Description:

The Merry Beggars is seeking actors nationwide for our upcoming production of PAUL MIKI, a Voiceover with 5 episodes. We are seeing Asian and Asian/American talent. Rehearsals for Paul Miki will take place on Thursday, December 21, 1:00-4:00 pm CT, and Thursday, January 4, 2:30 - 4:00pm CT. Rehearsals are conducted via Zoom. Recordings for Paul Miki will be on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 8:30am - 5:30pm CT, in person at our studios in Lincolnshire, IL. Actors will need to be available for Chicago LOCAL HIRE.

Series Breakdown 1582, Azuchi, Japan. The Shogun and Samurai control an ancient and warlike civilization. But a new way of life, introduced by Jesuit missionaries thirty years earlier, is starting to take root. And one young man, the son of a samurai, seeks to find his place as a Japanese Christian. This is the true story of Paul Miki. An original audio drama from The Merry Beggars.

Compensation
$20/hr for up to 4.5 hours of rehearsal and dialect coaching; up to $200/day session fee.

Character Breakdowns
We are seeing Asian and Asian/American talent. All talent must be willing to work as Chicago local hires. Some roles are DOUBLE CAST. Please note the various dialects used in each role.

PAUL MIKI (Lead, 18-25, Japanese dialect)
Son of a Samurai. Catholic convert. A strong-willed young man. Great sense of humor. Strong sense of honor and justice.

ANTONIO (Male, 14-18, Japanese dialect)
Young Japanese Catholic, friend to Luis. Loves Jesus and has found his vocation in simplicity and service as a cook.

ATTENDANT/WOMAN/CHILD (Female, Japanese dialect)

ATTENDANT. 18-40. Professional. Works at Shogun's Court Palace.

WOMAN / KIRISHTAN WOMAN. 10-40. Person in crowd. One line.

CHILD. 6-12. Person in crowd. One line.

BRIGAND / COMMISSIONER NAGAMORI / PRIEST / FRIAR (Male, 20-60, Japanese/Portuguese/Spanish dialect)
BRIGAND. 20-30. Japanese dialect. Erratic, opportunistic criminal with no integrity. Prone to maniacal and wild behavior. A loose canon.

NAGAMORI. 40-60. Japanese dialect. One of the most senior judicial officers of the Shogun. Stoic and strategic, this unemotional judge is always unfazed regardless of whatever legal matter or dispute is before him.‍

PRIEST. 35-50. Portuguese dialect. Person in crowd. One line‍

FRIAR. 35-50. Spanish dialect. Person in crowd. One line.

DIOGO KISAI / Oda Nobunaga (Male, 35-60, Japanese dialect)

DIOGO. 30-60. Japanese dialect. Widower, among the first Japanese-born men to be accepted into the Jesuits in Japan. He is paired for missionary work with the much younger Joao.

NOBUNAGA. 30-50. Japanese dialect. The military leader and dictator of Japan. Fierce but just. Treated by the Japanese with reverence, like a king and demi-god.

ESUMI / LUIS (Male, 18-25, Japanese dialect)
ESUMI. 18-25. Japanese dialect. Christian Samurai, part of the Shogun's guard. A strong fighter and soldier with a true sense of honor.

LUIS. 14-18. Japanese dialect. A young Japanese Catholic, friend of Antonio. In service of the Spanish Franciscans. Eager to learn. Considering becoming a Franciscan.

FATHER GASPAR COELHO / FATHER PEDRO BAUTISTA / FATHER (Male, 40-60, Portuguese/Spanish, Japanese dialect)

COELHO. Portuguese dialect. Father Provincial of the Jesuits for Japan. Smart and strategic diplomat and negotiator. Practical and goal-oriented.‍

BAUTISTA. Spanish dialect. Cheerful and optimistic Franciscan Friar who is hopelessly oblivious to the danger or harm that can come to him.

FATHER. Japanese dialect. Crowd scene. One line.

FATHER ORGANTINO / MAJOR FRANCISCO de OLANDIA (Male, Portuguese/Spanish dialect)

ORGANTINO. 35-50. Portuguese dialect. Career missionary. Optimistic, but the job has taken its toll on him. Cares deeply for the people he serves.

OLANDIA. 25-35. Spanish dialect. In charge of a Spanish ship filled with valuable cargo, waylaid in Japan and under threat of confiscation. Proud and impatient. Believes the might of the Spanish Empire is behind him.

HAMDAYU MIKI /TERUO MORI / PRELATE (Male, 35-50, Japanese/Portuguese dialect)

HAMDAYU. 35-50. Japanese dialect. Senior military commander and samurai with a well-respected career and position in court. Paul Miki's loving father.

MORI. 35-45. Japanese dialect. Ruthless, cynical samurai. Carries out the arrest, torture and execution of the Japanese martyrs. Cat-like. He prefers to play with his prey instead of delivering a swift execution.‍

PRELATE. Portuguese dialect. Person in crow. One line.

JOAO de GOTO /SEIKI (Male, 18-60, Japanese dialect)

JOAO. 18-25. Japanese dialect. Among the first Japanese accepted into the Jesuits. Great love for his faith and his people.

SEIKI. 40-60. Japanese dialect. Conniving and ambitious Buddhist Bonze (priest). He's a sycophant to the Shogun.