La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla, CA
US

DESCRIPTION

AUDITION DATE

Thursday, December 19, 2024

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (P)

BREAK: 1:00PM - 2:00PM

CONTRACT

LORT Non-Rep

$1100 weekly minimum (LORT B) -Forum Theatre and Potiker Theatre

$1197 weekly minimum (LORT B+) - Weiss Theatre

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in La Jolla Playhouse's 2025-26 Season (see breakdown).

Actors of all ethnicities and actors with disabilities encouraged to attend.

All roles will be understudied.

PREPARATION

Please prepare two contrasting pop/rock or contemporary musical theatre songs, one song and one monologue or two contrasting monologues. You must provide sheet music for song selections. A piano accompanist will be provided. Please bring your headshot and resume stapled together.

LOCATION

Actors' Equity Association LA Audition Center

5636 Tujunga Ave

North Hollywood, CA 91601

PERSONNEL

See breakdown for production-specific personnel.

EXPECTED TO ATTEND:

Jacole Kitchen, In-House Casting Director at La Jolla Playhouse

Hannah Reinert, La Jolla Playhouse Casting Associate

OTHER DATES

See breakdown for production-specific dates.

OTHER

www.lajollaplayhouse.org.

La Jolla Playhouse will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals who request them in advance. Accommodation requests may include but are not limited to: ASL Interpretation, Braille, Large Print Materials, and Social Narratives. For advanced accommodation requests and general questions or inquiries, please email

[email protected].

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

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE 2025-2026 SEASON

JAJA’s AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

by Jocelyn Bioh

Directed by Whitney White

Rehearsals start: May 6, 2025

First Preview: May 17, 2025

Open: May 22, 2025

Close: June 15, 2025

In the Weiss

INDIAN PRINCESSES

by Eliana Theologides Rodriguez

Directed by Miranda Cornell

Rehearsals start: May 6, 2025

First Preview: June 10, 2025

Open: June 15, 2025

Close: July 7, 2025

In the Forum

THE HEART

Based on "Réparer les Vivants" by Maylis de Kerangal

Book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan

Music and Lyrics by Anne Eisendrath & Ian Eisendrath

Directed by Christopher Ashley

Rehearsals start: July 8, 2025

First Preview: August 19, 2025

Open: August 31, 2025

Close: September 28, 2025

In the Potiker

ALL THE MEN WHO’VE FRIGHTENED ME

By Noah Diaz

Directed by Kat Yen

Rehearsals start: August 12, 2025

First Preview: September 9, 2025

Open: September 16, 2025

Close: October 12, 2025

In the Forum

WORKING GIRL

Music & Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper

Book by Theresa Rebeck

Based on the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Picture written by Kevin Wade

Directed by Christopher Ashley

Rehearsals start: September 16, 2025

First Preview: October 28, 2025

Open: November 9, 2025

Close: December 14, 2025

Possible Extension: December 21, 2025

In the Weiss

{UNTITLED PLAY ABOUT JULIA CHILD}

By Claudia Shear

Directed by Lisa Peterson

Based on the book DEARIE by Bob Spitz

Rehearsals start: January 6, 2026

First Preview: February 10, 2026

Open: February 15, 2026

Close: March 15, 2026

In the Potiker

SEEKING:

A note on gender / race in casting: The identities and embodied realities of the actors can and should deepen how we read the character dynamics in the story, and we want to be inclusive in our overall approach to representation across race/ethnicity, gender, body type, and ability. Some characters are written on the binary (using he/him or she/her pronouns), but gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors will be encouraged and embraced as they submit for the roles they most identify with.

JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

Direct from Broadway, this production welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling shop in Harlem, where a lively group of West African women create hair-braiding masterpieces. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and friendships will be tested. When their uncertain circumstances boil over, this tight-knit group must confront what it means to be outsiders in the place they call home. Featuring humor as entertaining as its characters, this extraordinary play celebrates courage, community and the indomitable spirit of women.

Currently seeking understudies only for the following roles:

*NOTE* All characters are of Black American and/or West African Descent.

