Obsidian Theatre Fesitval 2024 Casting Call - Ghostlight - Ghostlight Creative Productions Incorporated

The Obsidian Theatre Festival centers Black stories, through an invigorating celebration of new work by emerging Black voices. Produced by Detroiters in the city of Detroit, the Obsidian Theatre Festival illuminates the rich diversity of experiences relevant to the African diaspora.



We have just completed our 4th annual call for submissions, and will be announcing the season shortly. We will be casting from this call’s submissions. Selected content will be staged, rehearsed, produced, filmed and made available for virtual viewing as part of a four-day festival in Detroit, from June 27 - 30, 2024. Pieces will be presented for live theatre audiences as filmed stage productions and streamed several weeks later, making the work accessible to a national and global audience.



Candidates within close proximity to the Detroit Metro area are strongly preferred.



Please note, we are possibly having an in person audition that auditionees can opt to attend. Please check out our website and socials for possible information.



The Obsidian Theatre Festival will be presented in 3 parts:



OTF Main Stage:

Featuring four full-length plays that examine the diversity of the black experience.



Musical Theatre Showcase:

A staged reading of a new musical, highlighting an important step in the development of new work.



Obsidian Cabaret:

Featuring nationally renowned artists in an intimate evening of music and storytelling.



SUBMISSION

Please click on the link below for the Submission Form and instructions on what to submit.

https://bit.ly/cast-otf24



DEADLINE

Please submit by Tuesday, February, 20th at 11:59pm EST



AUDITION LOCATION

Callbacks will be held via Zoom beginning March 15th.



REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCES

Rehearsals & Live Performances will be in Detroit, MI and culminate in streaming virtual productions.



CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

OTF Main Stage

BLACK SANTA by Aaron Mays:

*PATRICE PATTERSON: Mid-30s to early 40s, female identifying, Black. A third-grade teacher.

*PRINCIPAL SYLVIA WARD: Mid-40s, female identifying. Interim headmaster of Dartmouth Day School.

*GABRIEL SPENCER: Mid to late 20s, Bi-racial (of Middle Eastern descent but racially ambiguous). An art teacher.

*FRANK: Early 40s, male identifying. A seventh-grade teacher.

*SYDNEY: Early 30s, female identifying. A kindergarten teacher.

*JOHNNIE LEE PATTERSON: Mid-60s, male identifying, Black. Patrice’s dad.



CROOKED PARTS by Azure D. Osborne-Lee:

*WINIFRED “WINNIE” CLARK (1995): 12 years old, female identifying, Black. Experiencing upheaval for the first time in her life.

*ANGELA CLARK/REPORTER: 30’s or early 40s, female identifying. Winifred’s mother. Expresses love for her family through acts of service.

*STEPHEN CLARK/FAN (1995): 8 years old, male identifying. Winifred’s brother, he loves to annoy his older sibling and fancies himself a cowboy.

*MICHAEL CLARK/FAN 1: Late 30’s or early 40’s, male identifying. Winifred’s father, an engineer.

*FREDDY CLARK (2013): Late 20’s, pre-op transman, Black. A writer going through a big breakup.

*STEPHEN CLARK (2013): Mid 20’s, male identifying. Freddy’s brother, life takes away his horse but not his white hat.



GOLDEN LOC by Prentiss Matthews:

*AZIZA WILLIAMS (ZIA) [ZEE-YA]: 10 years old, female identifying, Black. Beautiful dark-skinned child with locs in her hair.

*MAMA/OSHUN [OH-SHOON]: Female identifying, Black. The mother of Zia. She’s kindhearted and a devoting mom. Later in the show she transforms into Oshun the mother goddess of the river.

*QUEEN ZARI [ZAH-REE]: Female identifying, Black. The Queen guardian fairy of the Aziza Queendom. She’s fierce, bold, and a guarded soul.

*EMBER [EHM-BURR]: Female identifying, Black. A Fire fairy. She’s feisty and guarded but has her reasons.

*AMINA [AH-ME-NAH]: Female identifying, Black. A water fairy. She’s wise, empathetic, and kind.

*AIRIANNA [AIR-EE-AH-NAH] or AIR-REE (Nickname)/LITTLE GIRL: Female identifying, Black. A wind fairy. She’s whimsical, fun, and goes with the flow. Airianna doubles as LITTLE GIRL (NON-Speaking Role) who pantomimes her feelings. This character represents a past ancestor from Zia’s Blood Line.)

*AYANNA [AY-YAH-NAH]/LITTLE GOLDEN FAIRY: Female identifying, Black. A plant fairy. A grounded character that sees the beauty in nature. Ayanna doubles as LITTLE GOLDEN FAIRY (NON-Speaking Role) who pantomimes her feelings. This character represents the younger version of Queen Zari’s younger self.



THE SISTERS GREY by Lori Roper

*VICTORIA: Mid 30’s to mid 40’s, female identifying, Black. Well-healed, intellectual, direct, sophisticated.

*SANDRA: 60’s, female identifying, Black. Victoria's mother, a peacemaker and traditionalist. A high-profile museum curator.

*DWIGHT: 60’s, male identifying, Black. Victoria’s father, the dry scotch-drinking skeptic. The head of the history program at a prominent university.

*REBEKAH: Mid 30’s to mid 40’s, female identifying, White, Jewish. Wealthy, eco-conscious. Practitioner of expensive Whole Foods spirituality.

*RUTH/BUBBE ESTHER: 60’s, female identifying, White, Jewish. Protector of the status quo, always perfectly turned out in a pantsuit and pearls./Deceased, female, eastern European.

*BABATUNDE: Late 20’s to early 40s, male identifying, Black, Nigerian. Nationalistic Nigerian, outwardly friendly and condescending.



Musical Theatre Showcase:

TI’MON Book & Lyrics by Ashlee K. Thomas Music by Ziyan Yang



*TI’MON: Tenor: C3 - Ab4, bright and youthful sound; 8 years old, Son of Tita. His first month of being reunited with his mother. She left him in France with his uncle at the age of 3 to save up for him to join her in the United States. Ti’mon stutters when talking with Tita. His stutter disappears when talking to Eshleem.

*ESHLEEM: Lyric Soprano: C4 - B5, bright and crisp voice; 8 yrs old. Ti’mon’s doll and imaginary best friend. They have been through thick and thin. With her help he has been able to survive homelessness in France. Eshleem wears an eye patch & walks with a limp - a bandage is tied on her leg.

*TITA: Mezzo Soprano: A3 - G5, mellow, soulful voice; 23 years old, Mother of Ti’mon. She left Haiti to make a new life for her family. First to France & then to the US. As the first one to make it to the states, she is required to save up money to send for her siblings and her son.



TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OTF Main Stage

*Main Stage Orientation: May 20th

*Virtual Rehearsal: Begins May 20th

*In Person Rehearsal: Begins May 28th

*Tech: June 17th-21st

(Please note, each show will have one full day of tech on one of these days. Your assigned day of tech rehearsal will be a full day commitment)

*Performances: June 27th - 30th



MT Showcase

*MT Showcase Virtual Orientation: June 9th

*In Person Rehearsal: Begins June 10th

*Tech: TBD

*Performances: June 27th - 30th



COMPENSATION

Main Stage & MT Showcase - Weekly Fee: $350



The Obsidian Festival accepts applicants of every identity and does not discriminate on the basis of identity, including but not limited to: race, creed, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, religion, HIV serostatus, disability, height, weight, veteran status, marital status, or economic class.

If you have any questions, please email us at casting@ghostlightinc.com


Salary: $350/week