AUDITIONS

BY TOPHER PAYNE

DIRECTED BY REBECCA SPEAR

Cast Size: 6 (3 Women, 3 Men)

 Note: Ages are approximate. Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition. 

Male | 60s–70s

A devoted husband blindsided when his wife of 37 years announces she's leaving him. Frank is practical, stubborn, funny without trying to be, and deeply uncomfortable discussing his emotions. Beneath his gruff exterior is a man who genuinely loves his family but has forgotten how to express it. Requires excellent comedic timing and the ability to reveal surprising emotional depth. 

Female | 60s–70s

Frank's wife. Warm, intelligent, independent, and quietly determined. After decades of feeling overlooked, she finally decides she deserves more than simply being taken for granted. Jackie is never bitter or cruel—she simply wants to be appreciated. A nuanced role balancing humor, vulnerability, and quiet strength. 

Male | Late 20s–40s

Frank and Jackie's son. A video game designer living in New York City. Witty, sarcastic, slightly neurotic, and overwhelmed when his parents' marriage suddenly implodes in his apartment. Loves his family but often avoids emotional confrontation. Strong comedic instincts are essential. 

Female | Late 20s–40s

Frank and Jackie's daughter. Organized, capable, compassionate, and the emotional anchor of the family. Claire tries to keep everyone together while navigating the complicated reality that parents are flawed people, too. She possesses warmth, intelligence, and quiet confidence. 

Female | 40s–60s

Frank's charming widowed neighbor. Funny, confident, perceptive, and refreshingly direct. Rita has lived enough life to know what matters and brings an unexpected spark into Frank's world. She should be effortlessly likable with natural charisma and warmth. 

Male | 30s–50s

Clair's husband. A real estate agent in Connecticut. The golden boy. Knows how to close a deal. Unflappable.

BY SEAN DANIELS

DIRECTED BY NANCY NEI

Cast Size: 3 (Flexible Casting)

Note: Ages are approximate. The play is intentionally flexible, and actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition.

Male | 30s

The protagonist and narrator. Brilliant, charismatic, ambitious, and hilariously self-aware, Steven appears to have everything figured out—a successful theatre career, a loving marriage, and endless potential. Underneath, however, he's battling severe alcoholism while convincing himself he has everything under control. The role demands exceptional storytelling ability, emotional vulnerability, and sharp comedic instincts. Steven spends much of the play speaking directly to the audience, carrying them through moments of outrageous humor and heartbreaking honesty. 

Any Gender | Any Age

A theatrical chameleon who helps Steven tell his story by portraying the many women in his life—including his wife, mother, therapists, coworkers, doctors, and fellow AA members—as well as serving as a narrator, conscience, and scene partner. Requires strong physical comedy, quick character transitions, and the ability to move seamlessly between humor and compassion. The actor should be comfortable creating numerous distinct personalities with minimal costume changes. 

Any Gender | Any Age

An equally versatile performer who portrays the many men in Steven's life—including his father, friends, bosses, bartenders, sponsors, doctors, and fellow recovering alcoholics. This actor also functions as a narrator and storyteller, helping create the world around Steven through rapid-fire transformations. Strong improvisational instincts, comedic timing, and emotional range are essential. 

BY JOHN AUGUST & ANDREW LIPPA

DIRECTED BY KIM KRUEGER

Cast Size: Flexible (Large Ensemble)

Note: Ages are approximate. Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition. Many ensemble members portray multiple featured roles throughout the production. Strong singers, dancers, and actor-storytellers are encouraged to audition.

Male | 40s–60s

A larger-than-life traveling salesman whose incredible stories have become family legend. Charismatic, adventurous, witty, and endlessly optimistic, Edward lives life with boundless imagination and refuses to let reality limit his dreams. As illness forces him to confront his mortality, Edward must find a way to connect with his son beyond the stories. Requires a commanding stage presence, warmth, humor, and deep emotional vulnerability.

Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor (G2–G4)

Male | Late 20s–40s

Edward's son. Practical, intelligent, and grounded in reality, Will has spent his life questioning where the stories end and the truth begins. Preparing to become a father himself, he struggles to reconcile his frustration with his admiration for Edward. A deeply emotional role requiring sincerity and strong dramatic acting.

Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor (B2–G4)

Female | 40s–60s

Edward's devoted wife and Will's mother. Warm, compassionate, and fiercely loving, Sandra sees the extraordinary man behind Edward's tall tales. She is the emotional heart of the family, balancing strength with tenderness.

Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano (G3–D5)

Female | Late 20s–40s

Will's wife. Smart, patient, and supportive, Josephine serves as the bridge between father and son while preparing to welcome their first child. A grounded and empathetic presence.

Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano (A3–E5)

Any Gender | Ages 8+

The ensemble is the heart of Big Fish, bringing Edward Bloom's extraordinary stories to life through dozens of memorable characters. Ensemble members may portray Young Edward, Karl the Giant, Amos Calloway, The Witch, Jenny Hill, Don Price, Zacky Price, Young Will, circus performers, mermaids, soldiers, university students, doctors, Alabama townspeople, wedding guests, and many more. Strong singers, expressive movers, and versatile actors who enjoy creating bold, imaginative characters will thrive in this production. Many ensemble members will play multiple featured roles throughout the show, making flexibility, creativity, and strong storytelling skills essential.