JAJA – Female presenting. 40's. Senegalese; Owner of the shop. The backbone and/or saving grace of everyone in the shop. Getting married today in City Hall to Steven -the landlord of a local building.

MARIE – Female presenting. 18 years old. Jaja's daughter who runs the shop for her mother; has a lot of weight on her young shoulders because of her circumstances. Secretly wants to be a writer; has a fun and silly side, but is firm and assertive when needed - especially with the women in the shop

BEA (pronounced BEE) – Female presenting. 40’s. Ghanaian; has been at the shop the longest; the neighborhood gossip with an unpredictable attitude – she seems addicted to causing drama, but is rarely ever wrong.

MIRIAM – Female presenting. Early to mid 20's. Sierra Leonean; very kind and seemingly quiet on the surface, but has a fierce spirit underneath her shell; loves the idea of love and is the epitome of an optimist.

AMINATA – Female presenting. 30's. Senegalese; Fun, sexy and charming. She loves her job and is good at it, but also loves to hang out at the shop as well. The shop is both her job and her favorite place to be social. Has a tumultuous and passionate marriage; Bea's sidekick in gossip and drama when necessary.

NDIDI (pronounced IN-Dee-Dee) – Female presenting. Late 20's/early 30's. Nigerian; the young spitfire; She dresses the youngest and braids the fastest. Everyone at the shop knows that she makes the most money and that doesn't always go over well with everyone - namely Bea.

JENNIFER – Female presenting. 20's. Black American; aspiring journalist; comes to the shop wanting to get micro braids and is in the shop all day; incredibly patient and caring.

VANESSA/SHEILA/RADIA – Female presenting. 30's. VANESSA super rude customer that no one wants to deal with.SHEILA: 30's; The friendly but loud talking businesswoman. She enjoys a little gossip like the next person. RADIA(pronounced like Nadia): 18ish; one of Marie's former classmates.

MICHELLE/CHRISSY/LANIECE Female presenting. 20’s – 30’s. MICHELLE: 20's; The nervous client who doesn't want trouble andjust wants to get her hair done peacefully. CHRISSY: 30's; really wants braids that will "make her look like Beyonce". LANIEC E: 20's; a regular at the shop; works as a DJ so she always gets funky braid styles. She likes to have a good time and loves a good meal.

JAMES/FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN/ OLU , THE JEWELRY MAN/ ERIC, THE DVD MAN: Male presenting. 30's. JAMES: Ghanaian; Aminata's on again, off again husband who clearly takes advantage of her. FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN - 30's; quick talking and friendly neighborhood salesman just trying to make a living; Black American. OLU, THE JEWELRY MAN:30's; a shy, honest man just trying to make a living; has a bit of a crush on Ndidi; Nigerian. ERIC, THE DVD MAN:30's; the caring DVD man who looks out for his friends; Senegalese.

INDIAN PRINCESSES

In summer 2008, five young girls of color and their white fathers show up at a community center. With emotions ranging from excited to downright suspicious, some are more ready than others to embark on this adventurous father-daughter bonding program. Over their time as the “Winnebago Tribe”, they navigate the joy and confusion of childhood amidst burgeoning friendships, unfulfilled crushes, intergenerational struggles, grief and the challenges of not being seen for who you truly are. Indian Princesses is based on a real-life father-daughter program the playwright participated in as a child.

Both laugh-out-loud funny and delicately tender, this delightful new play delves into the quirky, messy and magical moments of growing up, while exploring the complexities of race, heritage and family.

Some notes on casting:

None of the girls are white-presenting.

While the girls will be played by actors over 18, it is important that they aren’t made into caricatures of what adults think young kids act like.

SEEKING:

ANDI: character presents as female, 18+ to play 12 years old. Mac’s daughter. Half-white, half-Latine. Shy, uncertain. Has been told she’ll definitely blossom in college.

MAC: character presents as male, 50s, white— Andi’s Dad. A construction worker. Talks least, says most.

