Basil Biggs Project - Art Philly.
@ The Wilma Theater
Union and Non-Union Talent, Paid
A period piece with over 15 principal roles, all ages!
“The Basil Biggs Project” traces the life of prominent Battle of Gettysburg figure, Basil Biggs. Script written by renowned actress and playwright, Anna Deveare Smith and directed by Broadway director, Leonard Foglia.
NOTE: Actors must be Philadelphia based OR have roots in Philadelphia AND local accommodations in the Philadelphia area (not a "willingness to travel to Philadelphia and be a local hire").
This is a Concert Reading. NOT a full production.
Rehearsals begin June 2, 2026 in Philadelphia.
Tech Week - Week of June 22nd.
Shows begin June 25th and finish June 28th.
Location of Show: Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA
School aged children - Date commitments for June (aside from show dates) to be determined.
If you have already submitted for this project, no need to re-submit.
Seeking:
- PRINCIPAL ROLES
BASIL BIGGS Ages 23–53 Mixed race (white, black) A freeman and real person, currently commemorated for the work he did to restore Gettysburg after the 1863 civil war battle that took place there. Took the gruesome job of disinterring thousands of the Union dead from temporary graves and preparing them for reburial. A man with a strong moral core. A conductor on the underground railroad. Unable to read and write, but very articulate and successful, having learned much by listening, and possessing an entrepreneurial spirit. The actor playing Basil should ideally be in his 30’s - early 40s and have natural authority. $500 week, negotiable
MARY BIGGS Ages 23–53 Mixed race (white, black) Basil’s wife. Mary, free, uneducated. Having grown up in a household with a white doctor who owned her mother, she has a certain refinement. Kind, with a sense of humor. Occasionally speaks long passages of text with ease. $500 week, possibly negotiable
CALVIN BIGGS Teens to early 20s Mixed race (white, black) Basil’s oldest and least favored son. Charming, handsome, funny, yet complex. He attracts trouble. Classical training or equivalent experience. $500 week, possibly negotiable.
YOUNG CALVIN BIGGS 8-10 years old Young actor to play Calvin as a boy. Mixed race (white, black) $500 week, possibly negotiable. Date commitments for June (aside from show dates) to be determined.
LUCINDA 30–50 Black Intrepid, muscular, tall, thin. A farmhand, cook and midwife. An agent on the underground railroad and abolitionist activist. She was enslaved in South Carolina and escaped to the North with the help of Basil. She is fearless and clear eyed. Works for Biggs and lives in his house. $500 week, possibly negotiable
BENJAMIN BIDDLE 40s White, Quaker He is an abolitionist activist and friend of Basil. He is a man of great power and presence. An orator. Speaks long passages of text with ease. A baritone. Also plays SAM WEAVER. $500 week, possibly negotiable
NED BIDDLE 17–25 White, Quaker Benjamin’s son. Idealistic, abolitionist, not afraid to break the norms of the day. His attitudes are almost contemporary. He is the future. Classical training or equivalent. $500 week, possibly negotiable
JUPITER 20–30s Black Muscular, strong, plays the fiddle. A radical agent on the underground railroad, and spy for the Union army. (also, ensemble roles)
The actor must play the fiddle very well. This could be a musician that also acts. $500 week, possibly negotiable
MIGNON 21–26 She is Haitian black. A petite woman, fragile, innocent, pure. (also, ensemble roles). Vocal talent is key here as she is a singer. She speaks and sings a few lines in Hatian/French. There will be a dialect coach to assist. Please include demo(s) of singing with audition materials. $500 week, possibly negotiable
ANNA BUTLER Black, 20-25 Enters late in the play, a bit of an “11:00 number”, tenacious, street wise, sexy. (also, ensemble roles). This role may be double cast with MIGNON $500 week, possibly negotiable
HANNAH BIGGS Teens – early 20s Mixed race (black / white) Basil’s daughter. Light skinned enough to “pass”. Clear eyed, curious, solid, mature, charismatic. On the cusp of becoming a 19th century “new woman”, but in the course of the play doesn’t quite make it (but would she if the play ended a decade after it does). Classical training or equivalent. (also, ensemble roles) $500 week, possibly negotiable
CECELIA BIGGS, other roles Teens – early 20s Mixed race (white, black) Basil’s daughter. Light skinned, less interested in political matters than her sister Hannah. Charming, could be mistaken as shallow. Classical training or equivalent. (also, ensemble roles) $500 week, possibly negotiable
WILLIAM BIGGS 8-10 years old Mixed race (white, black) Basil’s youngest son, and his favorite. Old for his years. Also plays PRESCOTT $500 week, possibly negotiable. Date commitments for June (aside from show dates) to be determined.
JOSIAH, Black, plus other roles Late 30’s Daguerreotypist ((skilled photographer - does not need to have photography skills) an activist agent on the underground railroad. (also, ensemble roles) $500 week, possibly negotiable
SARAH Late 30s – early 40s White A Kentuckian, aristocratic in manner, widow of Confederate officer and mother of Union Infantryman. $500 week, possibly negotiable
Black males, 15 through 45 years of age with any of the following skill sets: tap dancers, fiddle player/violinist, harmonica players. $500 week, possibly negotiable
SUPPORTING: Young girl (8-10) to play three roles, Tibby, Amy and Mary Ella. $500 week. Date commitments for June (aside from show dates) to be determined.
