CHANDLER PLAYERS | Chandler Center VT

The Chandler Players present

A Peasant of El Salvador

By Peter Gould and Stephen Stearns

Directed by Dominic Spillane

Casting / Auditions @ Chandler Center for the Arts

Sunday, Oct. 11: 2:00 - 5:00
Monday, Oct: 12: 5:30 - 7:30
Tuesday, Oct. 13: 5:30 - 7:30

Performing:

March 4 at 6:00 PM - Invited Dress + Press Preview @ Chandler Center for the Arts
March 5 at 10:00 AM (student performance) & 6:00 PM (public) @ Chandler Center for the Arts
March 6 at 2:00 PM (public) & 6:00 PM (public) @ Chandler Center for the Arts
March 12 at TBD AM (student performance), & 6:00 PM (public) @ Winooski Middle High School

CASTING FORM

“Laced with humor, song, dance, Peasant is a powerful play with a strong political message.”

- Raleigh, North Carolina - Times

Chandler Center for the Arts is pleased to announce an open casting call for The Chandler Players' upcoming production of A Peasant of El Salvador by Peter Gould and Stephen Stearns, with an original score by Ernesto Villalobos, and directed by Dominic Spillane. A portion of proceeds will support Migrant Justice Vermont whose mission is to build the voice, capacity, and power of the immigrant farmworker community to organize for economic justice and human rights.

At Chandler Center in Randolph there will be a presentation for students on Fri. March 5th at 10:00 AM, with performances for the general public on Fri. Mar. 5th at 6:00 PM, Sat. Mar. 6 at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. On Friday March 12th A Peasant of El Salvador will perform a student matinee at Winooski Middle High School (Time TBD), with a public performance at 6:00 PM.

A Peasant of El Salvador was written by Vermont playwrights Peter Gould and Stephen Stearns about the struggles of a Central American farmer, his family, and his community during the 1980s civil war in El Salvador. This timeless portrait dramatizes the roots of economic inequality, migration, and the choices individuals must make when confronted with forces beyond their control. A Peasant of El Salvador is a touching, universal story about courage, perseverance, and faith in the face of impossible circumstances.

The world of the play will come to life with original music composed and performed by Grammy award-winning Ernesto Villalobos. At the age of 18, Ernesto was recognized as the youngest-ever recipient of a Fulbright scholarship in classical music (awarded by the United States Department of State). Ernesto holds advanced degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Kibbutz Eilon in Israel, and Bayerische Musikakademie in Germany. Learn more about Ernesto HERE

“A Peasant of El Salvador has the gentle eloquence of a folk tale, the simple beauty of a folk song, and the impact of a bulldozer.”

- Keene, New Hampshire - Leisure Weekly

CASTING INFO:

All are welcome! This production includes multiple speaking roles, plus a large ensemble of non-speaking performers who will at times be part of background scenes, simple movement choreography, and group singing. If you’ve ever been curious about being onstage or you want to join a powerful art project that supports migrant justice, this is a great opportunity for you to get involved.

ENSEMBLE ROLES: All ages, genders, races, and ethnicities are welcome. Ensemble members will be on stage throughout the performance and will participate in background acting, simple choreography, and singing.
- Singing: Ensemble members will act as a vocal chorus throughout the play. All voices are welcome. Interested singers may be featured.
- Movement & Choreography: Ensemble members will perform simple choreography, no dance experience necessary. Ensemble members with dance experience may be featured.
- Musicians: If you play an instrument, you could be included in the original score and play on stage during the performance.
- Preparation: No preparation necessary. During our casting dates you may be asked to sing something simple so that we can gauge where to place your voice in the chorus.

SPEAKING ROLES: All ages, genders, races, and ethnicities are welcome. Especially seeking actors comfortable or fluent in Spanish, and/or can do a Spanish accent (character descriptions can be found below). Actors may be cast in multiple roles, and all speaking actors will be part of the ensemble when not performing their character.
- Singing, Movement, Choreography: See above. When not acting as your speaking role, all actors will remain on stage and join the ensemble. Singing and simple choreography will be involved.
- Preparation: No preparation necessary. Actors interested in speaking roles will be given pages from the script to read during our casting dates. You may be asked to sing something simple so that we can gauge where to place your voice in the chorus.

CASTING/AUDITIONS: To be involved in the production, you must:
- Fill out the CASTING FORM
- Attend one of the casting / audition dates, or send in an audition video (instructions below). Casting will begin with a discussion to learn more about the show and ask any questions. All who are interested and can commit to the dates can be involved!
- Interested singers will be asked to sing something simple to gauge your vocal range.
- Actors interested in a speaking role will be asked to read dialogue from the script.