SAMANTHA: character presents as female, 18+ to play 9 years old. Glen’s granddaughter. Half- white, half-Asian. Bold. A Sunday school teacher’s nightmare.

GLEN: character presents as male, 60s, White — Samantha’s grandfather. Tribe leader and church goer. Affable.

LILY: character presents as female, 18+ to play 11-year-old. Chris’s stepdaughter. Lily’s biological sister. Native American (with roots in Mexico and the American Southwest). Carefree, sometimes a little confused. The kind of kid to take a newt home from the creek in her pocket.

HAZEL: character presents as female, 18+ to play 9 years old, Native American — Chris’ stepdaughter, Lily’s biological sister. From the Yaqui and Tewa Tribes.

CHRIS: character presents as male, 40s, white — Lily & Hazel’s Stepdad. Attorney. Talks most, says least.

MAISEY: character presents as female, 18+ to play 10 years old. Wayne’s daughter. Black. Adopted. More comfortable around adults than other kids. Does not mean adults are comfortable around her.

WAYNE: character presents as male, 40s, white — Maisey’s dad. Adoptive. Former account logistics manager. Recently laid off, insecure.

THE HEART

When a young surfer’s life is cut short, it means a second chance for a woman who had been making peace with her terminal illness. Over 24 suspenseful hours in San Diego, we follow one precious heart on its life-saving journey from donor to recipient, and meet the people whose lives are impacted along the way. With a gripping book by Kait Kerrigan (The Great Gatsby), and directed by our own Christopher Ashley, The Heart is based on the highly lauded novel by Maylis de Kerangal, Réparer les Vivants. Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath (musical supervisor of Come From Away) have taken inspiration from the world of the high-tech hospital to craft a unique, epic electronic score. This breathtaking new musical is an enlightening, edge-of-your-seat ride on a powerful wave of emotion.

SEEKING:

SIMON/ CLAIRE’S SON/ ET AL: character presents as male, 20 years old, any ethnicity — He has taken a break from college. He’s living at home right now. Smart without a great deal of purpose, he has just begun to devote himself to his passion - surfing.

DR. REMUS/ CLAIRE MAJOR/ ET AL.: character presents as female, 50s, any ethnicity — Head Doctor in the ICU. She lives for her job and feels most comfortable in an emergency dealing with life and death situations. As Claire, she is on a waiting list for a new heart. Big personality.

CORDELIA OWL/ CLAIRE’S DAUGHTER/ ET AL: character presents as female, late 20s/early 30s, any ethnicity — New Nurse in the ICU, recently in the OR. She had a one-night stand with an old flame last night

MARIANNE LAMAR/ CLAIRE’s NURSE/ ET AL: character presents as female, 40s-50s, any ethnicity — Simon’s Mother - Mother of two. Recently divorced from Sean.

SEAN LAMAR/ ANESTHESIOLOGIST/ ET AL: character presents as male, 40s-50s, any ethnicity — Simon’s Father - Father of two. Recently divorced from Marianne. He works with his hands building surf boards and canoes. He’s not a words guy.

THOMAS DRISTELL/ CLAIRE’S LOVER/ ET AL: character presents as male, late 20s/early 30s, any ethnicity — The coordinating nurse. Thomas has twin passions - related in their mind: organ transplant and opera.

JULIETTE BROOKS/ ALICE/ ET AL: character presents as female, 20s, any ethnicity — As Juliette, Simon’s Girlfriend - A DJ. She had a fight with Simon about surfing last night. She is young, vibrant, and forthright. As Alice, an intern beginning her surgery rotation, a bit of a know-it-all.

DR. BREVA/ SENIOR DOCTOR/ ET AL: character presents as male, mid 30s, any ethnicity — as Dr. Breva, he is a hotshot who knows how to turn on the charm but also has surprising depth.

MARTHE/ EX/ ET AL: gender-expansive, 30s, any ethnicity — As Marthe, they are defined by their pointillistic intensity, their passion for what they do, their strength of purpose. As the Ex, they should have sex appeal and magnetism. NOTE: Can be as gender-expansive or non-binary as a performer wishes.

