Sagittarius Ponderosa
by Austin Rainbow Theatre (ART)
Jul. 08 - Jul. 15
Sagittarius Ponderosa follows the story of Archer (still Angela to his family) who returns back to his childhood home in Oregon when his father falls ill. But at night under the oldest Ponderosa Pine, he meets a stranger who knows the history of the forests and the sadness of losing endangered things. As Archer accepts big changes in his family he discovers the power of names and the histories they make and mask. Set under the protective branches of a matriarchal pine, MJ Kaufman’s Sagittarius Ponderosa is a moving story about identity, family, and the passage of time, told in a voice that is poetic, delicate, and down to earth.
Austin Rainbow Theatre (ART) is seeking to cast the following roles for our upcoming production of Sagittarius Ponderosa by MJ Kaufman.
SAGITTARIUS PONDEROSA
by MJ Kaufman
Directed by Adam Adolfo
Show Run: October 17th – November 1st 2025
Submission Deadline: July 15th, 2025
Callback Date: July 28th, 2025
Rehearsals Begin: September 1st, 2025
Exact rehearsal times will be determined in accordance with actors’ schedules & conflicts.
Tech Rehearsals: October 12 – 16, 2025
All actors will be paid an honorarium of $800
To submit for the auditions, please email casting@austinrainbowtheatre.org . Please include a headshot / recent photo of yourself, a resume if you have one, and a video of you performing a contemporary monologue (1 minute).
Note: The role of Archer has been cast. All other roles remain open, and we welcome submissions from actors of all backgrounds.
Character Breakdown
ARCHER – Previously CAST
POPS – 60’s. Prone to sugar binges, he may have been Angela’s father, but he is most certainly Archer’s Dad. Saddled with a chronic condition that will turn fatal, he approaches the world with humor and levity. The performer who portrays this role will be asked to puppeteer the role of PETERSON.
GRANDMA – Kind-hearted and gleeful, a matchmaker at heart, she doesn’t hear very well. 80’s.
OWEN – Semester intern at the nature conservancy. He truly loves trees. Sympathetic, kind, and sexy, he represents comfort and solace that ARCHER is able to find during their nightly trysts under the trees . 29.
MOM – Archer’s Mom. A woman who has spent her life caring for the house, the family, and POPS, she is learning to cope in the face of uncertainty and grief. 60’s.
PETERSON (A puppet) – Cute pot-bellied puppet, manipulated by POPS.
Austin Rainbow Theatre is staunchly committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Unless otherwise noted in the character description, casting decisions are not made based on race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, assigned gender at birth, or any other identity or background. Actors are strongly encouraged to apply for any role for which they feel fit.A
Directed by Adam Adolfo, in his ART debut, this play explores magical realism amidst life’s many transitions. Sagittarius Ponderosa blends reality & dreams, the wild and home, what has been and what can be again. A powerful tale of lives in transition, this family drama is a dreamy heartfelt exploration of the resilience of the human spirit. A.R.T. seeks fearless performers who can play in varying styles of acting, voice, and movement.
