Joy Clark and the cast of The Drowsy Chaperone. Photo by Mark S. Howard.
Lyric Back Stage – Audition Posting
Seeking: 4 non-union actors. The ensemble will be cast in two one-act plays, one for high school audiences and one for middle school audiences. These plays will be performed as part of Lyric Back Stage, an Education program introducing young people to design and production career paths in the performing arts. Most characters are written to be played by young actors of any race, orientation, or gender identity (unless otherwise specified) – characters’ pronouns will be updated to reflect the casting. Actors may not be currently enrolled undergraduate students.
Both plays are directed by Community & Artistic Programs Manager Alexandra Smith.
Senior Year Project by Fabiola Decius
A dramedy about a high school student who spent three years prioritizing athletics over academics and discovers on the first day of senior year that they may not be able to graduate. When they develop an unlikely friendship with their tutor, they grapple with whether it is possible to form an authentic relationship from such transactional origins. Think classic teen movies of the late 90s/early 00s.
Characters:
- Danny: A high school athlete/jock who spent the first three years of high school primarily focused on sports at the expense of academics and now may have to pay the price. Uses charm to avoid discomfort and vulnerability. Any gender.
- True: A studious valedictorian-to-be with a good heart. Loves helping people and has way more community service hours than required. A talented dancer. Plus-size female.
- Reese: True’s fashionable best friend who plans to attend Yale for law school and is already dressing and acting the part. This actor also plays Todd, a guidance counselor who is a chronic oversharer. Any gender.
- Jordan: Danny’s long-time friend. A comic book enthusiast who maaaaaaybe could be persuaded to re-join the school’s Book Club. This actor also plays Pitts, the encouraging school librarian who supports the Book Club. Any gender.
Envy & Hope by Kristen Palmer
A quasi-absurdist piece about a pair of digital workers, Jodi and Tres, who’ve been taught to think that all there is to life is earning “credits.” That is, until a mysterious person delivers a mysterious box, which grants them the opportunity to see the potential beyond. Will Jodi and Tres give in to the power of their imaginations? Dystopian sci-fi mixed with mythology and some physical comedy.
Characters:
- Jodi: A worker trying to make enough “credits” to get by. Curious about what else is out there and asking big questions but unwilling to take the steps needed to find the answers. There’s always new tasks to do, after all. Any gender.
- Tres: A worker trying to make enough “credits” to get by. Curious about what else is out there and asking big questions, but seeking the answers has gotten them in trouble before. Eager and excitable. Any gender.
- EZ: A delivery driver who’s always had a knack for delivering just the right box to just the right place at just the right time but now fears they may be losing their touch. Any gender.
- Zeb: Director of this sector, aka the one in charge around here. Smooth and charming. Any gender.
Schedule
Senior Year Project
- Rehearsals: September 22-October 12, 2025 (20 hours per week, generally M-Th between 10am-5pm)
- Tech: Monday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 14 (daytime)
- Performances, all at 10am: October 15-16, October 21-23
Envy & Hope
- Rehearsals: December 27, 2025-January 18, 2026 (20 hours per week, generally M-Th between 10am-5pm, except for week 1 which will be Sa, Su, M, Tu due to the holiday)
- Tech: Monday, January 19 and Tuesday, January 20 (daytime)
- School Performances, all at 10am: January 21-22, January 27-29
- Additional Performance: Saturday, January 24, exact time TBD
Rehearsals will be paid at a rate of $22/hr. Performances will be paid a fee of $100 per performance, with time on-site at the theatre estimated at 2.5-4 hours per performance.Please submit a headshot and resume, summary of any movement/dance experience, and a self-tape of a contemporary monologue via Google Form by Friday, August 22. In-person callbacks, if needed, will be held on Friday, August 29.