Fall 2023 Auditions

A play for young audiences by Anne Negri

Synopsis

In a fantasy world where people have wings, a young boy named Lyf lives an isolated existence with his parents in the safe nest of their home deep in the woods. Although loving, Lyf's parents have strict rules he must follow about avoiding strangers, covering his wings with a cloak and always observing rule number one: never, ever try to fly. One day a precocious, inquisitive girl from the outside world, Meta, bursts into the backyard, and she and Lyf become fast friends. Meta tells him about the ocean and the world "out there" beyond the nest. Lyf also learns that "fledglings" in the outside world all learn to fly. In fear of becoming a forever flightless "dodo," Lyf begs Meta to teach him some flying moves. Suddenly, Meta's nosy wannabe-reporter twin brother, Taur, crashes in, challenging Lyf to answer questions about his life and his mysterious parents. When Lyf discovers a secret invention in his father's workshop, he must confront both of his parents about the truth they've hidden from him all these years. Will Lyf be grounded forever, or will the truth he discovers empower him to take flight? This coming-of-age story puts a unique twist on the Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus. It is a bittersweet, yet hopeful, tale that tackles the issue of parental disability with gentleness and grace. "With Two Wings elevates curiosity, individual differences, loyal friendships and trusting your instincts." (Raising Arizona Kids magazine) "Thoughtful and engaging … the kind of show that will give parents and kids something to talk about." (The Arizona Republic)

Read the Script 

Character Breakdown

Please note that the staging of With Two Wings may include moments of familial/friendship intimacy such as hugs or similar physical interactions. These may occur between Lyf, Mom, and Dad, and/or Lyf and Meta.

Before auditioning, please take time to consider your boundaries and if they fit within this particular production. This production will practice consent-based work that respects the boundaries of all involved. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to omastam@miamioh.edu for further information. 

LYF: male identifying, 11 years old.  Sheltered (has never met anyone outside his family). Curious about the world beyond home.
META: female identifying, 12 years old. Taur’s twin sister.  Friendly, kind, strong, true to herself, and exploring her independence.  
TAUR: female identifying, 12 years old. Meta’s twin sister. Aggressive, ambitious, a bit intrusive. Aspiring journalist. Will do anything to get what she wants.
MOM: female identifying, adult. Lyf’s mother, Dad’s wife. Anxious, highly protective of Lyf and worried about losing him.
DAD: male identifying, adult. Lyf’s father, Mom’s husband.  Amiable. A tinkerer. Longing to restore a lost ability.

This production will also cast one or more understudies. 

Time Commitment

• Rehearsal Period: Sept. 5 through Sept. 26 , M-F 6:30 -10:00 p.m.
• Technical and Dress Rehearsals
  Wednesday, September 27 through Friday, September 29, 7pm-11p.m.
  Saturday, September 30, 10am-1pm; 3:00-8:00 pm
  Monday, October 2nd and Tuesday, October 3rd from 6:00-11:00pm
• Performances
  October 4th, 5th, and 6th at 10am (school performances),
  October 6th and 7th at 7:30
  October 8th at 2pm 

Call times will be no more than 90 minutes prior to curtain.

Cast will be required to attend photo call, a KCACTF response, and strike that will be scheduled at a later date.

If students will miss any classes due to school performances, the department will provide a letter to faculty explaining the production and requesting that the absences be excused. Excused absences are granted at the discretion of each instructor.

Questions? Contact Stage Manager Colton Wolf

A musical by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin

“Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony®-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s BRIGHT STAR tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, BRIGHT STAR is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.” – Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Read the libretto

Character Breakdown

There are 10 principal roles. The production will also feature an ensemble of 6-10 who will play additional supporting roles as well. 

Casting is open to performers of any race/ethnicity, gender identity or gender-non-conforming and ability for any and all roles. 

