Auditions for Three Fifths of a Man

Local amateur actors and actresses are invited to audition to become a part of history, or at least to portray characters and events from history.

Open auditions for the original play Three Fifths of a Man, about the 1847 Matson Slave Trial at which Abraham Lincoln represented a slave owner for the only time in his law career, will be held on Monday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Columbian Building in Oakland Illinois.  The building is located at the corner of Pike and Main Streets on the picturesque town square.

Male and females over the age of 16 are welcome and no prior experience is needed to audition.  One minute prepared auditions are welcome, but not necessary.  Tryouts will involve reading from the script written and directed by Dr. David Jorns.  Jorns has a PhD. in Theater History from UCLA and has been on faculty at several universities in Missouri and Illinois.  He has directed over 50 plays and is currently teaching theater history classes for Eastern Illinois University at Parkland College.

The mostly male cast will portray real people from 1847 highlighting their inner motivations as well as the historical events.  Jorns explains, “It’s so unlike the history we know from school.  Performers do not need any prior experience in plays to succeed, though they will be required to rehearse regularly.” Jorns is understanding of people’s prior commitments and will be as flexible as he can with rehearsal schedules.

The performance is part of an innovate historical program, Trial & Tribulations, in the evenings on September 16, 17 and 18 where audience members will informally meet seven of the characters from the trial at three historic sites in Oakland, enjoy an 1847 meal, and attend the performance of this play.

The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Ruth and Vaughn Jaenike Access to the Arts Outreach Program of the College of Arts & Humanities, Eastern Illinois University.