Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings
Written by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia, and Marcus Youssef
Directed by Diana Lobb
It is November 2008, President Barack Obama is elected, and collective optimism for a more tolerant post-Bush world spreads to Canada – and to the backroom of Salim’s Falafel Shoppe in Toronto. There, Ali Hakim and Ali Ababwa, refugee entertainers from the fictitious, war-torn country of Agraba, write a stage play to celebrate the new president’s message of “hope and change.” But the premiere of Yo Mama, Osbama! (or, How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Half-Black President) halts abruptly when a RCMP constable arrives at the theatre and arrests the pair for suspected financial ties to the Agrabanian People’s Front, an alleged “terrorist organization” on the Canadian government’s watch list. Hilarious comic, slapstick, and exuberant, the play raises serious questions about the cost for some when we endeavour to protect the “freedoms” of others.
Actor requirements: All actors must identify as persons of colour. There are four characters total; one must identify as female, the other three of them will need to identify as male or non-binary. They can be any age. The play is a satirical piece that deals with political issues and racial tensions; as such, actors must have a good sense of humour and be comfortable playing with this style of material.
Mandatory dates: The production’s tech weekend will be November 5th–6th, 2022; dress rehearsals are on November 7th and 8th. The performance dates are November 10th–12th, 17th–19th, and 24th–26th, 2022.
Audition process: Auditions will take place September 6th, 7th, and 8th, 7:00–9:30pm at KWLT (9 Princess Street East in Waterloo). There may be callback auditions.
Actors will be asked to read a monologue. They may prepare one ahead of time, or use one from a selection that will be made available in the waiting room for the audition. Auditions will be done solo. Actors are welcome to sign up ahead of time or just drop in as desired.
Rehearsal process: There will be two rehearsals per week lasting 2.5 hours each. As opening night approaches, this may increase to three rehearsals per week. Rehearsals will be held in person at our studio at 44 Gaukel St. in downtown Kitchener. Exact dates and times will be selected per actor availability.
Questions? If there’s anything else that you’d like to know, contact the production team at aliandali.kwlt2021@gmail.com. More information is also available here.
Please Note: As per Public Health requirements and Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre policy, proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 is required in order to enter the audition space and participate in the show.