CASTING FORM

IMPORTANT DATES

OPEN CASTING CALL @ Chandler Center for the Arts
- Sunday, Oct. 11: 2:00 - 5:00
- Monday, Oct: 12: 5:30 - 7:30
- Tuesday, Oct. 13: 5:30 - 7:30

REHEARSALS
- OCT 14 - DEC 16: Wednesdays (3hrs) - 5:00 - 8:00. Attendance may vary based on role.
- JAN 6 - JAN 27: Wednesdays (3hrs) - 5:00 - 8:00 + One weekend rehearsal (3hrs)
- FEB 3 - FEB 24: Wednesdays (3hrs) - 5:00 - 8:00 + One weekend rehearsal (3hrs) - If needed, one additional weeknight or weekend rehearsal.

TECH REHEARSALS
- Sunday February 28, 2027 - 4:00 - 9:00 PM (all)
- Monday March 1, 2027 - 4:00 - 9:00 PM
- Tuesday March 2, 2027 - 4:00 - 9:00 PM
- Wednesday March 3, 2027 - 4:00 - 9:00 PM

PERFORMANCES

Thursday March 4, 2027 - Chandler Music Hall
- Final dress with full tech, invite-only press preview + PWYW preview (6pm)
Friday March 5, 2027 - Chandler Music Hall
- Morning matinee for students (10am)
- Evening show for general public (6pm)
Saturday March 6, 2027 - Chandler Music Hall
- Matinee (2pm)
- Evening show (6pm)
- Post-show Latin-American food and live music in Mesh Room (8pm)
Friday March 12, 2027- Winooski High School
- first thing in the AM, shuttle up to Winooski
- Morning matinee for students (ideally 11:30am)
- Evening show for general public (ideally 6pm)
- shuttle south to Randolph after the show

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

SPEAKING ROLES:

Jesus (Male Identifying, Age: 35+, El Salvadoran, Speaks spanish frequently): The patriarch of the family and protagonist of the play. Jesus is a farmer with a wife and five children. Large speaking role, on stage throughout the play.

Narrator 1 (Any age, gender, race, ethnicity): Narrator tells the story throughout the play. Large speaking role. Many of the Narrator lines may be distributed to members of the ensemble.

Narrator 2 (Any age, gender, race, ethnicity): Narrator tells the story throughout the play. Large speaking role. Many of the Narrator lines may be distributed to members of the ensemble.

Manuel (Male Identifying, Age: 25+, El Salvadoran, Speaks Spanish frequently, Plays guitar): Jesus’ good friend. Charismatic. Optimistic. Plays guitar, but not essential for the role. Several scenes throughout the play. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

Foreman (Any gender, Age: 25+, El Salvodoran, Speaks some Spanish): Foreman at a banana plantation. Several scenes. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

Colonel (Any gender, Age: 30+, El Salvadoran, Speaks some Spanish): Comandante of El Salvadoran forces. One scene. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

TV Reporter 1 (Any gender, Age: 20+, El Salvadoran, Speaks Spanish): TV reporter broadcast. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

Raul (Male Identifying, Age: 16-30, El Salvadoran, Speaks Spanish): Jesus’ elder son. One speaking scene. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

Prison Guard (Any Gender, Age: 20+, El Salvadoran, Speaks Spanish): One scene. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

US Spokesman (Any Gender, Age: 25+, American): Spokesman for the US government. All races and ethnicities considered.

Officer (Any Gender, Age: 25+, El Salvadoran): Officer of the El Salvadoran army. Confident, Charsimatic. Comfortability with Spanish, all races and ethnicities considered.

Archbishop Oscar Romero (Male Identifying, Age: 55-70 (ideally 60’s), El Salvadoran): Archbishop in El Salvador, fierce advocate for the poor and oppressed. Assassinated at age 62 during sermon.

NON-SPEAKING ROLES:

Concepcion (Female Identifying, Age: 30+, El Salvadoran) Jesus’ wife

Marta (Female Identifying, Age: 16 - 25, El Salvadoran) Jesus’ eldest daughter

Juancito (Male Identifying, Age: 6 - 12, El Salvadoran) Jesus’ youngest son

Maria (Female Identifying, Age: 15 - 20, El Salvadoran) Jesus’ younger daughter

Ricardo (Male Identifying, Age: 16 - 25, El Salvadoran) Jesus’ son.