The Whale Auditions Avenue Arts Marketplace & Theatre announces auditions for THE WHALE Located at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44702 SYNOPSIS: On the outskirts of Mormon Country, Idaho, a six-hundred-pound recluse hides away in his apartment and slowly eats himself to death. Desperate to reconnect with his long-estranged daughter, he reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen. Big-hearted and fiercely funny, The Whale tells the story of a man's last chance at redemption, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places. The Whale is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Directed by: Kourtney Highland Auditions will be held on Tuesday, January 28th and Wednesday, January 29th from 7-9pm Callbacks (if necessary) will take place on January 30th from 7-9pm All auditioners are asked to come prepared to cold read from the script. We also ask that you bring a current headshot and resume with you to auditions. Please be familiar with the script using the link provided in the SignUpGenius BELOW! At this time, there are no stipends and/or AEA contracts being offered! Rehearsals will begin on February 3rd and will run Mondays through Thursdays Performances: March 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st at 8pm and March 15th at 2pm TO AUDITION, PLEASE GO TO: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4bafa82ca3fe3-thewhale2 <https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4bafa82ca3fe3-thewhale2> CHARACTERS: Charlie (male, any ethnicity, early-mid 40s-50s) - a morbidly obese man (somewhere around 650 lbs) who is dying of congestive heart failure throughout the play; been wasting away for years, ever since giving up on himself since the death of his partne; however awful his life has become, he has put all of his hopes and optimism on his daughter, who he hasn’t seen in 17 years; a very insightful, intelligent , well-educated man who is sensitive, gentle, and thoughtful This role requires mature language and mild sexual content Liz (female, any ethnicity, 30s-40s) - Charlie’s best friend; a nurse who would like to think of herself as very hardened, but she’s not; masking a huge amount of emotional depth, and she’s constantly trying to shove her feelings down into herself; brash, stern, and loud, but pretty sensitive on the inside. This role requires mature language and simulated alcohol use Ellie (female, any ethnicity, late teens-early 20s) - Charlie’s daughter whom he hasn’t seen since she was a baby; a deeply intelligent, deeply cynical teenager who feels—probably accurately—that she is always the smartest person in the world; very manipulative and shrewd, has convinced herself that she doesn’t care about her ailing father; never valley-girl or sarcastic and eye-rolling, doesn’t say things to be mean, she says them because they are true. This role requires mature language and simulated drug use (marijuana) Elder Thomas (male, any ethnicity, late teens-early 20s) - a Mormon missionary who happens upon Charlie just as he has his first cardiac episode; a somewhat naïve, innocent young man who just wants to see Mormonism help one person before he ends his mission; makes a big effort to be a good Mormon boy, but underneath it all he’s a normal disaffected, pot-smoking Midwestern teenager. This role requires simulated drug use (marijuana) Mary (female, any ethnicity, early-mid 40s-50s) - Ellie’s mother; Charlie’s ex-wife, who has also not seen Charlie in 17 years; a hardened alcoholic who has been there, done that; a woman who has made a lot of bad choices, but feels that she has done the best she can given the cards she was dealt. This role requires mature language and simulated alcohol use Avenue Arts Marketplace and Theatre is a CLEan House Theatre. This means we are committed to being a space free of harassment based on sex, gender, race, religion, class, ethnicity, nationality, political belief, or ability. We are committed to being a safe environment that fully allows us to challenge ourselves, our audiences, and our communities; that supports creative risks of mind and body; and that establishes the freedom to create theatre that represents the full range of human experience. All questions should be directed to avenueartstheatre@gmail.com <mailto:avenueartstheatre@gmail.com>