Ford's Theatre Society
Washington, DC
US

DESCRIPTION

AUDITION DATE

Monday, December 2, 2024

9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)

Lunch 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Sign-ups will end early due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

CONTRACT

LORT Non-Rep

$1144 weekly minimum (LORT B)

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in Ford's Theatre LORT 2025-26 Season (See breakdown).

Ford’s Theatre Society’s 2025-26 theatre season will not be formally announced until the Spring of ’25. We ask for your support in not posting our Season on social media.

PREPARATION

For Plays: Prepare a 90-second monologue from the canon of American drama.

For Musical Auditions: Prepare either a contemporary piece of musical theatre, or alternatively, a piece rooted in pop music that’s no more than 90-seconds. Remember to bring the sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. You may do both a monologue and a song not to exceed 2 minutes total.

LOCATION

Pearl Studios (500)

500 8th Ave

New York, NY 10018-6504

Holding room - Studio 408

PERSONNEL

Expected to attend:

Jose Carrasquillo, Director of Artistic Programming

Stephanie Klapper, New York Casting Director

Emma Balk, Casting Assistant

Joe Piserchio, Casting Assistant

See breakdown for production specific personnel.

OTHER DATES

See breakdown for production specific dates.

OTHER

www.Fords.org

EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.

An Equity Monitor will be provided.

Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination.

Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.

Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.

BREAKDOWN

Ford's Theatre LORT 2025-26 Season

THE AMERICAN FIVE: THE GIANTS BEHIND THE DREAM

By Chess Jakobs

Directed by Aaron Posner

1st Rehearsal: August 26, 2025

1st Performance: September 26, 2025

Opens: October 1, 2025

Closes: October 19, 2025

SEEKING ALL ROLES, AND UNDERSTUDIES:

CLARENCE JONES / OTHERS – Black Man - American lawyer and Civil Rights Movement Leader. Former personal counsel, advisor, draft speech writer and close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ages 25-32.

CORETTA SCOTT KING / OTHERS – Black Woman - American author, activist, civil rights leader and fierce advocate of African American equality. Wife of Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953 until his death in 1968. Mother to his four children. Ages 29-36.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. – Black Man - American Baptist minister, activist, and political philosopher. Dr. King became one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Husband to Loretta Scott King and the father to 4 young children. Ages 27-34.

BAYARD RUSTIN – Black Man - American political activist, prominent leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin was the principal organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Ages 44-51.

STANLEY LEVISON / PRESIDENT KENNEDY / OTHERS – Jewish man of Ashkenazi/European descent - American businessman and lawyer, and lifelong activist in socialist causes. He was an advisor to and close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for whom he helped write speeches, raise funds, and organize events. Ages 44-51.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Charles Dickens; Adapted by Michael Wilson

Original direction by Michael Baron

1st Rehearsal: October 28, 2025

1st Performance: November 20, 2025

Opens: November 28, 2025

Closes: December 31, 2025

ALL ROLES OPEN TO ALL ETHNICITIES

THE FOLLOWING ROLES HAVE BEEN CAST. SEEKING UNDERSTUDIES:

EBENEZER SCROOGE: Age range 50s (or older). Transformed from jaded, pessimistic banker to joyful and appreciative philanthropist.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST/DOLL VENDOR: Age range 30s (or older). Illuminates the joys of Christmas to Scrooge.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT/FRUIT VENDOR: Age range 40s (or older). Towering physical presence. Joyful spirit.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE/CLOCK VENDOR: Age range 40s (or older). Sturdy physical frame. A scary presence communicates nonverbally.

MRS. DILBER/MRS. FEZZIWIG: Age range 40s (or older). Scrooge’s opinionated cook/housekeeper. Mrs. Fezziwig is spirited and joyful, a real firecracker.

JACOB MARLEY: Age range 40s (or older). Deceased business partner of Scrooge. He comes back as a ghost to caution Scrooge against self-serving practices.

BOB CRATCHIT: Age range 30s-40s. Cheerful and devoted employee of Scrooge. Optimistic and caring father.

MRS. CRATCHIT: Age range 30s-40s. Loving wife of Bob Cratchit. Worried mother, harbors ill will toward Scrooge.

FRED/YOUNG SCROOGE: Age range late 20s. Scrooge’s young nephew. Genial and appreciative of the Christmas Spirit. Young Scrooge is an apprentice and the love interest of Belle.

MRS. FRED: Age range late 20s. Wife of Fred. Strong-willed, but with a generous spirit.

MRS. FRED’S SISTER: Age range 20s. Sassy and opinionated.

TOPPER/YOUNG JACOB MARLEY: Age range 20s. Bumbling with words, pleasant attitude, boyish charm.

SOLICITOR #1: Age range 30s (or older). Jovial lawyer with a hearty laugh and quick smile.

SOLICITOR #2/UNDERTAKER: Age range 30s (or older). Generous lawyer, but a bit of a hothead.

FEZZIWIG: Age range 40s (or older). Jovial merchant. Energetic personality.

