THE NATIONAL PASTIME (World Premiere)
Syracuse Stage (Syracuse, NY)

CONTRACT:
LORT C - $1165 Firm 

 

ARTISTIC TEAM:

Artistic Director: Robert M. Hupp
Associate Artistic Director: Melissa Crespo
Writer: Rogelio Martinez
Director: Johanna McKeon
NYC Casting: Bass/Valle Casting
Casting Director: Gama Valle
Associate Casting Director: Gregory Jafari VanAcker

 

AUDITION DATES:
Initials: by self-tape only
Callbacks: 04/02/25 - 04/04/25

 

CALLBACK LOCATION:
NYC

 

PRODUCTION DATES:

First Rehearsal: 05/13/25

Previews: 06/11/25

Opening: 06/13/25

Closing: 06/29/25

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS: (preferred):

Please, fill out the form below by 03/10/2025, for an opportunity to be invited to submit a video audition. The Bass/Valle Casting team will review all self-submissions.

Self-Submit Form: https://airtable.com/app4wR0HEbhTrRNiw/shrKPXcXPXBNDDEcs

 

PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS:

Not accepted at this time.

 

NOTES:
Bass/Valle Casting encourages people of all races, ages, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities to apply.

SYNOPSIS:
Cuba, 2016. A mysterious illness rips through the American embassy in Havana. America, 2017. The Houston Astros are stealing signs, on their way to a World Series win. With tensions heightened from the lead-up and aftermath of an election year, the two nations play a dangerous game in the shadows, with their shared national pastimes – baseball and espionage – as their weapons of choice.

SEEKING:
 

NOTES:

-The production encourages Latine actors of all backgrounds to submit.
-For YURI, OCEANO, and JOSEMARIA, a Cuban accent will be required when speaking Spanish, dialect coach provided.

YURI - Male-Identifying, early 30s, Cuban. Professional baseball player on the Houston Astros. Yuri has an “I bat .500“ kind of attitude that borders on cockiness, but he’s a likable guy. English is not his first language.
NOTE: YURI needs to speak perfect Spanish.

OSCAR - Male-Identifying, 40s, Latino. Professorial, analytical, and confrontational. What he is not is sentimental. Bench coach for the Houston Astros.
NOTE: The actor also plays RON who appears only once in the play. Ron has baseball PTSD and lives in the shadows of his own mind.

NAT - Male-Identifying, late 40s to early 50s, White. Chief of Mission at Cuban Embassy in Havana. In charge but you wouldn’t know it since he plays “peacekeeper” and always seems to be once removed from what is happening. A career diplomat. He is too good to ever be charged with a crime.
NOTE: Also plays the roles of LOGAN, DAVID and BALLPLAYER.

 

OCEANO - Male-Identifying, 40s, Cuban. Intelligence officer working under the guise of cultural liaison. Charming. It’s impossible to know what his intentions are.

 In a John LeCarre novel, he would play the “Romeo.”
NOTE: OCEANO needs to speak perfect Spanish.

JOSEMARIA - Male-Identifying, 60s, retired Cuban baseball player. Yuri’s father. He carries a lot of secrets and his ultimate pain is that he can’t share them with anyone. He was once the best baseball player in Cuba…but what does that mean in America. It’s a question never far from his mind. Most Chekhovian of all the characters.

NOTE: JOSEMARIA needs to speak perfect Spanish. Also plays the roles of DOCTOR and BALLPLAYER.

 

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

-More info coming soon!

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