Audition Information

Silver Spring Stage is pleased to announce auditions for Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Jeff Mikoni and produced by Diego Maramba.

Auditions will be held Sunday, January 27 from 6:00–8:30pm and Monday, January 28 from 7:30–9:30pm at Silver Spring Stage, 10145 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20910.  Callbacks will be held by invitation on Wednesday, January 30, from 7:30–10:00pm.

Rehearsals will be held 3–4 times per week on weeknights and weekends, starting shortly after casting and scheduled based on cast availability.  Please come prepared to list your conflicts during the entire rehearsal/performance period.

Performances will run weekends April 5–28, 2019, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.  In light of the Easter and Passover holidays, there will be NO performances the weekend of April 19–21.

To audition:

  • Please sign up for an appointment slot via this Sign-Up Genius page. Actors auditioning for the roles of RHYS and CASSIDY (see below) are encouraged to sign up for slots earlier in the evening, if possible.  Walk-ins will be seen only if time permits.
  • Please bring a completed audition form with you. The form can be found at this link.  If possible, please also bring a theatrical resume and headshot.
  • Candidates for the roles of RIVER, RHYS, and CASSIDY (see below) will be asked to verify their age. You must be 18 or older at the time of auditions to be considered for the roles of RIVER or RHYS.  Candidates for the role of CASSIDY who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied at auditions by a parent or guardian.
  • Please prepare a dramatic monologue between 1 and 2 minutes long, ideally one that demonstrates your ability to convey anger and/or frustration at levels other than “shouting.” If you cannot prepare a monologue in advance, options will be available at auditions.  You may also be asked to do cold readings from the script.

Questions? Feel free to email the production team at appropriate@ssstage.org.

Silver Spring Stage is an all-volunteer community theatre; all roles are open and unpaid.

SYNOPSIS AND CONTENT

The estranged members of the Lafayette family have descended upon their crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of their recently deceased patriarch.  As they sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, old rivalries and unresolved disputes complicate their efforts to tie up the estate.  But when a disturbing discovery surfaces amidst their father’s possessions—a collection of photographs of black men being lynched—the Lafayettes are forced to consider their family’s involvement in one of America’s darkest legacies.

Appropriate is a challenging script that requires a cast willing and able to engage with complex and often troubling themes.  Racism and related issues lie at the heart of the story.  In order to explore these subjects candidly, the play incorporates vivid imagery and includes racial and anti-Semitic slurs, and the characters reveal unflattering sides of themselves.  Appropriate also repurposes a number of “surprise reveals” borrowed from other family dramas, which means that the play references a wide variety of other delicate or difficult subjects, including (but not limited to) childhood trauma, divorce, sexual identity, drug abuse, mental health issues, rape, incest, and pedophilia.  Auditioners are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the script in advance of auditions if at all possible.  You also can reach out to the production team at appropriate@ssstage.org with any questions or concerns you might have.

CASTING AND CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

We are casting the following roles, listed below in descending order of age.  The ages provided refer to the characters, not necessarily the actors portraying them.  As noted above, actors auditioning for the roles of RIVER or RHYS must be 18 or older at the time of auditions.

ANTOINETTE “TONI” LAFAYETTE: the oldest sibling, white, early 50s.  The underappreciated family caretaker, recently divorced and reeling from the loss of her father.

BEAUREGARDE “BO” LAFAYETTE: the middle sibling, white, late 40s.  The golden boy, a successful businessman feeling the pressure to provide for his family.

RACHAEL KRAMER-LAFAYETTE: Bo’s wife, white, 40s.  Well-intentioned but self-centered, a little too willing to romanticize situations.

FRANÇOIS “FRANZ/FRANK” LAFAYETTE: the youngest sibling, white, late 30s/early 40s.  The prodigal son, a black sheep reconnecting with his family for the first time in a decade.

RIVER RAYNER:  Franz/Frank’s fiancée, white, 23 but looks younger.  A free spirit whose cheerful supportiveness masks a hidden agenda.

RHYS THURSTON: Toni’s son, white, late teens.  Kicked out of high school, lacking direction, and dealing with a lot of uncertainties.

CASSIDY “CASSIE” KRAMER-LAFAYETTE: Bo and Rachel’s older child, white, 13.  Inquisitive and precocious, trapped in the gap between childhood and adulthood.

Some additional notes:

  • The roles of TONI, BO, RACHEL, FRANZ/FRANK, RIVER, and RHYS require participation in a substantial physical struggle. Choreography will be designed around the abilities of the actors, but comfort with contact improv, movement, and/or stage combat is a significant plus.
  • The role of RHYS requires a brief moment of simulated onstage masturbation, which will be concealed from the audience by a blanket and/or the actor’s costume. Choreography will be designed to ensure the actor’s safety and comfort.
  • The role of AINSLEY KRAMER-LAFAYETTE, Bo and Rachel’s eight-year old son, will not be cast through these auditions.

If you have any questions, please email the production team at appropriate@ssstage.org.

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