This is an open invitation from The Contemporary to submit for our 2024-2025 Season. The Contemporary is seeking Equity and non-Equity actors for our upcoming season.
The Contemporary’s vision is to become a nationally recognized, anti-racist contemporary theatre company, anchoring a thriving Columbus theatre ecosystem in an empathetic, equitable world. Our purpose is to harness the transformational power of theatre that engages with our current moment to inspire a community of empathy.
Rehearsals: August 20 – Sept 11, 2024
Performances: Previews Sept 12 & 13; Opens Sept 14 – Closes Sept 29, 2024
Rehearsals: Oct 8 – Oct 30, 2024
Performances: Previews Oct 31 & Nov 1; Opens Nov 2 – Closes Nov 17 2024
Rehearsals: Feb 11 – Mar 5 2025
Performances: Previews Mar 6 & 7; Opens March 8 – Closes March 23 2024
Rehearsals: April 1 – April 23, 2025
Performances: Previews Apr 24 & 25; Opens April 26 – Closes May 11, 2025
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and book by John August
Directed by Leda Hoffmann
Rehearsals: August 20 – Sept 11, 2024
Performances: Previews Sept 12 & 13; Opens Sept 14 – Closes Sept 29, 2024
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
- EDWARD BLOOM (he/him), 30s to 50s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: G2 – G4
A salesman who is selling himself. Charismatic storyteller. Ranges from a young kid to an older man fighting cancer.
- SANDRA BLOOM (she/her), 30s to 50s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: G3 – E5.
Loving and sympathetic. Wife to Edward and mother to Will. Ranges from a teenager to a mother of an adult son.
- WILL BLOOM (he/him), 20s/30s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: C#3 – G4.
Practical and earnest. Seeking reconnection with his father.
- JOSEPHINE BLOOM (she/her), 20s/30s, any ethnicity.
Successful and intelligent. Married to Will.
- WITCH (she/her), any age, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: F3 – F5.
Charismatic, sees the future.
- DON PRICE (he/him), 20s to 30s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: C3 – F#4.
Ranges from an exasperating young kid, a college jock, to loyal town mayor.
- ZACKY PRICE (he/him), 20s to 30s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: G3 – F#4.
Don’s younger brother, looks up to and is loyal to him. Ranges from a young kid to an adult.
- JENNY HILL (she/her), 20s to 50s, any ethnicity. Mix/belt to E5.
Edward’s first love. Ranges from being a young dreamer, to an upfront and plain-spoken adult.
- KARL (he/him), 20s to 50s, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: A3 – D4.
An agoraphobic, quite tall or otherwise named, a giant. Outcast with intuitive wit.
- AMOS CALLOWAY (he/him), 30s – 60s, any ethnicity. C3 – F5.
Ringmaster of a circus, harbors a secret.
- YOUNG WILL (he/him), ages 7 – 12, any ethnicity. Vocal Range: F3 – C4.
Edward and Sandra’s son. Seeking connection.
- MERMAID (she/her), any age, any ethnicity.
The “Girl in the Water.” A strong dancer/mover.
- DR. BENNETT (any gender), 20s to 60s, any ethnicity.
Transparent and kind, and confidante to Edward.
By Eleanor Burgess
Rehearsals: Oct 8 – Oct 30 2024
Performances: Previews Oct 31 & Nov 1; Opens Nov 2 – Closes Nov 17 2024
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
- THE WIFE / HEATHER (she/her), 40s-60s, any ethnicity. An actor – passionate caretaker, wants her story genuinely understood.
- THE MISTRESS / VIOLET (she/her), late 20s-40s, any ethnicity. An actor – lives life on her terms, wants even more for herself.
- JIM (he/him), 30s – 60s, any ethnicity. The director.
By James Ijames
Directed by David J Glover
Rehearsals: Feb 11 – Mar 5 2025
Performances: Previews Mar 6 & 7; Opens March 8 – Closes March 23 2024
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
- JUICY (he/him) – is thicc. 20-21, Black. He’s beautiful. He is lonely. He is smart. A kind of Hamlet.
