GIRA GIRA: A CYBERPUNK OPERA Auditions

Apply to audition for non-equity roles for our January 2027 performances of GIRA GIRA: A CYBERPUNK OPERA.  Must be comfortable with devising theater, improv, and immersive performance. Please bring a willingness to engage in a unique, non-traditional process of creating theatrical work. Actors will engage directly (or in close proximity) with audiences.  We are also seeking actors with unique singing skills and musicality.  

ROLES:

ARASHI:

Male-presenting performer who identifies as a person of color.
Any voice type or vocal range.  Performance artists and non-operatic vocalists are welcome.

‘Arashi’ is a member of opera-idol Hoshi’s band, conflicted by his loyalty to Hoshi and his anger towards the corrupt corporations that control their fate. Explosively passionate and controlled chaos on the verge of detonation.

We are seeking: 

• Singers capable of pure tones and/or vibrato that feels informed by jazz/rock/gospel/heavy metal/hardcore/folk/non-western influences.
• Actors who are highly comfortable with improvisation, interaction and movement.
• Performers with ability to play a rhythmic instrument and strong sight reading skills may be prioritized.

Video Submissions:

• 16-32 bars of Dido’s Lament sung in a jazz/rock/gospel/heavy metal/hardcore/folk/non-western or other stylized way;  share an example of any rhythmic musical instrument you play (preferred, not required).
• 1 Minute movement improvisation Video – Please dance/move your body as you feel comfortable for 1 minute. un edited or cut, so that we can get an idea of your natural movement quality and improvisation skills.  You will also be asked to share a short statement about your relationship to movement – what is your movement background, what is your comfort level in learning choreography and movement, and what is your comfort level and experience in collaboratively generating movement.

HOSHI (Understudy): 

Female-presenting performer who identifies as a person of color.
Soprano / Mezzo Soprano / Countertenor

A famous pop-star/opera soprano or mezzo portraying ‘Amaterasu’ in a new production.  Conflicted by the pressures of being an idol and balancing the weight of the world on her shoulders. 

We are seeking: 

• Performers with Western classical vocal training or abilities (opera) and an interest in extended vocal styles and/or crossover genres. In addition to strong and independent musical preparation skills, an ability to play a rhythmic instrument and strong sight-reading skills may be prioritized.
• Actor who is highly comfortable with improvisation, interaction and movement. 

Video Submissions: 

• 16-32 bars of a standard operatic repertoire
• Submit a 1 Minute movement improvisation Video – Please dance/move your body as you feel comfortable for 1 minute. un edited or cut, so that we can get an idea of your natural movement quality and improvisation skills.  You will also be asked to share a short statement about your relationship to movement – what is your movement background, what is your comfort level in learning choreography and movement, and what is your comfort level and experience in collaboratively generating movement.

We will also be looking to cast one of our understudies for either of these roles as a SWING for other roles in the production.  Live auditions will be recorded and stored in a company drive for review purposes. 

PAY:

Company Member:
$25/hour for rehearsals – $900 Guarantee for 2 week run of performances. 

Understudies: 
$25/hour for rehearsals, $100/week stipend for being on-call during run,  pay rate of $30 per hour for understudied performances.

REHEARSAL / PERFORMANCE DATES:
Company Rehearsals / Test Audiences:
TBD Primarily December 2026 and early January 2027 (potentially end of November)
Dress Rehearsal: January 5-6, 2027
Performances: January 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 

All performances will take place at Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Performing Arts Complex. 

The GIRA GIRA Writing and Producing Team: 
Lead Producer: AKAIYA Productions x Japanese Arts Network
Co-Creators: James Brunt, Jessica Eckenrod, Alex Fountain, Strother Gaines, Gwen Gussman, Courtney Ozaki-Durgin, Matthew Ozaki-Durgin, Margaret Ozaki Graves, Kotomi Yoshida 
Directors: James Brunt, Courtney Ozaki-Durgin, Joyce Cole
Choreographer / Movement Director: Gwen Gussman
Music Direction: Nathan Hall, Margaret Ozaki-Graves
Sound Design / Music Production: Matthew Ozaki-Durgin 
Costume Design: Kotomi Yoshida 

WHAT IS DEVISED THEATER?
This show has been created from scratch by a group of local theatre makers, artists and movers. As part of our process, we allow room for feedback and changes once we see the piece in action. We will have a director for each scene, but we are looking for actors who can remain flexible, vocal and empowered to help shape the material.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: 
Our intention is to create a project culture that is comfortable for all participants and provides space for feedback, collaboration, and support. We believe in casting all of our productions expansively. We recognize that marginalized identities intersect and overlap in all people, at all times. We recognize the potential for more impactful theater when communities are involved in their own story-telling and the harm when communities are excluded.  We create theatre that celebrates intersectionality and neurodiversity – lifting up the experiences of BIPoC and individuals who are immigrants, LGBTQIA+, Blind, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, living with physical and cognitive disabilities, or part of other marginalized and underserved communities. We also hire a diverse composition of the technical crew, stagehands, audio engineers, electricians, and showrunners and engage people who identify as BIPoC, women/femme or non-binary, trans, disabled, or otherwise marginalized.