Tag Archives: CenterStage Players of Ohio

CenterStage Players is excited to announce auditions for our spring production of DOG SEES GOD – Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead written by Bert V. Royal

SHOW SYNOPSIS:  An “unauthorized continuation,” the play reimagines characters from the comic strip Peanuts as degenerate teenagers. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, sexual relations and identity are among the issues covered in this homage at the works of Charles M. Schulz.  When his beloved beagle is destroyed after a rabid rampage, CB is plunged into such a depression that a literal raincloud starts to follow him around. Suddenly introspective and concerned with the afterlife, he is no longer satisfied with his high school status as a good-looking bully. Writing without hope to a childhood pen pal who has never written back, CB confesses his doubts and fears, and describes his daily interactions with his community: his angst-ridden performance artist sister, aggressive buddy Matt, mean girls Marcy and Tricia, and stoned philosopher Van. When he unexpectedly connects with Beethoven, a childhood friend who had become a target of his group’s homophobic bullying, CB thinks he’s found both a relationship and a means to rebel against his predictable, doormat persona… but he may have to lose everything to gain peace of mind. Sex, drugs, bullying, mental illness, toxic friendships, and dead dogs. are not the first things which come to mind when we think about the children of Charles Schultz’s iconic comic strip, but Bert V. Royal’s Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is genuine and genuinely moving update for the “Peanuts” gang. a heartfelt comedic drama and strong ensemble piece which explores the challenges of high school, and growing up.

AUDITION LOCATION:  Dunham Center for the Arts – 1945 Dunham Way – Cincinnati, OH

AUDITION DATES:  Monday and Tuesday, January 13 and 14 from 7:00-9:00 each evening.  Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.  Please use the link to the Sign-Up Genius below to secure your audition time.  Walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available.  Please bring a headshot, resume, and list of conflicts from February through May.

Sign up for an audition slot using the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA8AF29A1F85-53610564-dogsees

SHOW DATES:  Friday and Saturday, May 16 & 17 (7:30 PM)  Sunday, May 18 (2:00 PM)  Thursday-Saturday, May 22-24 (7:30 PM)

All performances will be held at the 8 North Center for the Arts – 8 N. Ft. Thomas Avenue – Ft. Thomas, KY

CONTENT WARNING:

Even though it is comedic, Dog Sees God engages mature topics and explicit language surrounding suicide, bullying, eating disorders, loss, sexuality, substance abuse, and homophobia.  

Please make sure to check in with your mental health before auditioning, as there are many potential triggers in this script. We will take good care of you, but the story we are serving does touch on the above-mentioned themes and includes bullying slurs and behaviors.  

ROLES AVAILABLE (no roles have been pre-cast):

• CB (Charlie Brown) is the main character in the play. He is intensely saddened over the death of his dog, and is forced to question both his sexuality and his social status when he unwittingly falls for his classmate Beethoven.
• Beethoven (Schroeder) became the school outcast prior to events in the play. A bit of a recluse, Beethoven takes solace in playing the piano, but when he and CB become romantically involved, his world is turned upside down.
• CB’s Sister (Sally) has gone Goth, at least for a portion of the play. It is mentioned that, like her character basis, she changes her philosophy on life often.
• Van (Linus), always the philosopher in childhood, is now a pothead with a worldview to match.
• Matt (Pig-Pen) is a pathological germophobe whose dirtiness has been internalized – he is sex-obsessed, homophobic, and terrorizes Beethoven mercilessly. He is CB’s best friend.
• Tricia (Peppermint Patty), a party girl, who professes herself to be “pretty” and “popular”.
• Marcy (Marcie), a party girl and Tricia’s sidekick. She has a threesome with Tricia and Matt during the play.
• Van’s Sister (Lucy) has been institutionalized for setting the Little Red-Haired Girl’s hair on fire.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact any of the following:

• Parker Culp (Director) – pmculp01@gmail.com
• Mark Culp (Producer) – markcandjanec@gmail.com

CenterStage Players announces auditions for their early spring production of ‘Doubt, A Parable’ written by John Patrick Shanley.

‘Doubt, A Parable’ is a pulitzer prize winner and also won the Tony Award for Best Play. In this brilliant and powerful drama, Sister Aloysius, a Bronx school principal, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students.

