TRIAL PRACTICE ACTING GIG Fall 2018!
Use your acting and improvisational skills, have fun,
help students
and get paid at the same time!
RE: Dixon v Providential Life Insurance Company
RIVERWALK THEATRE is once again looking for actors who are interested in playing the defendant and witnesses in mock trials for the MSU College of Law Trial Practice Institute. If you are interested in an unusual acting gig where you will be taking case materials, building a character consistent with those materials and playing that character in the highly improvisational environment of a civil court case, this gig is for you! There is a stipend for the work, the amount of which varies depending on the role and the number of trials in which you participate.
The current mock trial case arises out of a dispute over whether the death of Judge John J. Dixon’s, caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was the result of an accident or was intentional. Plaintiff Mary Dixon, Judge Dixon’s widow, filed for payout of the life insurance policy issued by Providential (defendant) after the Sheriff Altair Khouri and Medical Examiner Dr. Celli investigated the incident and concluded that the gunshot was accidental. Providential refused to pay the death benefit based on information that caused them to conclude that Judge Dixon intentionally shot himself nine days after taking out the policy and had obtained the policy by fraud and deceit.
There are two Trial Practice I classes this Fall. Each class will be organized into two trials, for a total of 4 trials. In order to cast the mock trials, Riverwalk is seeking actors to play the various roles. Actors, except for those playing Mary Dixon and Robert Wilson, need to be available and prepared to testify in all four trials, which occur over two days. Mary Dixon and Robert Wilson need to be available for two trials, one each day.
Actors would need to be available on ALL of the following dates:
• Saturday, October 27, 10- 11 am – Actor orientation meeting with Mock Trial Professors
• Saturday, November 3, 10 am – 2 pm - Witness interviews
• Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, 8:30am-3pm – Trials
The Witnesses, their approximate ages, and a brief explanation of their roles in the trial are listed below. Except as noted, the actors may be male or female.
WITNESSES NEEDED:
For the Plaintiff-
Mary Dixon (Plaintiff) Mid 50’s-60’s – 2 female actors needed (Judge Dixon’s Widow) – Married 24 years to Judge Dixon
Sheriff Altair Khouri (45-60’s)- male actor (Sheriff of Darrow County) – Investigated the incident and concluded that the shooting occurred while Judge Dixon was cleaning his gun and was accidental. Sheriff was a friend and hunting partner of the Judge.
Dr. Emery Celli (50’s – 60’s) (Medical Examiner of Darrow County) – Investigated the scene of the incident, conducted an autopsy and concluded that the shooting was accidental. Was a friend and family physician of Judge Dixon.
Anna Martin – (female actor – 40’s -50’s) (Mary Dixon’s sister) - Mary lived with the Dixons for a brief period. She also hunted with Judge Dixon
For the Defense –
Robert L. Wilson -(45 – 60’s) 2 actors needed -(General Manager for the Defendant Providential Insurance) - Denied the claim based on the insurance company’s investigation which concluded that the death was suicide. Since the death occurred within the two year exclusion time period, the death benefit was denied and the premium paid was returned.
Morgan Crowe – (40’s-60’s) Stockbroker who invested money for Judge Dixon. He was a friend of both Judge Dixon and Robert Wilson.
Carter Berman (late 30’s – 50’s) (Chief of the Audit and Investigative Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Nita) – Investigated a shortfall in fines and fees submitted to the state by Judge Dixon’s court. The investigation ultimately resulted in the conviction of Judge Dixon’s Court Clerk of embezzlement.
Dr. Allister Upchurch (40’s – 60’s) (Psychiatrist) – At the request of Providential, Dr. Allister rendered an opinion that the death was a suicide. He based this on materials provided by Providential.
If you are interested in playing any of these witnesses or obtaining further information, please contact TOM FERRIS at tjferris49@gmail.com, by FRIDAY, October 19. Please include a photo (If you have not participated previously) , your acting age range, contact information (email, phone and home address) and any information you believe might be helpful to us, including the role(s) in which you are interested.
The current mock trial case arises out of a dispute over whether the death of Judge John J. Dixon’s, caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was the result of an accident or was intentional. Plaintiff Mary Dixon, Judge Dixon’s widow, filed for payout of the life insurance policy issued by Providential (defendant) after the Sheriff Altair Khouri and Medical Examiner Dr. Celli investigated the incident and concluded that the gunshot was accidental. Providential refused to pay the death benefit based on information that caused them to conclude that Judge Dixon intentionally shot himself nine days after taking out the policy and had obtained the policy by fraud and deceit.
There are two Trial Practice I classes this Fall. Each class will be organized into two trials, for a total of 4 trials. In order to cast the mock trials, Riverwalk is seeking actors to play the various roles. Actors, except for those playing Mary Dixon and Robert Wilson, need to be available and prepared to testify in all four trials, which occur over two days. Mary Dixon and Robert Wilson need to be available for two trials, one each day.
Actors would need to be available on ALL of the following dates:
• Saturday, October 27, 10- 11 am – Actor orientation meeting with Mock Trial Professors
• Saturday, November 3, 10 am – 2 pm - Witness interviews
• Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, 8:30am-3pm – Trials
The Witnesses, their approximate ages, and a brief explanation of their roles in the trial are listed below. Except as noted, the actors may be male or female.
WITNESSES NEEDED:
For the Plaintiff-
Mary Dixon (Plaintiff) Mid 50’s-60’s – 2 female actors needed (Judge Dixon’s Widow) – Married 24 years to Judge Dixon
Sheriff Altair Khouri (45-60’s)- male actor (Sheriff of Darrow County) – Investigated the incident and concluded that the shooting occurred while Judge Dixon was cleaning his gun and was accidental. Sheriff was a friend and hunting partner of the Judge.
Dr. Emery Celli (50’s – 60’s) (Medical Examiner of Darrow County) – Investigated the scene of the incident, conducted an autopsy and concluded that the shooting was accidental. Was a friend and family physician of Judge Dixon.
Anna Martin – (female actor – 40’s -50’s) (Mary Dixon’s sister) - Mary lived with the Dixons for a brief period. She also hunted with Judge Dixon
For the Defense –
Robert L. Wilson -(45 – 60’s) 2 actors needed -(General Manager for the Defendant Providential Insurance) - Denied the claim based on the insurance company’s investigation which concluded that the death was suicide. Since the death occurred within the two year exclusion time period, the death benefit was denied and the premium paid was returned.
Morgan Crowe – (40’s-60’s) Stockbroker who invested money for Judge Dixon. He was a friend of both Judge Dixon and Robert Wilson.
Carter Berman (late 30’s – 50’s) (Chief of the Audit and Investigative Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Nita) – Investigated a shortfall in fines and fees submitted to the state by Judge Dixon’s court. The investigation ultimately resulted in the conviction of Judge Dixon’s Court Clerk of embezzlement.
Dr. Allister Upchurch (40’s – 60’s) (Psychiatrist) – At the request of Providential, Dr. Allister rendered an opinion that the death was a suicide. He based this on materials provided by Providential.
If you are interested in playing any of these witnesses or obtaining further information, please contact TOM FERRIS at tjferris49@gmail.com, by FRIDAY, October 19. Please include a photo (If you have not participated previously) , your acting age range, contact information (email, phone and home address) and any information you believe might be helpful to us, including the role(s) in which you are interested.
