Colombina, the servant to a wealthy bussinesman, loves playing tricks and plotting mischief, not well-read, but definitely street smart.
  
• Ensemble & Understudy for Noemi - NOEMI: Age 18 - 22, the young daughter of Ahmaad Nakamura, financial tycoon.  She is a lover, and pines for her father's surly (albeit thick-headed) assistant Harruk.  Well educated and outspoken.
  

Please bring:

• Clothes that you find comfortable and easy to move in.
• A performance resume AND a teaching resume if you have one.
• A recent photo or headshot.

The Ume Group is a New York - based dance / physical theatre ensemble dedicated to sharing traditions and developing new work.  We believe that a good performance artist is constantly learning, creating, teaching, and performing. We are hailed by critics for our “commanding, physically impressive performances” (The Village Voice) and “risky physical vulnerability” (nytheatre.com) which basically means... we do a lot of handstands and crazy butoh stuff. 
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www.theumegroup.org

The Ume Group physical theatre ensemble is looking for performers for part-time, unpaid apprenticeship positions for rehearsal and performance, starting January 7, 2016.  After the 15-week apprenticeship, candidates may be offered full membership in the company with paid teaching & performance opportunities.
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For audition questions, please email casting@theumegroup.org
There is no prior registration. 

WHEN:   Auditions take place Thursday, December 10, 6:30pm - 10pm and Saturday, December 12, 10:30am - 2pm.  Please arrive no later than the specified start time to register and warm-up.  Attendees may attend EITHER audition day, but MUST be prepared to stay the entire time in order to be considered for a position.

WHERE: The Ume Group School at Grace & St. Paul’s Church
123 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
​(1, 2, 3, C, or B trains to 72nd Street.)

WHO:  We are interested in seeing physical performers, ages 18+, with strong backgrounds in acting, clowning, or commedia del arte.  Experience with acrobatics, yoga and butoh dance is also encouraged, but not required.  You must be comfortable with rolls, weight sharing, lifts, falls and aerobic activity.  You MUST be available for the majority of the classes, rehearsals, and performances listed here.

Please bring:

• Clothes that you find comfortable and easy to move in.
• A performance resume AND a teaching resume if you have one.
• A recent photo or headshot.