If any auditionees need accommodations please contact omastam@miamioh.edu  

Gender identity and ages listed in the description reflect character ages and are not required of the actors. No character holds a specific ability or race/ethnicity. While a character may be played as a male or female identifying individual, the performer portraying them does not need to hold the same identity if it is within their bounds to do so.

Before Auditioning, please take time to consider all of your personal boundaries and how those might extend to the character you play onstage. 

This production will practice consent-based work that respects the boundaries of all involved. Your boundaries are perfect where they are; please communicate your boundaries honestly with the production team as it ensures a safe and healthy audition.

Characters are listed below with their required physical intimacy actions and the audition form asks you to indicate roles you would like to audition for and roles you are not willing to be cast in. This is your opportunity to make sure the roles you are auditioning for align with your boundaries. 

Alice Murphy
Alice as a youth is a firecracker, Alice as an adult is buttoned up. Adult Alice is the editor of Asheville Southern Journal, Alice is smart, serious, does not suffer fools with but also kind and haunted by the past. Young Alice at age 16-17 is strong-willed, independent, and is destined ready for something greater than Zebulon has to offer. Alice must be a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles with a strong belt. 

• The actor playing Alice must play Alice as both 16-17 and 36-37. 
• Vocal range: F3-C5
• Intimacy Note: She is in a physical relationship with Jimmy Ray Dobbs they have moments of physical contact to indicate their closeness like hand holding, hugging, partner dancing and embracing, there are moments where she initiates contact with his mouth through a kiss as well as by feeding him a biscuit. She has a simulated pregnancy and as a result Jimmy Ray makes contact with her stomach area. She is also physically restrained by the actor playing Daddy Murphy e.g. hands on her shoulders, back, or wrists. 

• Age: early 20s
• Vocal range: C3-A4
• Intimacy Note: Ends up in a physical relationship with Margo, there is a moment where they engage in a mouth-to-mouth contact kiss, he engages in partner dancing which may involve making contact with other characters hands, waists, shoulders, etc in order to make the movement possible, he engages in a  mouth to mouth contact kiss with Lucy as well,and  he also engages in familial/friendship intimacy with his father and mother e.g. hugs or similar interactions

Daddy Cane
Billy’s father. Kind, if simple, man living alone in the woods following the death of his wife, great father, great husband. Featured song “She’s Gone” and others.

• Age: Must believably play Billy’s Father
• Vocal range: C3-A4
• Intimacy Note: As Billy Cane’s father he engages in moments of familial/friendship intimacy that include contact such as hugs and similar physical interactions

Margo Crawford
a small-town bookstore owner; smart as a whip, kind, Billy’s best friend, who has feelings for Billy who is too naive to see. Sweet warm folk voice. Featured song “Asheville” and others.

• Age: early 20s
• Vocal range: B3-F#5
• Intimacy Notes: Ends up in a romantic relationship with Billy and there is a moment where they engage in a mouth to  mouth contact kiss, before this she also engages in moments of friendly intimate contact with him like hugs and other types of contact

Daryl Ames
An assistant at the Asheville Southern Journal. Funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor. Great comedic timing. Can be harsh in his directness but is innately likable.

• Age: Open
• Vocal range: C3-E4
• Intimacy Note: He engages in moments of partner dancing which may involve making contact with various character’s hands, wrists, shoulders, etc in order to make the movement possible

Lucy Grant
A junior editor at the Asheville Southern Journal. Strong dancer and singer. Forthright and provocative with a sharp sense of humor and flirty attitude. She identifies as a strong modern working woman. Featured song “Another Round” and others. 

• Age: 20s
• Vocal range: A3-D5
• Intimacy Note: She engages in moments of partner dancing with various ensemble members in a bar; this may involve making contact with various character’s hands, waists, shoulders, etc in order to make the movement possible. She attempts to engage in a romantic relationship with Billy she makes brief physical contact with him as well as mouth to mouth contact kiss

Mama Murphy
Alice’s mother. A warm, loving, sensible woman. Strong singer with harmonies. Featured in song “Please Don’t Take Him” and others.

