** OPEN CASTING **
PROJECT:
** Steven Spielberg film “THE KIDNAPPING OF EDGARDO MORTARA” **
STORY:
STORY LINE: Steven Spielberg is making a film about the true story of EDGARDO MORTARA – a 6 year old Jewish boy from Bologna who was reported to have been secretly baptized by a maid, and was deemed by the Catholic Church therefore to be Christian. Pope Pius IX decreed that the boy could not remain with his Jewish family. He was seized by the Papal State and taken to the Vatican where his indoctrination into Catholicism began. This was a cause célèbre of mid-nineteenth century European politics and the domestic and international outrage against the pontifical state’s actions may have contributed to its downfall amid the unification of Italy.
AUDITION:
SUBMISSIONS ONLY.
Submit your Headshot/Resume ASAP to: Auditions@ActorsWorkshopStudios.com.
Please put “The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara – Your Name” in the subject line.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
- EDGARDO — BOY age 6-9 to play 6 years old. This is a unique and very challenging part for a truly special boy. The story deals with the complexity of an extremely intelligent and gifted child’s situation – his desire to return to his family and the faith of his ancestors, pitted against his ability to learn the Catechism and engage with the Pope on a level far beyond his years. HE SHOULD APPEAR TO BE A JEWISH ITALIAN child, but not looking for any kind of Italian accent. LEAD.