A Play by Lucas Hnath
Directed by Bryce Lederer
Fact: Isaac Newton stuck a needle into his own eye.
Seriously, he really did that.
Before he became one of the world's greatest intellectuals, Isaac Newton was a young man desperate to be taken seriously. His theories about color and light bring him face-to-face with Robert Hooke, renowned scientist and known dog murderer (seriously). As the two men clash over science and ego, Isaac's pursuit for recognition spirals into an increasingly bizarre battle of wits.
Funny, filthy, and deeply strange, Isaac's Eye gleefully mixes historical fact with outright fantasy, imagining the obsessions, desires, and ambitions that drove a young Isaac Newton toward greatness - and the sacrifices he (might have) made to get there.
December 4 - 13
The Edge Off-Broadway
1133 W Catalpa Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Couch Penny Ensemble is seeking actors for this upcoming production.
We welcome actors of all ethnicities and gender identities to audition.
AUDITIONS
September 28 & 29
5pm — 10pm
Greenhouse Theater Center
2257 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
CALLBACKS
Invited callbacks will be held
on October 9th
also at the
Greenhouse Theater Center
(20s, male presenting)
Brilliant, emotionally stunted, selfish, and deeply convinced of his own importance. When he was a kid, everyone called him "the sad little man." He's in his 20s, but already his hair is white. A prodigious little punk, stuck in a mundane life and desperate to prove himself as one of the all-time greats. Struggles to understand the emotional needs of the people around him. Will do whatever it takes to achieve greatness.
ISAAC
(30s-40s, male presenting)
Renowned scientist, inventor, and president of the Royal Society. He boasts a laundry list of accomplishments. Intelligent, well-spoken, hedonistic, vile, argumentative, a little unhinged, a little violent, and completely comfortable being the dominant force in any room. Keeps a diary where he attempts to track every one of his sexual experiences. He has already earned the recognition Isaac desperately craves, and will fight ruthlessly to maintain his position. Also, he exploded 12 dogs. Seriously.
ROBERT
(30s, female presenting)
Sharp, perceptive, and fiercely emotionally intelligent, Catherine is a woman with a strong sense of who she is and what she wants from her life. She values stability, intimacy, and the possibility of an ordinary life. She wants to grow old with someone she loves. Has a complicated history with Isaac. She understands him better than anyone, and while she is drawn to his brilliance, she is also acutely aware of his flaws. She loves him, but will not abandon her own future to accommodate his.
CATHERINE
(Any Age, Any Gender)
The play's narrator. A theatrical chameleon who moves fluidly between storyteller and participant. The Actor helps guide the audience through the play's balance between fact and fiction, while also stepping into the role of Sam, a dying man caught in the middle of Isaac and Hooke's experiments. The Actor should possess a warmth and ease with the audience, with an ability to shift quickly between comedy, omniscient authority, and genuine vulnerability. This is a highly theatrical role, requiring an actor who can embody the spirit of the production and deftly switch between different realities.
ACTOR/SAM
For more information, check out the audition form below.
We will also be accepting virtual submissions.
To submit virtually, please fill out the audition form, then email your audition materials to auditions@couchpennyensemble.com
Virtual submissions are due by Friday, October 2nd at 11:59pm.
Click here to fill out the
