The Waterworks Players is pleased to announce auditions for Master Class. Written by playwright Terrence McNally, Master Class was the winner of the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Play.

Master Class presents a fictional master class at Juilliard, conducted by the legendary opera diva Maria Callas, who is both a glamorous and larger-than-life character. She is also caustic and a surprisingly funny teacher. Maria is alternately dismayed and impressed by the students who parade before her, causing her to retreat into her recollections about the glories of her own life and career. Included in her musings are her younger years as an ugly duckling, her fierce hatred of rivals, unforgiving press that savaged her early performances, her triumphs at La Scala, and her affair with Aristotle Onassis.

Waterworks is seeking actors and opera singers who can fill vital supporting roles: Sharon Graham: 20s, opera student, dramatic soprano, youthful, but full of potential, well-trained and well-prepared, soaks up Callas' teaching like a sponge but has her own opinions as well and is determined; Tony Candolino: 20s, opera student, tenor, has a confidence that comes from being good-looking and talented, accustomed to relying on his charm, knows his shortcomings and truly wants to learn from Callas; Sophie De Palma: 20s, opera student, soprano, timid, perhaps a bit mousey, eager to please, impressionable, a young woman who has heretofore given more thought to making a pretty sound than to what she is meant to be communicating via song; Manny, a pianist; and a stage hand without a singing role.

Auditions will be held at 7:30 pm on Sunday and Monday, January 6-7, at the Waterworks Theater. Come prepared to sing/play either with your own music or read from the score. There will also be cold readings from the script. In addition, we need a number of stage hands to assist during technical week rehearsals and the four public performances.

The show runs February 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 8pm.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Waterworks Players at 434-392-3452 or info@waterworksplayers.org.