Omelas | A new play by Nate Brimner Smith

Directed by Connor Lifson

Omelas is a theatrical elaboration upon Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.” It paints a landscape of a city which maintains a state of perpetual happiness, although this prosperity comes with a terrible price. Through devised movement sequences, abstract dreamscapes, and even some shadow puppetry, a cast of three actors, each of whom play multiple roles, will tell the story of the utopian city of Omelas, asking: What is the price of freedom? Can happiness exist without suffering? What does utopia look, sound, smell, and feel like?

This is a new play development process of a world premiere adaptation — this means the script will be fluid and changing in response to what we discover in the room. Performers who are excited about devising and experimentation are encouraged to audition!

Stanford TAPS seeks to build a diverse cast for this production and encourages members of any race, gender identity, and ability to audition. If any accessibility accommodations are needed please email tapsinformation@stanford.edu for assistance.

Sign Up for a 15-minute audition slot HERE!

• The Director will email you after signup with the location and any other instructions
• If you are not free during one of the available slots, please email The Director, and we’ll find another time

Important Dates

Auditions: October 11-14

Rehearsal Process: October 26-January 31

• In Fall Quarter, ~3 rehearsals per week (roughly 10 hours/week)
• In Winter Quarter, ~5 rehearsals per week (roughly 16 hours/week
• Tentative Rehearsal Schedule

Performance Dates: February 1-10

What to prepare:

• Feel free to just show up! There is no pressure to bring anything in – cold reading sides will be provided in the room!!
• IF you have time…
  • Read the 4-page short story here
  • Bring in a roughly 1-minute performance piece of your own creation in response to the short story. This could be…
    • A performed reading of your favorite paragraph from the short story (don’t worry about memorization)
    • A short piece of performance art inspired by a theme or moment in the short story
    • Some kind of miniaturized object or puppetry-based performance
    • A wordless dance piece
    • Or anything else you can imagine! I’m excited about getting to know you as an artist as well as an actor, so please feel free to play to your strengths and what you like to do! 

Casting Breakdown

• 3 Tracks – while each actor will play multiple characters, each track plays a primary character:
  • Kosis – a boy of 10 at the start of the play. We watch Kosis grow up, struggling with the ethics of the utopia in which he lives.
  • Taruno – a woman in her early 40s. Immigrated to Omelas to find a better life, but has never quite felt at home here. Though the nuclear family does not exist in Omelas, she takes on a motherly role in relation to Kosis. 
  • the Child – *spoiler alert* this immortal child has spent most of its existence locked alone in a cellar. The covenant of Omelas declares that the child’s suffering is what makes the prosperity of this utopia possible. The child rarely speaks, but longs for the playful childhood it never had. 

Questions? Email Connor Lifson – clifson@stanford.edu

JOINING THE PRODUCTION TEAM:

There is always room to join the production team in any capacity! I am looking for…

• Costume Designer
• Sound Designer
• Composer
• Scenic Designer
• Prop Designer
• Puppet Designer
  • Or visual artists who want to explore shadow puppetry!
• Script Supervisor
  • Responsible for keeping track of script changes, and taking notes in rehearsal
  • If you’re a playwright or dramaturg who wants experience with new play development, this would be a great role for you!
• Assistant Director
• Assistant Stage Manager
• Assistant Designers (all areas)
• People who just love fantasy, science fiction, and worldbuilding and want to get involved in the process

No matter your experience level, there is always a way to get involved – please email Connor Lifson at clifson@stanford.edu with what roles you might be interested in! We’ll find a time to discuss!

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“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin
Used by permission of Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Copyright © 1973
All Rights Reserved.

Photo Credit: Sophie