Interested in volunteering as an usher for one of our shows? Click here and “RSVP” to the production for which you’d like to be considered. Questions about ushering may be directed to volunteer@bostontheatrescene.com.

CASTING BREAKDOWN

Actors of color are strongly encouraged to audition, and all roles are open to inclusive casting.

• CHOIR BOY

  Pharus Jonathan Young (Lead): Male-identified, 17. Black.
  extremely smart; effeminate; senior student and lead of the Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys Choir;
  opinionated, outspoken, charismatic, sly sense of humor; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns. Please note: nudity required.

  Anthony Justin “AJ” James: Male-identified, 18. Black.
  senior student, baseball player, choir member Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys; athletic; kind, level-headed, easy to like. Pharus’ roommate; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns.
  Please note: nudity required.

  Bobby Marrow: Male-identified, 16. Black.
  junior student, choir member, nephew to the headmaster; arrogant, confrontational, entitled; an alpha male; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns.

  David Heard: Male-identified, 17. Black.
  senior student, choir member; religious; planning to be minister; a peace-maker, usually a boy of few words; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns.
  Please note: nudity required.

  Junior Blacke: Male-identified, 16. Black.
  junior student, choir member; the most innocent of the boys; Bobby’s milder sidekick; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns. Please note: nudity required.

  Headmaster Marrow: Male-identified, 40-59. Black.
  the youngest and latest Headmaster at The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys; dedicated to maintaining the high standards and mission of his school; devoted, committed, impassioned; a man with heart who leads with tough love; Bobby Marrow’s uncle.

  Mr. Pendleton: Male-identified, 65-75. White.
  returning professor at the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys; teaches African American History; avuncular in nature with life experience to share; humble and down-to-earth; challenges his students to think beyond their immediate perceptions of the world they live in.

  Ensemble (1-3 Actors): Male-identified. 16-18. Black.
  Students at the Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys; must be a highly skilled singer of gospel and spiritual hymns.

• ADMISSIONS

  *SHERRI ROSEN-MASON: Female-identified. 50’s. White.
  Very liberal secular-Jewish woman; Head of Admissions for Hillcrest. Has a warrior’s spirit, a fighter. As hard as she fights at work, she fights even harder for her kid. Even when he doesn’t make it easy.

  *BILL MASON: Male-identified. early 50’s. White.
  Very liberal WASP; Sherri’s husband; Head of the School at Hillcrest. Has lived a pretty charmed life, for the most part. Firmly believes he is always right, and acts accordingly; in other words, leaves little room for doubt. Assertive in his opinions, decisive.

  CHARLIE LUTHER MASON: Male-identified. 17. White.
  Bill and Sherri’s son; a senior at Hillcrest. Precocious and intelligent. His anger can overtake him, but he doesn’t lead with it. At his core, he’s a sweet kid. Like lots of kids his age, he can quickly become a devout believer in newly adopted philosophies.

  *GINNIE PETERS: Female-identified. 50s. White.
  Very liberal WASP; stay-at-home Mom; her son is Charlie’s best friend. She is one of Sherri’s closest friends. Unlike Sherri, who has mastered work-life balance, Ginnie’s easily overwhelmed, even as she has much less on her plate.

  ROBERTA: Female-identified. 70s. White.
  White; works in development at Hillcrest. She is warm and means well, if also obstinate and stubborn. When she offends, it is unwittingly; her confusion is genuine. The world is changing faster than she can keep up.

  *The roles of Sherri, Bill and Ginnie have been cast. Actors will be seen for these roles as replacements only.

• PASS OVER

  Role 1: MOSES: male-identified. late teens/early 20’s. Black.
  a young man from the ghetto. brokenhearted. courageous. sad. but also a slave driver. but also the prophesied leader of God’s chosen people.

  Role 2: KITCH: male-identified. late teens/early 20’s. Black.
  a young man from the ghetto and Moses’ friend. jovial. loyal. kind. naive. a lovely friend to have. but also a slave. but also one of God’s chosen.

  Role 3: MISTER/OSSIFER: male-identified. late 20’s/early 30’s. White.

  • MISTER: a man in a light-colored suit. out of his element. earnest. wholesome. terrified. but also a plantation owner. but also pharaoh’s son.
  • OSSIFER: an enforcer of the law. not from around here, but always around. pragmatic. intimidating. also terrified. but also a patroller. but also a soldier in pharaoh’s army.

• THE CHILDREN

  *ROSE: Female-identified. 60s. Any Ethnicity.
  British accent required. Voluntarily childless; she takes life as it comes; she has a distinct sexual power; warm, loquacious, enigmatic, and self-possessed.

