New Year, New Works
This January Parade will be presenting three original works written by local queer artists. We welcome people of all experience levels to audition to be a part of this new works festival. Rehearsals will be dependent on actors’ availability. Actors will receive a stipend at the end of the show’s run dependent on ticket sales.
Audition Information
Auditions will be held at Parade November 7th and 8th 12pm-2pm. We will be accepting self-tapes from anyone who is unable to make it in person. Auditions will consist of readings from the script. New Year, New Works Audition Sides Three tables will be set up for actors to read for each casting team. The form for auditions is available here. If you have any questions, please email Parade’s artistic director Ellis Quinne at equinne@jointheparade.com
Shows:
ROMANCE IS DEAD
Written by Mary Beringer
Directed by Regan Monigan
Performances January 13,14,16,17
Two friends are afraid of getting caught hooking up on a group trip, so they convince everyone that there is a ghost haunting the cabin they’re staying in, moaning and banging around.
4 actors
- QUINN: 20s-30s. Always has a plan and fears rocking the boat. Works in insurance but secretly dreams of becoming an artist.
- THEO: 20s-30s. A mischievous rebel. Works as a bartender and plays guitar in a band. River’s younger sibling.
- RIVER: 20s-30s. Just married. Highly superstitious and quite gullible. Very protective of their loved ones.
- BLAKE: 20s-30s. Just married. Very skeptical and a bit uncool. Focused on business, logic, and reason.
**NOTE: All roles can be played by anyone of any race or gender. Pronouns may be modified to reflect casting. The playwright encourages directors to consider the positive impact of depicting queer and interracial relationships onstage.**
DR. AMERICA
Written by Victoria Dickman-Burnett
Directed by Liz Carmen
Performances January 20,21,23,24
Dr. America is a comedic satire that imagines an academic beauty pageant for tenure track jobs. During the pageant, the contestants decide to unionize and bring down the pageant system. between an hour and 75 minutes.
5-6 actors
- DR. COLUMBUS: (she/her, 20s-30s, any race. A scholar of women in business. A polished pageant competitor who believes in the system).
- DR. CLEVELAND: (she/her, 20s-30s, any race. A continental philosopher who is skeptical of the pageant system. Slightly awkward in a charming way)
- DR. CINCINNATI (she/her, 20s-30s, any race. A sociologist who studies labor and community organizing who is critical of the pageant system. Not trying very hard to fit in. Must be comfortable singing a couple verses of a folk song–doesn’t have to be trained in musical theatre, just has to be comfortable)
- DR. ATHENS: (they/she, 20s-30s, any race. A scholar of gender and sexuality who presents as a polished pageant competitor. They are actively trying to bring down the pageant system, but trying to do so on the widest possible stage)
- ANNOUNCER: (any age, pronouns unknown, any race. Unseen during the pageant. Could be Pyrrhus AI (in the context of the show, I’m not suggesting we have AI play the role, obviously).
- DR. NORWOOD: (she/her, 20-30s, white. An opportunist who loves the pageant system).
Additional notes: Dr. Athens should be played by a nonbinary actor. Dr. Columbus can be played by an actor of any race, but as she is the character closest to the status quo of the pageant system other than Dr. Norwood, she should not be the only character played by an actor of color. All other characters can be played by cis or trans women or played in drag/gender bent. Dr. Norwood and the Announcer can be doubled if you pre-record like two of the Announcers lines.
ERYS SICHTHON
Written by Lina Keys
Directed by Faith Vonhandorf
Performances January 27,28,30,31
Adapted from the Greek myth of Erysichthon of Thessaly, ERYS SICHTHON follows the cursed consequences of a greedy, corrupt businessman (Erys) cutting down a tree belonging to Demeter, an herbalist shop owner. What Erys doesn’t realize is that Demeter would do anything for the spirits of the forest. Cast of 7, approx. 45 minutes, myth adaptation with a modern political edge.
7 actors (all in drag)
- ERYS SICHTHON: (Masc.) A greedy, underhanded business mogul. He views himself as the king of anything and everything he can see, and believes money to be the most important thing about a person. In his mind, everything should benefit him directly, or else it may as well not happen. Continues to want more, even when he has it all. His mindset is all the more enforced by his henchmen, who act on his every demand. Can be played in or out of drag. Actor must be able to balance carelessness with bitterness well.
- HENCHMAN 1/HENRY: (Masc.) The more seasoned of Erys’s two henchmen. He sees working for him as any office worker may view their day job – A grueling task to be completed to put bread on the table. On the outside, though, he is a constant yes-man to Erys, in order to stay in his good graces for the stability of his job. Fond of Wilford. Can be played in or out of drag.
- HENCHMAN 2/WILFORD: (Masc.) The more impulsive of Erys’s two henchmen. He wants to think that he’s doing some form of good by working for him, but feels deep down that this may be wrong. Lacks community, and seeks it in Erys (who he grew up looking up to) and Henry, thus also acting as a yes-man for Erys’s every whim. Can be played in or out of drag.
- DEMETER: (Fem – Drag) The guardian of the nymphs/dryads and the owner and operator of The House of Demeter, an herbalist shop. Generous, caring, and more powerful than meets the eye. Would do anything for her dryads. To be played by a performer of color in feminine drag. Actor must be able to balance gentleness and assertiveness.
- ACACIA: (Fem.) The toughest of the nymphs, she sees her family as her responsibility to defend and protect. Prides herself in her strength and in being someone others can lean on. Prone to anger in response to pain. Can be played in or out of drag.
- CHERRY: (Fem.) The most cheerful of the nymphs, she sees the best in things (although this mindset flips on its head in response to grief). Tries her best to make others happy, whether that’s by giving them gifts or a hand with whatever they’re doing. Can be played in or out of drag.
- WILLOW: (Fem.) The quietest and most analytical of the nymphs, she works efficiently, gracefully, and seamlessly. She is an expert dancer and generally very happy, despite her somewhat ‘gloomy’ demeanor. Does not speak as WILLOW for the majority of the show, but Doubles as the NARRATOR! The one regaling this story. Starts off like any storyteller, but over time shows more and more resentment for Erys. Speaks only in rhyme. Actor must be good at holding an audience’s attention during long bouts of speaking. Can be played in or out of drag.
