Fences
by Georgetown Palace Theatre
Dec. 09
In 1957, Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues, now works as a sanitation worker in Pittsburgh. Battling racial and economic barriers, Troy’s dreams and disappointments cast a shadow over his relationships with his family, especially his son Cory, who wishes to pursue a career in football. The play explores themes of generational conflict, unfulfilled dreams, and the impact of systemic racism on Black lives.
Written by August Wilson
Directed by Jeremy Rashad Brown
Initial auditions for The Georgetown Palace’s production of Fences will take place from Monday, December 9 with callbacks on Tuesday, December 10 on the Playhouse Stage.
The production is scheduled to open on Friday, February 14, 2025 and close on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Monday, January 6, 2025.
What we are looking for:
We are looking for African American performers for all roles. We are looking for actors aged 18 and up. In addition to the named roles, we are looking to cast at least 2 understudies.
The Georgetown Palace desires to be as inclusive as possible and we enthusiastically encourage gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and nonbinary actors to submit to audition for any roles listed. We also seek all races, ethnicities, and abilities. Our character descriptions following are gender binary and are written with he/him or she/her. While they are limited in their writing, we hope that anyone who identifies with any of the roles, will come out and audition.
Character Descriptions:
*Special note: Though the characters in the piece are cis-gender, non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming actors are encouraged to audition.
*The age range listed with each character is the age the character should present on stage, not necessarily the age of the actor playing the role.
*Fight Choreography in the show will be listed with the character.
**Intimacy will be used by all actors to properly establish personal and physical do’s and don’t between all actors’ physical interactions.
TROY MAXSON – 40-55 years old: former Baseball player
Will have some Fight Choreo with Cory
Has intense verbal arguments with Rose
JIM BONO – 40-55 years old: Troy’s friend
ROSE – 35-50 years old: Troy’s wife
Has intense verbal arguments with Troy
LYONS – 27-33 years old: Troy’s oldest son by previous marriage
GABRIEL – 40-55 years old: Troy’s brother
CORY – 17-23 years old: Troy and Rose’s son
Will have some Fight Choreo with Troy
RAYNELL – 7-10 years old: Troy’s daughter
The Auditions:
Initial auditions will take place on the Playhouse Stage on Monday, December 9 from 6:30-10:00p.
Please note that at any time, these auditions could be video recorded for casting purposes only.
Please prepare a dramatic monologue preferably from a play, around a minute long. It does not have to be memorized but should be prepared. We welcome auditioners who are 18 and older.
Callbacks will consist of cold reads from the script, and a little improvisation. Sides will be posted with the callback list.
Callbacks:
Callbacks will take place on Tuesday, December 10 by invitation only from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM on the Playhouse Stage.
Callbacks will be posted on the Georgetown Palace website as soon as possible after initial auditions are completed, and an email will be sent to all audition participants at the time of posting. Specific sides will be provided for callbacks for all characters.
A link to the website that holds the sides will be provided in the email.
Audition sign ups can be found HERE
If none of the auditions times listed works for your schedule, please fill out the form and add yourself to the waitlist. Send productions@georgetownpalace.com an email, and we’ll arrange an alternate audition time. If you are on the waitlist, please send an email explaining why – productions will no longer be reaching out to those on the waiting list.
When signing up for an audition slot please note any conflicts during the rehearsal or performance dates. Please note: conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions. Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. Sunday rehearsals will only be planned for tech rehearsals immediately prior to opening, but please include Sunday afternoon conflicts for the rehearsal period so that in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts we will know whether a reschedule on Sunday is an option. Adding all of your conflicts after casting could result in your removal of the production.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals begin Monday, January 6, 2025. Scripts will be available at the first rehearsal. But those offered roles will receive a link to a digital copy. Rehearsals will typically be held Monday-Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Sunday afternoon will only be an option in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts.
Performances:
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Sometimes ticket demand causes us to add Saturday Matinee performances at 2 pm.
Casting:
Once casting is completed (typically 2-3 days after callbacks), emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email.
Compensation:
All actors* offered a role in the show will be paid a non-union stipend.
*Payment and casting will be contingent upon The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s casting policies.
Health and Safety Protocols:
Everyone should stay home if they do not feel well. If you test positive for COVID 19, or suspect you have the flu, you should stay home and away from others until for 24 hours. Please monitor your symptoms for improvement and fever free (without meds). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
We still recommend wearing a mask in rehearsals the day after you return from travel.
GPT:
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin, or other factors. We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.
Please see our operating Standards at the following link:
Georgetown Palace Operating Standards
Everyone involved with the production must submit to a background check at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
If you have any questions, please email productions@georgetownpalace.com.
