African Stew
by Ground Floor Theatre
Nov. 16
When an African American woman and a Nigerian man announce their engagement after a swift courtship, their families gather for a meal in Oakland. What begins as a celebration soon simmers with tension as cultural differences, familial expectations, and questions of identity bubble to the surface. A candid exploration of love, class, and culture within the Black Diaspora, Lisa B. Thompson’s new satirical comedy African Stew brings complex relationships to the table.
Ground Floor Theatre (GFT) is holding auditions for the rolling world premiere production of African Stew written by Lisa B. Thompson and directed by Matrex Kilgore.
GFT is seeking actors to fill all roles.
Auditions will be held at Ground Floor Theatre’s Underground (979 Springdale Rd at Airport) on Monday November 16 6 – 9 pm with a possible Callback (if needed) on November 17, 2026. Auditions will be by appointment only and will consist of readings from the script. Sides will be sent to you before the audition. When scheduling an audition, please tell us what role you are interested in. Email lisa@groundfloortheatre.org to schedule.
Please bring a physical picture and resume with you to the auditions. If you are unable to, you may send via email to lisa@groundfloortheatre.org and it will be printed for you.. Please name all files with the actor's first and last name and file type (ex. John Smith Headshot, John Smith Resume).
All positions are paid a stipend of $1,100.00.
Ground Floor Theatre is committed to inclusivity and as such unless specifically called for in the script, we cast without consideration to ability, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, size, or shape.
Character Breakdown
Julie “Jules” Lawson: 30s African American woman. