Audition Announcement

Counting Pebbles: An original performance
​fostering trauma resilience in emergency medical responders

JANUARY 4th & 10th, 6:30-9pm
Email [email protected] to reserve a spot.

Broadway Rehearsal Lofts
294 Elm St.
New Haven, CT 06511

Process
Please prepare a 1-minute, memorized monologue, and be prepared to read from our script. Bring a resume and headshot if you have them. People with EMS and healthcare experience, new performers, people of color and LBGTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to audition. Roles range in age from 20-65.
Performers are expected to be comfortable working with a diverse group of new and experienced performers. Haven’t auditioned before? Get in touch with any questions or to talk through the process!

Pay
All roles in this project – including leadership – are volunteer.

Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsals will run January 28th-March 10th approximately 10hrs/week, weekday evenings and Sundays in downtown New Haven. Exact schedule determined based on performer availability. Performers must be available evenings March 10-17 for tech rehearsals and performances.

About the Play
First responders in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are ten times more likely to contemplate suicide than the national average. The most common reasons responders leave the field are burnout and psychological trauma. In partnership with the Code Green Campaign, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, the Yale School of Public Health and Faultline Ensemble, this original live performance explores experiences of trauma and healing in EMS providers.
The play brings together anonymous interviews, stories, artwork, and the creators' experience as health workers. Performances will be followed by post-show discussions and invitations for community feedback. The project hopes to celebrate the resilience of EMS providers, and to foster dialogue about responder support and sustainability.

Roles
Mike
A recently-deceased paramedic portrayed in flashbacks. He is from a small town, and has worked a decade in EMS and been a supportive friend and teacher to coworkers. Separated from his wife and semi-estranged from his daughter, he is at points tough, sarcastic and vulnerable. He is portrayed at various ages between 30-50.

Kat
A slightly newer provider, Kat also works in rural EMS. She is humorous, has had to grow a tough outer shell through her work, is in her 30s-40s, and is gay. She  experiences both grief and survivor's guilt after the death of Mike, her shift partner of several years. Throughout the play, Kat works through anger, guilt and blame towards a resolution.

Dave
An experienced AEMT, Dave tends towards cynicism and sarcasm. He cares about his work but is burnt out and falls into nihilistic attitudes when given the chance. He cares about his coworkers and shows it by giving them a constant hard time.

Elliot
A new EMT in his twenties, smart, optimistic and full of ideas. Elliot will talk anyone who listens to death in his enthusiasm, but realizes he faces an uphill battle if he wants to change the field he's in to reflect his ideals. He balances respecting his teachers and elders with conviction that the world - and his work - needs to change.

Gregg
A middle-aged paramedic supervisor with dreams of starting his own ambulance service eventually. He has worked in police, fire and EMS, and brings both humility and frustration to his current position. Gregg cares deeply about his coworkers, and tries to support them as much as he can from his current position.

Elaina
Mike's recent ex-wife. She works on the low end of hospital administration, and keeps her distance from emergency work. Elaina is grieving over losing Mike, though she felt he disappeared from her family long before his death. She is portrayed in flashbacks to the beginning of their relationship, as well as the present.

Contact [email protected] or (650) 814-5519 with any questions.