ALL THE MEN WHO’VE FRIGHTENED ME

Young couple Ty and Nora are preparing to move into Ty’s childhood home to start a family. While they are busy choosing paint colors and lamps, they learn that Nora is unable to carry the child they so desperately want. So Ty, a trans man, makes the impulsive decision to carry the baby himself. Ty and Nora’s preparations for parenthood begin to collapse when three mysterious men from Ty’s past inexplicably begin appearing in their new home. Noah Diaz’s rich, magical drama is full of shrewd insights and humor, and is the 12th play to make the jump from our DNA New Work Series to the main stage. Expect the unexpected in this wildly surprising family story with a huge heart.

SEEKING:

TY: Trans male. 30s. Any ethnicity. Married to Nora. Strong willed with a tender heart. When he sees how desperately unhappy Nora is after getting the news that she will not be able to carry a baby, Ty consequentially volunteers to stop his hormone therapy and carry the baby for them. Although unsure of the effects the decision will have on his body or his relationship, Ty just wants to make Nora happy and committed to his decision.

NORA: cis woman, 30s, any ethnicity. Married to Ty. Deeply saddened at the news that her body has been deemed “inhospitable” to carry a baby. She feels unsettled in her body and in the life that she and Ty are starting in Ty’s childhood home that has been gifted to them by Ty’s mother Dale. Believes that making changes to the house and having more things will make her feel more at home there. Desperately wants to feel part of a family.

DALE: cis woman, 60s or 70s, any ethnicity. Ty’s stubborn and passionate mother. She does not support Ty’s decision to carry a child after everything he went through in order to live authentically. She does not believe that Nora can make him happy. Very resistant to the changes that Nora is making to the house.

CARRIE: cis woman, late 20s, any ethnicity. Ty’s supportive and pregnant sister. Carrie is the perfect balance between Ty’s big heart and Dale’s strong-willed nature. Supports Ty in what he thinks is best for himself regardless of what Dale wants for him.

FIRST: character presents as male, early 20s, any ethnicity. A representation of Ty’s absentee father

as a young man before he had children. Young and carefree if not a bit absentmindedly reckless. One

of the many men who have frightened Ty.

SECOND: character presents as male, 30s-40s, any ethnicity. A representation of Ty’s alcoholic

father as the middle-aged man that Ty knew as a child. One of the many men who have frightened Ty.

THIRD: character presents as male, late 50s-60s, any ethnicity. A representation of Ty’s absentee

father as an older man who now has peace and understanding with the decision he made to leave his

family all those years ago. One of the many men who have frightened Ty.

WORKING GIRL

Tess McGill is a Staten Island secretary with big dreams and even bigger ideas, but when her scheming boss Katharine Parker steals one, Tess seizes the chance to prove herself, making a bold business move that could change her life forever. This sharp and hilarious adaptation of the iconic 1988 film features an exhilarating original score by the legendary Cyndi Lauper, a smart, fresh book from award-winning playwright Theresa Rebeck, and direction by our own Tony Award-winning Christopher Ashley. Working Girl is the ultimate corporate Cinderella story that’s just as much about the power of friendship as it is about chasing ambition and success. Don’t miss it.

SEEKING:

TESS: Character is female (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Mid 30s. Our heroine. Staten Islander. As her story begins, she is a Wall Street secretary from Staten Island with big dreams. As her story develops, she learns how to break a lot of rules to get what he wants. She’s brave, determined, funny, cunning and full of heartfelt yearning for a better world. In the mid-eighties, she’s the voice insisting that it’s possible to build companies rather than tear them apart. Excellent pop/rock voice

CYN: Character is female (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Mid 30s. Tess’s best friend. She is funny, loyal, tender and fierce. Strong comic timing. Excellent pop/rock voice.

KATHARINE: Character is female (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Mid 30s — 40s. Tess’s evil boss. She is ultimately the source of all destruction and disappointment in the story. She claims to be Tess’s savior before stabbing her in the back. Funny and definitely chilly. Excellent pop/rock voice.