Audition Dates: Sunday, Nov. 10th and Monday, Nov. 11 (7:00-9:00 PM each evening)

Audition Location: Evendale Cultural Arts Center – 10428 Reading Road – Evendale, OH. Located at the corner of Glendale-Milford Road and Reading Road, you can only enter via the eastbound lane of Reading Road. Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building. There will be signage to direct you to the Hearth Room. Enter the building via the lower left door. The door code is 45241.

Show Dates: Friday & Saturday, Feb. 21-22 (7:30 PM)
Sunday, Feb. 23 (2:00 PM)
Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 27-March 1 (7:30 PM)

All Performances will be held at the Bell Tower Arts Pavilion (3270 Glendale-Milford Road in Evendale)

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. No advance appointment is necessary and all walk-ins will be accommodated. We encourage actors of any ethnicity, identity, and ability to audition for any role. If the script requires strict adherence to any characteristic(s), those will be listed in the character description.

Cast of Characters:

• Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Female Presenting, Age 50s/60s) – Principal of St. Nicholas School, she stands as a bastion of traditional Catholic education. As a strict disciplinarian, she is unwavering in her commitment to the conservative ways of the church, believing firmly in the power of rigorous academic and moral instruction. Unsparing and by-the-book, Sister Aloysius enforces the rules with an unsentimental hand, ensuring that her school upholds the values she holds sacred. Driven by an unyielding sense of duty, she is a formidable educator who will not budge on her convictions.
• Father Brendan Flynn (Male Presenting, Age 30s/40s) – A warm and affable priest with a working-class background, he is cherished for his commitment to good works at St. Nicholas Church. Articulate and personable, he embodies a youthful yet wise spirit, advocating for a progressive Catholic Church that connects empathetically with the general public. Emphasizing closeness over distance, Father Flynn engages warmly with his parishioners, guiding them with a gentle hand as he aspires to make faith a relatable and living experience.
• Sister James (White, Female Presenting, Age 20s) – A youthful nun and an enthusiastic educator at the St. Nicholas School, Sister James embodies both innocence and an unwavering commitment to her faith. Her heart radiates warmth, drawing students to confide in her. Though her tender-hearted nature makes her easily swayed, life’s harsh realities compel her to confront difficult decisions. Her journey is one of balancing her innate kindness with the complexities of the world.
• Mrs. Muller (Black or Black/Mixed, Female Presenting, Age 30s/40s) – A composed strict, working-class mother who is fiercely dedicated to her, Donald. Caught in a heart-wrenching tug-of-war between ensuring her son’s current safety and not jeopardizing his educational prospects, she exemplifies the tenacity and complex sacrifices inherent in motherhood.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact any of the following:
Sarah Hoback Rogers (Director) – sarahhoback@gmail.com
Dane Rogers (Director) – danerogers1@gmail.com
Gregory Carl Smith (Producer) – eerf99@aol.com

CenterStage Players is excited to announce auditions for our next production: SHOCK! – The Spine-Tingling Tale of Miss Spidra.

Show Synopsis: Her fans never knew Joyce Billings. To them, she was Miss Spidra, campy host of ‘The Night Parlor’, Toledo’s midnight horror movie show. Starting as a struggling actress trying to make her mark, Joyce finds herself becoming an icon, a celebrity. But her efforts to keep her beloved show alive cost her mfansore than she could have guessed. Framed against a documentary about her life, Miss Spidra’s journey through the monster craze of the 60s asks what lines one will cross to succeed.

This production will be directed by Trisha Cooper and will begin rehearsals in October. The show will play January 10-18, 2025 at the Arts Center at Dunham (1945 Dunham Way – Cincinnati).

Auditions will be held on October 7 & 9 at the same location and will consist of cold readings from the script.

Please use the following link to secure your audition slot:
www.signuhttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA8AF29A1F85-51483491-shock#/pgenius.com/…/10C094DA8AF29A1F85…

Roles Available:

• Joyce Billings (aka Miss Spidra) – Female (20s-30s) – A Horror Host
• Ray Coslaw – Male (40s) – A television producer/director
• Lucy Lupnicki – Female (20s) – Miss Spidra’s sidekick
• Joyce 2 – Female (60s-80s) – Same person as Joyce Billings, just older. These two character will need to be believable as the same person.
• Interviewer – Male or Female (any age)
• John Oglesby – Male (30s+) – Elected Official (This role is only “on stage” via a video, so rehearsal time is limited and you do not need to be available for the show dates).