  *HAZEL: Female-identified. 60s. Any Ethnicity.
  British accent required. Mother to four adult children; married to Robin, and a former colleague of Rose; a super-organized yogi in denial of her body’s dilapidation; she is a wholly determined creature of habit, who exudes  domesticity even in moments of crisis.

  *ROBIN: Male-identified. 60s. Any Ethnicity.
  British accent required. A father to four adult children; married to Hazel, and a former colleague of Rose; charming, dramatic, and genial; he is weary, but wily and has the ability to transform from boorish to noble in the blink of an eye.

  *The roles of Rose, Hazel and Robin have been cast. Actors will be seen for these roles as replacements only.

• BRIGHT STAR

  Alice Murphy: Female-identified, 34-39. Any Ethnicity. An editor of a southern literary magazine;
  intelligent, attractive, professional–but with an air of melancholy. The same actress will also play Young Alice at age 16–rebellious, high-spirited, sexually forward, adventurous. Must be very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles. Vocal range: Very strong singer in a pop-folk style. Wide vocal range.

  Billy Cane: Male-identified, 22. Any Ethnicity. A soldier returning home from WWII;
  an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve. Vocal range: Bright, natural Bari-Tenor.

  Jimmy Ray Dobbs: Male-identified, 20-40. Any Ethnicity. Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s beau;
  handsome, boyishly 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. The same actor will also play an adult

  Jimmy Ray at age 40. Vocal range: Very strong singer in a pop-folk style. Bari-Tenor.
  Mayor Josiah Dobbs: Male-identified, 56-67. Any Ethnicity. The Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker–distinguished, even elegant, an imposing and controlling presence; has a genuine interest in protecting his son’s future and his family name, but in doing so, is ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and irrevocable cruelty. Vocal range: Bass-Baritone.

  Margo Crawford: Female-identified, 22. Any Ethnicity. a small-town bookstore owner;
  a childhood friend of Billy’s who now harbors romantic feelings towards him; a natural beauty with a keen intellect. Vocal range: A Mezzo-Soprano sweet, warm folk voice.

  Daddy Murphy: Male-identified, 56-67. Any Ethnicity. Alice’s father;
  an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer. Vocal range: Baritone.

  Mama Murphy: Female-identified, 50-64. Any Ethnicity. Alice’s mother;
  a caretaker to her family and her rural community; a warm, loving, sensible woman; hardworking, with great inner strength and compassion. Vocal range: Strong singer in a pop-folk style. Alto.

  Daddy Cane: Male-identified, 60-65. Any Ethnicity. Billy’s father;
  a widower; spry, good-looking; kindhearted, if a bit lonely. Vocal range: Bari-tenor.

  Daryl Ames: Male-identified, 26-39. Any Ethnicity. an assistant at a literary magazine;
  funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor; insecure, and perhaps a bit socially awkward, but endearing and innately likable; some character singing required but not a major singing role; should be able to move well. Vocal range: Bari-tenor.

  Lucy Grant: Female-identified, 20-30. Any Ethnicity. a junior editor at a literary magazine;
  anambitious, professional young “modern” career woman of the 1940s; sexy, forthright, and  provocative with a sharp sense of humor; must be able to vocally carry a big uptempo “foot stopping” drinking song and dance/move very well. Vocal range: Strong belt.

  Ensemble (1-4 actor/singer/musicians): Any gender, 20-50. Any Ethnicity. Strong singers with ability to perform multiple roles; skilled musicians.

Local Readings & Workshops
We understand that the best way to experience a script is live and on its feet, and so we try to see as many local staged readings, workshops and world premieres as possible. If your play is receiving a public reading or performance, e-mail information on the date, time, and responsible theatre company to submissions@speakeasystage.com, and we’ll make every effort to have a representative attend.

Unsolicited Submissions from New York & Non-Local Playwrights
SpeakEasy Stage accepts submissions from agents and development organizations in the United States, Canada, and the UK. Please send all inquiries to submissions@speakeasystage.com.

• Development Coordinator

  POSITION OVERVIEW:

  The Development Coordinator will report to the Director of Development and work collaboratively with the development department’s Special Events Manager. This person will play a key role in the success of the company supporting all of the company’s fundraising programs, including Major Gifts, Annual Fund, Corporate Sponsorship, Grants, and Special Events – and in the near future, a Capital Campaign. The next 5-10 years will be a period of critical growth for the company, and the Development Coordinator can have a significant impact on the company’s capacity to raise the necessary funds to support that growth. The Coordinator should be goal-oriented and seek to help the development department achieve its income and expense targets by identifying new funding opportunities, cultivating strong relationships, improving donor retention, and managing the resources needed to support these efforts.