JACK: Character is male (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Late 30s to early 40s. Middle Eastern, North African, Southeast Asian. Tess’s love interest. He is a bit of an underdog when Tess meets him, but together they conspire on a work plan and eventually fall for each other. Comedic chops, great mover, great pop/rock singer.

MICK: Character is male (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Mid 30s. Tess’s hard-rocking boyfriend. Excellent pop/rock tenor voice. Featured ensemble.

TRASK: Character is male (cis, transgender, or non-binary). 60s. The sentimental capitalist. He is all business but he is also a pussycat. He is in charge of the big corporate deal making but simultaneously a tender and delightful family man. Good singer.

JOE: Character is male (cis, transgender, or non-binary). Mid 30s. Cyn’s husband to be. A stand up guy from Staten Island whose dream is owning a string of pizza shops. Great pop/rock voice.

SECRATARIES: 20’s – 40’s. Female presenting ensemble that makes up the secretarial pool at in the at Petty, Marsh and Co. They commute from every borough into Manhattan, but no borough gets more love than Staten Island. Secretaries include: LEE ANN, a young woman who wants to better Herself, AMY, a friend from high school, MOLLY, friendly and supportive and constantly being told by her boss that she needs to lose a little weight, LOIS, a black woman who’s seen it all and doesn’t much care about the stuff that goes down at work because she is constantly dealing with childcare issues, OLYMPIA, as HR officer, and OTHERS. Fabulous pop/rock singers.

MALE ENSEMBLE: 20s – 30s. Male presenting ensemble that make up the executives and junior executives at Petty Marsh, including JIM and SAM who are Bob’s sidekicks and lackies, PETEY GRANGER, Bob’s underserving nephew who gets promoted over Tess, PAUL, an executive, RILEY, Mick’s roadie and OTHERS. Fabulous pop/rock singers.

A NEW PLAY ABOUT JULIA CHILDS

Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she was a rambunctious rebel against the privileged but bland Pasadena life expected of her. Directionless but driven, careening from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school, she battled long odds, too–short sleeves, and her own self-doubt before finding both her calling and her true love, Paul Child. Multi-award-winning team of Claudia Shear and Lisa Peterson return to the Playhouse with a funny, colorful and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, fear to strength, failure to success.

SEEKING:

JULIA CHILD: character presents as female, 30’s, any ethnicity — Awkward in her height, ebullient in her outlook, brave enough to laugh loudly in a quiet room

PAUL CHILD: character presents as male, 40’s, any ethnicity — Pedantic polyglot, an urbane, passionate, complicated man.

JOHN McWILLIAMS: character presents as male, 40’s, any ethnicity — Patriarchal and parochial, both fond and fearful for his (to him) wayward unmarried daughter.

TOM THORNTON: character presents as male, 30’s, any ethnicity — Handsome Harvard sportsman, he’s aware of Julia’s crush, but he’s having fun being her ‘pal’.

SALLY: character presents as female, 20’s, any ethnicity — Smith College roommate, she is a voice of reason and perspective for the whirling chaos that is her friend- and sometime foe – Julia

HARRISON CHANDLER: character presents as male, 30’s, any ethnicity — A prince of Pasadena, a stable scion of the world that John McWilliams both belongs to and approves of. A proper boyfriend (too proper?) a potential fiancé for Julia.

SIMONE SUZANNE RENÉE MADELEINE BECK FISCHBACHER (SIMCA): character presents as female, 30’s-40’s, any ethnicity — A professional cook, a fervent practitioner, ambitious but resistant to change.

LOUISE BERTHOLLE: character presents as female, 30’s-40’s, any ethnicity — A sublime cook, French haute cuisine bred in the bone, a pretty, romantic woman with all the complications that can bring

MME. BRASSARD: character presents as female, 40’s-50’s, any ethnicity — Head of the Cordon Bleu, tough and tight Parisienne, singularly unimpressed by the giant American lady

SALARY

LORT Non-Rep - see above

UNION

AEA