- TEDRA (she/her) – is Juicy’s mother. 45-50, Black. She is a good mother. A kind of Gertrude.
- REV (he/him) – is Tedra’s husband. 45-50, Black. Her dead ex-husband’s brother. PIg farmer and pit master. Electric. A kind of Claudius. Same actor as PAP.
- PAP (he/him) – is the ghost of Juicy’s father. Appears 45ish, Black. Was in prison for killing someone ‘cause their breath stank, ‘til he got shanked on the way to dinner. A kind of Hamlet’s Father. Same actor as REV.
- OPAL (she/her) – is one of Juicy’s only friends. 19-20, Black. She loves Juicy and worries about him. A kind of Ophelia.
- LARRY (he/him) – a boy that is attracted to Juicy. 21-23, Black. A marine. Trying to heal from PTSD. Has a secret. Awkward. A kind of Laertes.
- RABBY (she/her) – is Larry and Opal’s mother. 40-45, Black. Tedra’s friend. Semi-churchy but honestly she just wanna drink and praise the Lord. A kind of Polonius.
- TIO (he/him) – is clever. 20-40, Black or Afro-Latinx. Juicy’s cousin. Oldest friend. A kind of Horatio.
Music, Lyrics & Book by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Leda Hoffmann
Rehearsals: April 1 – April 23, 2025
Performances: Previews Apr 24 & 25; Opens April 26 – Closes May 11, 2025
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
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CATHERINE (she/her), 20s-30s, any ethnicity, Mezzo with a higher belt, F3 to D#5
An actress. Trying to find her place in the world. Her story is told in reverse chronological order.
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JAMIE (he/him), 20s – 30s, any ethnicity, Tenor, A2 to Bb4
A writer. Finding his place in the world. His story is told in chronological order.
Equity Auditions by Appointment with EMC & Non-Equity Walk Ins are on Friday April 26, 2024 and Saturday April 27, 2024 at the Riffe Center – 77 S High St.
- Friday April 26: 2 PM – 10 PM (NO accompanist available)
- Saturday April 27: 10 AM – 6 PM (accompanist available)
Equity Actors – email casting@thecontemporaryohio.org to secure an audition spot.
EMC & Non-Equity actors – auditions are first come first served. Check-in with the audition assistant when you arrive to sign up.
Non-Equity Auditions by Appointment are on Sunday April 28 at the Riffe Center – 77 S High St.
The Contemporary is unable to provide housing for out-of-town artists.
Instead of bringing a hardcopy headshot and resume, please share your information here.
Please be prepared to share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. You may also sing a brief cut from a selection of a musical theatre or a pop song if you wish. An accompanist will be provided on Saturday and on Sunday, please bring sheet music in a binder. There is no accompanist available on Friday; you are welcome to sing acapella or bring in a track.
Deadline: April 26, 2024, 10pm EST.
If you cannot attend in person, videos can be submitted via private video link (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive). Please share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. If you wish, you may also sing a brief cut from a selection of musical theatre or a pop song. Please submit your info and video here. Please note The Contemporary is unable to provide housing for out-of-town artists.
Callback information will be provided at a later date. You will be notified if you are called back. Please be sure to provide correct contact info on your headshot and resume so we can reach you.
On Friday, Parking at the Riffe Center Parking Garage is NOT available. Parking is available on the street or in the Statehouse Underground Parking Garage (for a fee). On Saturday, public parking is available in the Riffe Center Parking Garage, accessible from Front Street.
Please ignore signage for the Riffe Center Parking Garage that says “closed” or “full,” including any reserved signs on individual parking spaces. The garage is open and free to everyone after 6:00 pm, and during the day on weekends. If the gate is down, push the call button and say you are with The Contemporary.
We will meet you at the G2 elevator to escort you to the 4th floor where auditions will be held. Click here for additional information about parking at and near the Riffe Center.
Friday and Saturday are by appointment for AEA actors. AEA, EMC, and Non-Equity actors are also welcome to attend without an appointment. For more information, email casting@thecontemporaryohio.org
