Strong Black Female Lead for Strange Fruit: The Hip-Hopera Short Musical Film (Non-Union) - House of Deborah Jane Studios / NABS International Productions

STORY: Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera is casting for a dynamic actress for the lead role of LASHELLE ROBINSON (age 25-45 to play 28-year-old). Looking for an African-American actress (preferably darker-skinned) who can sing Broadway style, rap (preferably), and move. Although this is a short musical film, we are looking for an actress with musical theater background. STORY: Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera is a an independent, out-of-pocket, hip-hop musical short film about racial reconciliation. Through rap, song, and dance, the story follows a modern day African-American Wall Street Executive, LASHELLE ROBINSON (28), who travels back in time to the Antebellum South to confront her slave ancestor, and lift an ancient curse off her family. She does all this to marry her white fiance, the love of her life. The story ties the past to the present through the powerful theme of Sankofa.



CHARACTER: LASHELLE ROBINSON (28): Uptight and ambitious African-American Wall Street executive (Michelle Obama type). She's accomplished, pragmatic, bougie, elegant, intelligent and extremely disconnected from her roots. She's in love with her white fiancé, Todd Decatur, whom she's known from highschool - and she wants nothing more than to marry him, the love of her life. She was never accepted by the black community, and has hit a glass ceiling in the white old boys club in the firm where she works -- even with a Yale MBA in corporate finance. Her journey back in time into slavery, is one of discovering her roots, family tree and cultural identity... especially when she comes face-to-face with her slave ancestor who shows her who she truly is.



PRODUCTION: Strange Fruit: The Hip-hopera was originally produced as an award-winning play at Stanford University. It is now being produced as a short film to be shot in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a completely independent, out-of-pocket, Non-Union project. It will be an approximately 2-week shoot in Atlanta. The Date TBA. The producers goal is to shoot in 2021. Actors will be provided with modest pay, lunch and reel. If the actress is not in ATL, she will be flown out.



REHEARSALS: Our cast is in several states. So rehearsals will be done through Zoom with Director and cast. Vocal recordings will happen with the Music Director. We expect to have a 2-week shoot (one week pre-production/live rehearsal in ATL and the second week shooting). We do need someone with a somewhat flexible schedule. We will pay a flat rate of $500, and provide lunch and food for the shoot week in Atlanta. We understand this is a modest rate, but it is necessary to mount this production from the ground up. So, we appreciate you sharing your talent with us!



MUSICALITY: Alto/Soprano who can sing Broadway style and preferably rap (or be willing to learn). We also need an actress who is flexible.



MOST IMPORTANT: This is a very spiritual production, so humility is a must. :)



HOW TO APPLY: If interested, please email our casting director Kimberly Smith @ strangefruitcastingdirector@gmail.com with your headshot, reel of you singing and acting, and height. Casting NOW. Producers want to fill role in July - August 2021.



To check out more of the film, please visit our website: www.strangefruithiphopera.com



Thank you!

Casting Director

Kimberly Smith

strangefruitcastingdirector@gmail.com
Salary: $500/flat rate