Moonbox Productions
Cambridge, MA
US

CONTACT NAME

Moonbox Productions

DESCRIPTION

Moonbox Productions Seeks Actors for

TELL HER WHAT SHE'S WON, JOHNNY…

A Reading

A part of the Boston New Works Festival 2026

Performing: May 7-10, 2026

First Rehearsal: Week of April 13, 2026

NON- UNION Boston Local Actors Only

KEY PERSONNEL:

Playwright: Ken Green

Director: Audrey Seraphin

SYNOPSIS:

TELL HER WHAT SHE’S WON, JOHNNY– tells the completely fictional story of the first African-American contestant on a network television game show in the 1950s. While the contestant, RUTH TRAVELER, just wants to win a new refrigerator, the producer of the show has different plans and wants to make her appearance on the show a HISTORICAL EVENT and further burnish his image as one of the great producers of his time. Meanwhile, other people see her groundbreaking appearance as a benefit for them in other ways. But a mysterious woman and an enigmatic television announcer may be the help she needs to get through the ordeal. JOHNNY is a comedy/drama about the macro and micro aggressions African Americans face daily when they simply want to live their life.

SEEKING THE FOLLOWING:

RUTH TRAVELER, early 40s, female, is a married African American university professor at Yale. Harlem-raised, she straddles two worlds, which is a challenge in the 1950s (and today, to be honest). She is reminded that she's a Negro quite often at work, and everywhere else, for that matter. Except for home, she is constantly a fish out of water. But she expects and accepts most of it because it’s 1955. But up to a point. She doesn’t hesitate to stand up for herself when she feels challenged, insulted, or neglected. But like most African-Americans, she has learned to shrug off the micro-aggressions.

PETER CULVER, 40s, white male, America's favorite game show host. Typical game show host – handsome, always smiling, perfect teeth. But his personality might be his shield. Is a constant people pleaser, so he works hard to smooth over problems and issues, even if he doesn't fully understand them.

FRANK COOPER, late 50s, white male, the most successful game show producer in TV history. And he knows he. And he wants everyone else to know it. Boisterous, wants people to know when he enters a room. Thinks every decision he makes is the correct one, but pretends to be open and accepting of other viewpoints. His cigar is his exclamation point.

LIONEL, 30s, African American male, an elevator operator or make-up man, depending on the day of the week. He knows the game and is willing to play it to get ahead. Knows an opportunity when he sees one. Not necessarily out and proud, but won’t deny who he is. James Baldwin-esque. Like Frank Cooper, he wants his presence to be known when he enters a room.

LAURA WYLAND, 30s, white female, a contestant and homemaker from

Plattsburgh, New York. Puts her life into her family – possibly at her own expense. Prim, proper, and wants everyone to follow the “rules,” even when the “rules” make no sense.

JIM DONALDSON, 50s, white male, a contestant and uranium miner from Bimiji, Minnesota. Big, boisterous, friendly. Tries to treat everyone the same, but he’s still a product of America in the 1950s, so he still harbors some stereotypical views.

JEFFERY LEWIS, African American male, late 30s, executive director of the Negro Advancement Association of Harlem (NAAAH). Well-put together and knows how to play the “game.” Determined about a lot of things that may or may not be associated with NAAAH. Cares about the community, but if he can help himself as well…

ISABELLA BAUMFREE, African American female, ageless, a spirit. Stoic, caring, and mysterious. Has all the answers but wants you to figure it out for yourself. Does she work at the studio or…? She seems to be around when you need her, but other than that…

The cast will also portray other voice-only characters, including:

JOHNNY GLEASON 50s, African American (voice only)

MAKE-UP MAN 1: 40s, white. (voice only)

MAKE-UP MAN 2: late 40s, white. (voice only)

STAGE MANAGER:, age not important, white (voice only)

REPORTER 1, 2, 3: white (voice only)

PROTESTORS: (voice only)

1st Round VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

Please submit a 60-90 second monologue in a style of your choosing. This play contains both comedy and drama, so the best submissions will include short pieces that showcase a little bit of each.

Share your video via a file-sharing link (Google link, YouTube, Vimeo, etc). Unfortunately we are unable to accept large video attachments via email.

If you have any questions about the audition please reach out to [email protected]

SUBMISSION DEADLINE–

February 3, 2026

Please UPLOAD your Audition Submission to https://docs.google.com/forms/...

Please make sure that your resume and headshot are attached as 1 file/ 1 pdf

All submissions must include:

1. COMPLETED FORM

2. HEADSHOT/RESUME uploaded as 1 PDF

3. VIDEO LINK

CALLBACKS:

Date and Time: February 18th 6:30-10pm

Location: 30 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA

COMPENSATION:

$562.50 Stipend

TIME COMMITMENTS:

• First Rehearsal: The week of April 13, 2026

• Rehearsal Days: TBD

• Total Rehearsal: 30 hrs

• 8 hrs Tech + Performance

• First Performance: Festival opens June 26th

• Closing: Festival Closes June 29th

ACCESSIBILITY:

Moonbox is committed to working with actors of all abilities and backgrounds. If you need assistance in submitting your audition (i.e., ASL interpretation or English captioning for Deaf or HoH artists, OCR text documents of sides for visually-impaired artists, or other accessibility services) please contact [email protected], our Director of Community and Accessibility Initiatives, as soon as possible.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION:

At Moonbox, we believe that the stories we tell are important. They sustain and preserve our community, our history, and our values. Telling racially diverse stories allows us not only to reflect – but also to reflect on – the complexities of our past. When we join together in the act of storytelling, we are united in ways that transcend the everyday. Together, we can use the power of storytelling to honor our commonalities, celebrate our differences, and address historical discrimination and injustice. We pledge to take this power seriously, and to use our voices and the stories we tell to dismantle the systemic racism and white supremacy engulfing our culture, our country, and our industry .We believe in creating spaces that reflect the diversity of our shared community, both on and off the stage, where under-represented voices, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and people living with disabilities feel valued and important. We believe that accessibility is a human right. We are devoted to providing performances and work spaces that can be experienced and enjoyed universally, and to incorporating accessibility planning into our production, design, staffing, and budgeting processes from day one. More on our antiracism plan here https://moonboxproductions.org/about/#antiracism

#CreateCommunity

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DURATION

Apr 13, 2026 - May 10, 2026

SALARY

$562.50 – $562.50 per gig

APPLY ONLINE

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqFQBehAkZ1p0oRkZt8ieJKMijIe9DZnG_lRX883Gp6aTYMw/viewform