Auditions

Directed by Karrie Waarala

 Audition Dates
Sunday, May 10 at 7pm & Monday, May 11 at 7pm
Callbacks if needed Wednesday, May 13 at 7pm
Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

 Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Please complete the online form prior to attending auditions if possible. Paper forms will also be available at auditions.

Performance Dates
August 13-22, 8 shows at the Riverside Arts Center:
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sunday 8/16 & Wednesday 8/19 matinees at 2pm

Synopsis
Based on a true story! The year is 1996 and a Southern theatre company has somehow obtained the rights to perform the award-winning theatrical epic Rapture In America. The play is due to open in 4 days, and citizens are so alarmed about the gay content, strong language, and brief male nudity that the entire city is in an uproar. A battle of wills, morals, the press, the church, the government, the arts, the law, the playwright, the police, and a one-winged angel armed with pepper spray ensues. And thanks to a disastrous live TV interview, the whole nation is watching to see if the show will indeed go on…

Content Warning
Like the play it is about, Southern Rapture contains strong language and brief, non-sexual male nudity. There is a single scene that contains brief, unarmed stage combat.

Characters
MARJORIE WINTHROP * – Artistic director of a theatre, passionate about her work, female-presenting, 40s (NOTE: Marjorie slips easily into a Southern accent when it is useful for her)

WINSTON PAXTON * – Mayor of the city with big ambitions, male-presenting, 50s (NOTE: Winston speaks with a Southern accent)

DONALD SHERMAN * – Producer of a theatre, believes any press is good press, male-presenting, 40s (NOTE: Donald is involved in a brief bit of unarmed stage combat)

ALLISSA MARQUAND – Esteemed society type, on every nonprofit board, female-presenting

NYLA-JEAN GEISY – Actor, opinionated, female-presenting (NOTE: Nyla-Jean speaks with a strong Southern accent, is involved in a brief bit of unarmed stage combat, and performs very briefly on roller skates)

MICKEY STEDMAN – Actor, earnest, male (NOTE: Mickey appears on stage fully nude for a few seconds)

EMMETT WHIPPLE – Actor, well-intentioned, but not the brightest, male-presenting (NOTE: Emmett is onstage with Mickey during his brief nudity)

SIMON LARISHER – Theatre critic, good at twisting quotes for attention-grabbing headlines, male-presenting (NOTE: Simon is involved in a brief bit of unarmed stage combat)

REVEREND DUPREE – Preacher, fiery and concerned for his flock, male-presenting (NOTE: DuPree speaks with a Southern accent)

LAVERNE JACKSON – Concerned citizen, prim and at every city meeting, female-presenting (NOTE: Ironically, Laverne has some of the coarsest language of the play)

PAM – Stage manager of a theatre, quietly capable, female-presenting (NOTE: Pam is involved in a brief bit of unarmed stage combat)

CLARICE PAXTON – Mayor’s wife, fiercely supportive of her husband’s ambitions, female-presenting (NOTE: Clarice speaks with a Southern accent)

FRANKLIN MCMANUS – Old-timey lawyer full of obscure Southern expressions, male-presenting (NOTE: Franklin speaks with a strong Southern accent)

JULIA OVERMYER – District attorney, formidable, female-presenting

ANTON FINEWITZ – Award-winning playwright, bookish and cynical, male-presenting (NOTE: Anton is involved in a brief bit of unarmed stage combat)

NIGHTLINE HOST – National TV host, stereotypical talking head, male-presenting

* Except for these three, actors will likely be assigned multiple roles to play

In reference to character descriptions: We will list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities and encourage actors of all types to audition. Additionally, most characters we encounter currently are on the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns and you will see that in the descriptions. However, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. Also, we will list disability when specific to a character but are otherwise seeking actors with disabilities as well as non-disabled actors for all roles.

Southern Rapture is produced by special arrangement with THE GERSH AGENCY, 9465 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 600, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212