BY KEN LUDWIG

DIRECTED BY MICHELLE MANK

Cast Size: 2 (1 Woman, 1 Man)

Note: Ages are approximate. Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition.

Male | Late 20s–30s

An Army doctor stationed in Oregon during World War II. Intelligent, witty, optimistic, and deeply compassionate, Jack begins an unexpected correspondence with a woman he's never met. Though practical by nature, he slowly discovers the courage to be vulnerable as their letters evolve into a profound love story. The role requires strong comedic timing, emotional honesty, and the ability to create an intimate connection with both Louise and the audience.

Female | Mid 20s–30s

An aspiring actress and dancer living in New York City during World War II. Bright, independent, spirited, and endlessly resilient, Louise dreams of a life in the theatre while navigating the uncertainty of wartime. Her warmth, humor, and optimism shine through her letters, even in difficult moments. This role calls for a performer with charm, emotional depth, and the ability to balance lighthearted wit with heartfelt sincerity.

BY SARAH GORDON

DIRECTED BY KIM KRUEGER

Cast Size: 4 (3 Women, 1 Man, 4-6 Male or Female Ensemble)

Note: Ages are approximate. Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition. This play blends historical drama with sharp contemporary humor, requiring performers who are comfortable breaking the fourth wall and balancing comedy with genuine emotional depth.

Female | Early 20s–30s

The youngest—and often overlooked—Brontë sister. Intelligent, quietly confident, witty, and deeply compassionate, Anne is determined to step out from the shadow of her famous siblings and claim her own place in literary history. Though less outwardly dramatic than Charlotte or Emily, Anne possesses remarkable resilience and moral conviction. The role requires warmth, subtle comedic timing, and emotional honesty.

Female | Mid 20s–30s

The eldest surviving Brontë sister and the fiercely ambitious author of Jane Eyre. Practical, driven, protective, and often convinced she knows what's best, Charlotte struggles to reconcile her love for her sisters with her desire for literary success. A role that balances commanding authority with humor and vulnerability.

Female | Early 20s–30s

The enigmatic author of Wuthering Heights. Independent, fiercely imaginative, and wonderfully eccentric, Emily is happiest on the Yorkshire moors or lost in her own creative world. Though often quiet, she possesses a dry wit and unwavering loyalty to her family. Requires strong physical and emotional storytelling.

Male | 40s–70s

The Brontë family patriarch, along with several additional supporting characters throughout the play. Patrick is loving, opinionated, and occasionally oblivious to the inner lives of his daughters. 

3 Male | 1 Any gender

To play multiple speaking roles throughout the play. These actors should enjoy transforming into multiple distinct personalities with humor, versatility, and theatrical flair.

BY RICHARD SCHENKMAN

DIRECTED BY MIKEY WINN

Cast Size: 8 (5 Men, 3 Women)

Note: Ages are approximate. Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition. This dialogue-driven play relies on strong ensemble acting, nuanced performances, and the ability to engage audiences through thoughtful conversation rather than action. Performers should be comfortable tackling complex philosophical, historical, and emotional themes.

Male | Appears 35–45

A quiet, intelligent history professor preparing to leave town after ten years. Calm, thoughtful, and disarmingly humble, John reveals an extraordinary secret that challenges everything his colleagues believe about history, science, religion, and humanity. The role requires remarkable emotional restraint, subtle charisma, and the ability to command attention through sincerity rather than theatrics.

Male | 50s–70s

An anthropology professor and John's closest friend. Kind, curious, and open-minded, Dan approaches John's unbelievable story with empathy and wonder. A grounded, compassionate presence who often serves as the emotional center of the group.

Male | 40s–60s

A biology professor. Analytical, skeptical, and quick-witted, Harry demands evidence before accepting extraordinary claims. Though often humorous, he is deeply committed to scientific reasoning and intellectual honesty.

Male | 50s–70s

An archaeologist with a dry sense of humor and decades of academic experience. Initially amused by John's story, Art gradually finds himself questioning long-held assumptions. Warm, intelligent, and thoughtful.

Female | 50s–70s

An art historian with a sharp intellect and a compassionate heart. Edith approaches John's revelation with curiosity and emotional sensitivity, often acting as a calming influence during heated discussions.

Female | 30s–50s

A history professor and John's close friend. Warm, perceptive, and quietly in love with John, Sandy struggles to reconcile her feelings with the possibility that everything he says could be true. Requires emotional depth and understated vulnerability.

Female | 20s–40s

A graduate student studying psychology. Bright, inquisitive, and eager to understand human behavior, Linda observes the unfolding conversation with curiosity before becoming emotionally invested herself.

Male | 60s–80s

A deeply respected Christian theologian whose faith is challenged by John's extraordinary claims. Brilliant, passionate, and emotionally invested, Will experiences the greatest personal stakes as the evening unfolds. One of the play's most demanding roles, requiring exceptional dramatic range and emotional intensity.