BELLE: Age range 20s. Love interest of young Scrooge. Loving, thoughtful with a heart of gold.

1776

Book by Peter Stone

Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

Directed by TBD

Music Director TBD

Choreographer TBD

1st Rehearsal: January 27, 2026

1st Performance: March 13, 2026

Opens: March 18, 2026

Closes: May 16, 2026

SEEKING ALL ROLES, AND UNDERSTUDIES:

JOHN ADAMS: (Baritone/Tenor) 41, An electric, aggressive personality from Massachusetts, committed to his mission of independence regardless of whether he’s liked. In fact, “obnoxious & disliked”. Passionate, relentless, egotistical, but subtly vulnerable & sentimental.

BEN FRANKLIN: (Baritone) 70, The famous sage: humorous, patient, wise, flirtatious, able to see past personality to the true value of a person.

THOMAS JEFFERSON: (Baritone) 33, A soft-spoken, modest, intelligent man from Virginia. Sensual and in love with his wife. He is the humanist to Adams’ idealist.

EDWARD RUTLEDGE: (High Baritone/Tenor) 26, A dashing, young, Southern gentleman: suave and well-spoken but with a hidden and fierce volatility.

JOHN HANCOCK: (Baritone) 39, President of the Continental Congress: a strong and gentle leader. He is an honest, diplomatic man able to hear both sides despite his own passionate belief in independence.

JAMES WILSON: (Baritone to Tenor) 33, a slight, dim man, somewhat of a sycophant. Doesn’t like to rock the boat; would rather go with the crowd.

RICHARD HENRY LEE: (Baritone to Tenor) 44, A tall, exuberant firecracker of a man from Virginia: charismatic, relentlessly optimistic. A good-natured, if not somewhat dim, cheerleader.

STEPHEN HOPKINS: (Any vocal range) 69, The second oldest member of the Congress and proud of it, made of true, obstinate New England stock. Doesn’t suffer fools and takes great delight in wit. He also loves his rum.

DR. LYMAN HALL: (Baritone to Tenor) 52, A quiet, thoughtful man of few words but great thinking. Pensive and powerful.

CEASAR RODNEY: (Baritone to Tenor) 47, A very small, feeble man suffering from facial cancer which is quickly sapping his energy. He is still a man who admires great wit among peers.

GEORGE READ: (Baritone to Tenor) 42, The conservative delegate from Delaware. Weak-willed and afraid of upsetting England and its forces.

COLONEL THOMAS MCKEAN: (Bass to Tenor) 42, A tall, Scotsman and true army man. Proud of his heritage and even more proud of being an American. Has no tolerance for weak-willed men (i.e. George Read)

LEWIS MORRIS: (Baritone to Tenor) 50, A leftover aristocrat from New York, never able to commit without consent from the lawmakers back home.

PHILIP LIVINGSTON: (Baritone to Tenor) 60, A jovial, affable businessman with a penchant for family and entertaining.

ROGER SHERMAN: (Baritone to Tenor) 55, A very simple man of very few words: practical, modest if not shy.

JOSEPH HEWES: (Baritone to Tenor) 46, A very diplomatic, conservative man with little backbone. Well-spoken when backed by others but ultimately demurs to a more powerful man like Rutledge.

SAMUEL CHASE: (Baritone to Tenor) 35, An articulate gentleman with great loyalty to the crown. Coolly rejects independence with tolerant politeness.

JOSIAH BARTLETT: (Baritone to Tenor) 46, A reasonable man of logic but also instinct and insight to the human character. Friend to John Adams.

JOHN DICKINSON: (Baritone to Tenor) 44, The coolest and most conservative, G-d fearing man in Congress. Composed, not given to bouts of temper and, therefore, it is even more surprising when he uses it. He is tenacious in his belief the colonies stay linked to England.

REV. JOHN WITHERSPOON: (Baritone to Tenor) 53, A sweet, humble man who is thrust into the maelstrom of Congress. He is enthusiastically for independence and voices it sparingly but potently.

CHARLES THOMAS: (High Baritone to Tenor) 47, Congressional Secretary, A professional, no-nonsense man; holds his job with great seriousness and serves the Congress well. He holds a fondness for General Washington through his letters and shows his vulnerability briefly in his compassion for the great leader.

ANDREW MCNAIR: (Baritone to Tenor) Congressional Custodian, A laborer, put upon by all the blowhards in Congress. He tirelessly serves the needs of the Congressmen and knows everything about everyone and has an opinion about them too.

COURIER: (Tenor) late teens or early 20s. A quiet, reticent young man enlisted in the Continental Army. When he expresses himself, he allows his fear, youth, and exhaustion to come through.

MARTHA JEFFERSON: (Mezzo-Soprano) 28, The beautiful, young bride of Thomas: exceedingly charming and winning.

ABIGAIL ADAMS: (Soprano) 32, Wife of John: an incredibly smart, grounded, devoted woman. She is as understanding and supportive wife. She cares deeply for her husband.

SALARY

LORT Non-Rep $1144 weekly minimum (LORT B)

UNION

AEA