The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse
Produced by: Julie Zaffarano
Directed by: Natalie Payán
Stage Manager: Hope Smalley
Audition Date: Sunday, August 17
Callbacks by invitation only: Sunday, August 24
Virtual appointments are available for those who cannot attend auditions in person. Please select the virtual option on the audition form, and a link to an appointment calendar will be provided via email from the director by early August.
Performance Dates:
November 14 and 15 (7:30 PM)
November 21 and 22 (7:30 PM), 23 (2PM)
November 28 and 29 (7:30 PM)
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will typically be three days a week - Sunday, Tuesday evenings, with the 3rd day varying between Thursday evenings (most common) and Saturday - full list can be found on the audition form. Rehearsals begin September 7.
Tech Rehearsals: November 9 -13
Summary of Show
Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally woke teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.
Cast Breakdown/Requirements
All roles are open to performers aged 18 and older (seriously, no age cap!)
BIPOC actors who are white-passing will be considered for caucasian roles. BIPOC performers are strongly encouraged to audition for the school ensemble.
KEY:
* Role includes moments of staged intimacy
** Role includes moments of stage combat
*** Role includes moments of both staged intimacy and combat
LOGAN* – Female-presenting, caucasian looking. A fiercely passionate high school drama teacher who is constantly pushing boundaries—sometimes in questionable ways. Desperate to prove herself as both an artist and an ally, she uses theatre as her battleground for relevance and righteousness.
JAXTON*** – Male-presenting, caucasian looking. A charismatic actor, devoted yogi, and self-proclaimed “woke bro” who prides himself on his awareness of social issues—sometimes to the point of absurdity. He radiates confidence, speaks in TED Talk cadences, and is always ready with a quote, a stretch, or a problematic insight disguised as progressiveness.
ALICIA** – Female-presenting, brunette, white-passing but has looks that would’ve been ambiguously cast as "ethnic" in older films without specificity or accuracy. She is strikingly attractive, effortlessly sexy, and aware of the way others perceive her, though she doesn’t manipulate it consciously. The embodiment of the phrase “ignorance is bliss.”
CADEN** – Male-presenting, caucasian looking. A sincere and socially awkward elementary school history teacher with a deep reverence for facts, research, and structure. He harbors secret ambitions of being a playwright and theatre artist, but his dedication to accuracy and context makes him the most historically grounded and least theatrically equipped person in the room.
SCHOOL ENSEMBLE** - This ensemble will portray grade school children and perform scene interludes (including song and dance) that are part of the play’s structure. Think more about playful energy and comedic timing than technical polish - it's about channeling the spirit and quirks of young performers.
What do I need to prepare?
Primary Cast: Please prepare one comedic contemporary monologue (up to 2 minutes). In addition, you will be given a short excerpt from the script to read during the audition (memorization is not required). While we strongly encourage you to come prepared with a comedic monologue, not having one will not disqualify you—so please don’t let that discourage you from auditioning!
School Ensemble: Please prepare a 1min excerpt of a nursery rhyme (or similar style) with movement or dance that would be used for a youth performance - feel free to get creative or copy a video on the internet. Think more about playful energy and comedic timing than technical polish - it's about channeling the spirit and quirks of young performers. You do not have to be good at song and dance, have fun with your audition!
To register for an audition, use this link:
