Rubber City Theatre is accepting AEA and Non-Equity actor submissions for an invite only staged reading of our new musical based off of *A Midsummer Night's Dream*. Co-Writers Amy Burgess and Rachel Dean from NYC have been commissioned to adapt the piece which is apart of RCT's Shakesqueer Project. The show is set in the 1940s at the end of WW2 in Akron. *See Below for Character Breakdown*. *Pay* - AEA: Actors will be paid a small stipend for travel per the 29 Hour Reading Contract. Non-Equity: There is no stipend at this time. *Schedule*: Rehearsals are from 6-10pm on 8/4; 7-10pm on 8/5-8/6. Reading is on 8/10 at 7:30pm, 6:30pm - Call time. *Submission*: To submit please email a headshot and resume to casting@rubbercitytheatre.com. We may ask for a brief video of you singing. Due to the short rehearsal nature of the reading, we will not allow conflicts. Please note if you are cast in the reading it does not guarantee casting in the workshop or full production later in the season. *Character Breakdown*: 10 Women and 6 Men In reference to the character descriptions - most characters we encounter currently are on the binary and are written with the he/him or she/her pronouns and you will see that are in the following descriptions. But, however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. As an ADA compliant theatre, we welcome performers of all abilities and will make all reasonable accommodations in order to cast performers, regardless of disability, in any role possible. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide. (Language developed by Kevin Kantor and Emily Tarquin from the Actors Theatre of Louisville). 1. Helen Brown (29) - She is headstrong, straight-forward, stubborn, and follows the rules to the letter. She is the youngest factory overseer on the floor, and everyone around her treats her like she is in charge. She is good at her job and well-respected by the women working under her. Helen is no-nonsense and, to the casual observer, someone who is closed off from involvement in others’ affairs. She is brusque and doesn’t have room for niceties. Hard outer shell, soft in the middle. She’s in love with Billie. 2. Eleanor “Ellie” Good (19 or maybe 21?) - Ellie’s energy is bright and kind, and while she is certainly a beautiful young woman by any measure, she presents herself without much fanfare even though her presence is the kind that demands acknowledgement. Ellie is clearly aware of her effect on others, and uses it strategically. A dreamer at heart, she wants to make her father happy, but finds it takes her further and further away from her own pursuit of happiness. Meets and falls head over heels in love with Sandra. 3. Billie Harris (34) - A long time worker on the factory floor, Billie has lived in Akron her whole life, and started working at the factory when she turned 18, one of only a few women who worked on the floor before the war. She is friendly, warm, familial, and outgoing - a stable presence in the community. Billie keeps her private life private. She’s in love with Helen, but because of their complicated history, sees Ellie as someone more emotionally available. 4. Lt. Sandra O’Hare (26) - Sandra is a dashingly beautiful woman with the confidence of a man. A lieutenant in the Navy and the youngest person in charge of a department at the Office of War Information, she is able to command the room and the attention of men and women alike with forcefulness. She’s unquestionably in charge, intelligent, and quick, but with a sense of humor that keeps her amused, upbeat, and sure in the face of conflict. The only thing able to take her by surprise is her feelings for Ellie, which run a little deeper than she expected. 5. Mr. GS Good/Frank (52) - Mr. G.S. Good - Owner and foreman of the factory, Mr. Good has developed a sharp business acumen over the years which has rarely steered him wrong. He is buttoned-up, strait-laced, and very comfortable with maintaining tradition. His first concern is and always has been whatever is best for the factory, which, to him, is synonymous with what is best for the family. His daughter Ellie has him wrapped around her finger, but not so much that he’ll miss an opportunity to merge his company with the Knights’ via Ellie’s marriage. He loves his daughter and wants what’s best for her, in his opinion, of course. - Frank - a member of the Four F’s. Probably the only good player in the group. 6. Robert Sheridan (45) - Together with Clarence Ryan, co-owner of Akron’s Ritz theater and its adjoining bar as well as the temporarily closed Summit Lake Resort in the center of town. The two moved from New York to Akron in 1935, having survived the depression due to considerable real estate and land holdings. They are part of the upper class of Akron, despite their eccentric personalities. Robert has always been the frontman for the two’s business exploits, a dynamic at play in their long-standing romantic relationship as well. 7. Clarence “Clary” Ryan (39) - Longtime business and romantic partner of Robert Sheridan. He’s always been the more detail-oriented and organized of the two, both in business and life; he’s much more likely to feel the stress of perfectionism and getting everything just right. This tendency to be keyed-up is complemented well by Robert’s relaxed and playful approach to life. 8. Buck (25) - Robert’s longtime personal assistant and bartender of the Ritz Bar. Always up for a good time, he often is the deciding vote in Robert’s favor in arguments between Robert and Clarence about how to throw parties. It’s been awhile since they had either reason or venue for a party, though; however, despite the war dragging on into tedium and Buck, Robert and Clarence settling into a ho-hum routine, Buck is never far from stoking some kind of mischief. 9. Nick Butz (30s) - Bandleader of the truly awful but always dogged Four F’s. Always looking for gigs, always underemployed, and potentially the least talented member of the group, he’s perhaps best defined by his hapless determination and stick-to-it-iveness. Also, he may or may not have a thing for Clarence. 10. Frances/Film Crew (30s) - Frances - a member of the Four F’s, and a sometimes composer/songwriter for the band. 11. Finn (drag)/Factory Girl (Mary)/Film Crew (drag) (woman) (20s) - Finn - a member of the Four F’s. - Mary - a bit of a busybody, but a well-meaning one. 12. Factory Girl (Margie)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Margie - Doesn’t talk much, but doesn’t need to - she is incredibly skilled at her work, and communicates only what and when she needs to. 13. Factory Girl (Elaine)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Elaine - A self-styled realist, though others might say pessimist. Efficient at her job, and a valuable team member. 14. Factory Girl (Betty)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Betty - Smart and analytical, but new to the job at the factory and prone to mistakes. She tends to cower before authority. 15. Factory Girl (Ruth)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Ruth - Optimistic, and often a source of wartime information for the other factory workers, since her brother is on or near the front lines. 16. Factory Girl (Jean) /Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Jean - A bit nosy, a bit talkative, and overall supportive of the other girls on the line and hopeful for the war’s end.