  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Plan and execute the Annual Fund campaign, identifying prospects, developing communications strategies, producing print and digital solicitation materials, facilitating mailings, and coordinating the donor benefits program.
  • Support the Major Gifts program’s cultivation and stewardship activities and research and maintain donor profiles.
  • Coordinate the company’s Grants calendar and submissions, leading proposal and report writing and researching new funding opportunities.
  • Manage the corporate sponsorship program, identifying and cultivating new prospects, facilitating agreements and sponsorship benefits, and building relationships with the business contacts.
  • Support the Community Programs and Events Manager for major fundraising events as well as various stewardship events as needed.
  • Collaborate with the marketing department to manage the development communications calendar, including print, web site, email, and social media messages for all campaigns.
  • Take primary responsibility for the company’s development database, eTapestry, becoming an expert in its design and functionality, developing strategies for its use, and ensuring the accuracy of data and reports.
  • Manage the processing, tracking, and acknowledgement of all gifts to the company.
  • Produce budget reports and campaign analysis regularly and communicate with internal and external audiences as needed.
  • Coordinate the development department budget, including regular reconciliation with the financial records of the company.
  • Organize details for the Development Committee and Board of Overseer meetings.
  • Contribute new ideas and/or initiatives related to all fundraising activities.
  • Support priorities set by the Director of Development and perform other duties as assigned.

  QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
  • 2-4 years of fundraising experience, preferably in an arts organization.
  • Strong commitment to the mission of the company and the nonprofit arts industry.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise cultural competency and relate to a diverse population of artists, patrons, and community members.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially mail merges and spreadsheet functions.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality on behalf of SpeakEasy Stage Company and follow the AFP Code of Ethical Standards in all aspects of the work.
  • Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings for special events and committee meetings.
  • Ability to occasionally lift boxes up to 20 lbs and move up and down stairs.

  SKILLS NEEDED:

  • A self-starter, with the ability to take initiative and approach new projects with an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • An aptitude for utilizing technology, organizing information, and managing and analyzing data.
  • Outstanding organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects, adjust quickly to shifting priorities, meet deadlines, and exercise good judgment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively and effectively with company staff, artists, board members, patrons, and donors.
  • Ability to articulate SpeakEasy’s mission and serve as an ambassador for the company in a variety of settings.
  • Flexibility, adaptability and a strong work ethic within a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • An aptitude for learning, openness to feedback, and a positive attitude.
  • Experience with a fundraising database such as eTapestry.
  • Knowledge of the performing arts industry

  COMPENSATION:

  SpeakEasy will offer a salary that is competitive with other nonprofit arts organizations of similar size and also offers a generous health plan and disability insurance.

  HOW TO APPLY:

  Please send ONE PDF FILE to jobs@speakeasystage.com that includes both your resume and cover letter addressed to Cathi Ianno, Director of Development. The cover letter should describe your interest in and qualifications for the position as well as where you heard about it.

  APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 21, 2019. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

• Wardrobe Supervisor

  SpeakEasy Stage Co. is looking to hire a Wardrobe Supervisor for our upcoming season.

  Pay is $450 for tech week and $350 for performance weeks, 6 performances per week, additional $58 for added performances. Non-union.

  Job Description:
  Responsible for doing daily laundry, pressing, ironing, and maintenance of the wardrobe, as well as twice-weekly dry cleaning.  Preset all clothes for the top of each show. Assist the Costume Designer at Load In and Strike.

  The Wardrobe Supervisor will have access to backstage wardrobe room with washer and dryer, industrial iron, steamer, and sewing machine.  Dry cleaning vendor is directly across the street from the theatre.

  In the past, SpeakEasy has combined the Wardrobe position with a Run Crew position, for a crew member who wishes to increase their earning by coming in early to maintain the wardrobe prior to each show.

  Contact: Paul Melone, Production Manager
  paulmelone@speakeasystage.com

• Arts Administration

  Administrative Interns gain exposure to all facets of managing a mid-sized non-profit theatre company, working closely with the Artistic, Development, Marketing, and Production departments as they:

  • Prepare dramaturgical and marketing materials for upcoming productions
  • Coordinate and assist with special events, readings and benefits
  • Lay the groundwork for donor and audience engagement initiatives
  • Read and Assess script submissions from local and national writers
  • Build relationship with audiences and volunteers

  Interns will be expected both to help with general office duties, and also take on and manage a wide variety of necessary tasks throughout the semester. Candidates with a passion and love of theatre, good writing and computer skills, and a gregarious, outgoing, and enthusiastic personality will be the best fit for this position. Marketing internships are directly supervised by Dominique Burford, Administrative Associate.

  To apply, please submit:

  • A cover letter indicating your areas of interest and experience, your preferred start date, weekly availability (if available), and whether you plan to receive college credit for your internship
  • A resume or resumes detailing both your administrative and theatrical experience
  • The names and contact information of three references
  • A writing sample 1 to 2 pages max (optional)

  Application materials should be e-mailed to info@speakeasystage.com, with the position to which you are applying in the subject heading.