• Age: Must be believably play Alice’s Mother
• Vocal range: G3-C5
• Intimacy Note: She is in a physical relationship with Daddy Murphy that may involve moments of familial intimacy like hand holding, hugging, eye contact, brief contact

Daddy Murphy
Alice’s father; proud man with old world views on family and children. A strict, and hard-working man, a poor but respected farmer. Featured song “Firmer Hand/Do Right” and others.

• Age: Must be believably play Alice’s Father
• Vocal range: A2-G4
• Intimacy Note: There is a moment of physical contact between him and Alice Murphy, his daughter, where he physically restrains her e.g. hands on her shoulders, back, or wrists. He is also in a physical relationship with Mamma Murphy that may involve moments of familial intimacy like hand holding, hugging, eye contact, brief contact

Mayor Josiah Dobbs
The Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – an imposing and controlling presence; interested in “protecting” his son’s future and his family name, but in reality is really only advancing his own self-interest and identity. Ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and irrevocable cruelty, the guilt breaks him. Featured song “A Man’s Gotta Do” and others.

• Age: Must believably play Jimmy Ray’s Father
• Vocal range: A2-G4
• Content Notice: The Mayor’s story includes the action of attempting to commit infanticide 

Jimmy Ray Dobbs
Mayor Dobbs’ son and Alice’s first love. Young Jimmy Ray charming, well-built and intelligent; from a family of wealth and power and is being groomed by his father for a similar future in the family business; an independent thinker who is not afraid to stand up to his father for what he believes in; he has a sense of personal responsibility and morality as well as a deep reserve of passion and emotion. Must be an excellent musical theater singer featured in multiple songs with a comfortable folk-pop style.

• The actor playing Jimmy Ray must play him as both 16-17 and 36-37
• Vocal range: C3-A4
• Intimacy Note: He is in a physical relationship with Alice and they have moments of physical contact to indicate their closeness like hand holding, hugging, partner dancing, and embracing, there are moments where they make mouth to mouth contact through a kiss and him eating a biscuit out of her hand. He also makes contact with his hand and her stomach to feel a baby kicking

The Ensemble
A group of strong and dynamic musical theatre performers will be featured throughout the show. They will be utilized as singers in the backing vocals for many songs and featured in the dance numbers. We are looking for well-rounded performers who can work with the directing team to create a dynamic ensemble. 

The ensemble will be expected to apply their imaginations to movement and choreography, create specific characters for the non-named ensemble characters, and also be able to move scenery and will be quite active throughout the entire show.

• Age: 16 to 99
• Intimacy Note: They engage in moments of partner dancing which may involve making contact with various character’s hands, waists, shoulders, etc in order to make the movement possible. 
  Some of the supporting characters the ensemble will play like Max and Edna end up in a romantic relationship and may make brief physical contact like holding hands

This production will not utilize understudies.

Time Commitment

• Rehearsal Period: Mondays-Fridays Sept. 25 to Nov. 5th; 6:30-10:30 p.m.
• Technical Rehearsals: Weeknights Nov. 6-10; 7-11 p.m.
  
• Sitzprobe: Sat. Nov. 11; 12-4 p.m.
• Dress Rehearsals: 
  Sat. Nov. 11; 6-10 p.m.
  Monday and Tuesday Nov. 13, 14; 6-11 p.m.
• Performances: 
  Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 15-18; 7:30
  Sunday, Nov. 19 2 p.m. 
  Call times will be no more than 90 minutes prior to curtain, and cast will be part of strike following the April 30 performance.
• Cast Strike: Strike will occur approx. 1 hour after the Sunday, November 19 performance ends. 

  There will be a KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) response after one of the productions (TBD). This is required.

  Photo Call: Will be held prior to the Saturday performance. This will add approx. 90 minutes to show day and is required.

Questions? Contact Stage Manager Maggie Ballard