• Marketing

  Marketing Interns assist SpeakEasy’s marketing team as they:

  • Plan production marketing campaigns, including poster and postcard design, web design, ad placement, promotions, group sales, special events, business partnerships and more
  • Work with the press to ensure a show gets maximum exposure, including photos, preview articles, reviews, and features
  • Enact public relations efforts, including community building and outreach, educational efforts, and charity donations Interact with patrons and subscribers, and help the public learn about a production from all sides

  Candidates for this internship should be motivated, with good people skills, computer literacy and experience with Microsoft Office (familiarity with Adobe Photoshop is a plus). The ideal applicant will have a basic knowledge of common social networking devices, such as Facebook and Twitter, and will possess superior writing skills. Some graphic design experience is preferable. Marketing internships are directly supervised by Jim Torres, Director of Marketing & Communications.

  To apply, please submit:

  • A cover letter indicating your areas of interest and experience, your preferred start date, weekly availability (if available), and whether you plan to receive college credit for your internship
  • A resume or resumes detailing both your administrative and theatrical experience
  • The names and contact information of three references
  • A writing sample 1 to 2 pages max (optional)

  Application materials should be e-mailed to info@speakeasystage.com, with the position to which you are applying in the subject heading.

• Production Management

  Production Management interns assist SpeakEasy’s production management staff as they coordinate, design and execute mainstage productions, special events and auditions. Interns have the opportunity to assist with multiple facets of the season, including:

  • Hands-on work alongside technical and production management staff on our mainstage shows*
  • Coordinate schedules and meetings with production team
  • Plan, organize, and execute load-in and strike of productions
  • Maintain production stocks and supplies
  • Attend rehearsals and design/production meetings as needed

  Candidates should have some experience in theatre production (either professional, community, or educational), knowledge of Microsoft Office apps (especially MS Excel), as well as strong self-management and organizational skills.

  Production Management interns are supervised directly by Paul Melone, General & Production Manager and Dominique Burford, Associate Production Manager.

  To apply, please submit:

  • A cover letter indicating your areas of interest and experience, your preferred start date, weekly availability (if available), and whether you plan to receive college credit for your internship
  • A resume or resumes detailing both your administrative and theatrical experience
  • The names and contact information of three references

  Application materials should be e-mailed to dominiqueburford@speakeasystage.com, with the position to which you are applying in the subject heading.

• Stage Management

  Stage Management interns work alongside our professional stage managers and run crew on our mainstage productions, gaining essential knowledge in the responsibilities of a stage management team for professional plays and musicals. Internships in stage management are offered on a show-by-show basis.

  Stage Management interns must be able to commit to a full 8-week production schedule, which includes rehearsals, tech, and performances. A mix of daytime, evening, and weekend availability is required based on the particular show to which you are assigned. Production schedules will be listed below to indicate when applications are open for that show.  

  Prior experience in Stage Management at the community, professional, or educational level is required, though certain candidates with extensive training in theatre arts will be considered.

  To apply, please email dominiqueburford@speakeasystage.com with a resume and cover letter detailing your previous experience and what interests you about the show to which you are applying. You should also include your full availability and any potential conflicts with the production schedule. You may be asked to complete a short survey to give us a fuller sense of your strengths and experiences in theatre production.

   

• Artistic Fellowship

  Working under the Producing Artistic Director, the Artistic Fellow will spend the season gaining experience in high-level theatrical administration, with responsibility in multiple areas, including auditions and casting, dramaturgy and literary management, season development, special event production, and general administrative duties. Applicants for this fellowship should be interested in pursuing a career as an artistic director of a theatre company.

Application Requirements

To apply for any of the fellowships, please prepare:

• A cover letter detailing which fellowship you are applying for
• A resume containing relevant job history and theatre experience
• A narrative of no more than three pages addressing:
  • Why you are interested in the fellowship to which you are applying
  • The qualities, skills, and interests that make you the best candidate
  • What you are hoping to gain from the fellowship experience
  • A description of your broader career goals, and what impact or transformation you would like to have in the Boston theatre community
• A brief description (no more than one page) of either the most moving piece of theatre you’ve ever seen, or an artist who inspires you
• Two letters of recommendation from former employers, professors, or supervisors (with at least one being from a staff member of an arts organization or a theatre professor). These letters may be sent separately via e-mail to fellow@speakeasystage.com, but must be received by the application due date.

Application materials should be saved in .pdf format and submitted via e-mail to fellow@speakeasystage.com. Please indicate the fellowship to which you are applying in the subject heading of your e-mail.

Any questions regarding SpeakEasy, the Fellowship program, or the application process may be directed to fellow@speakeasystage.com.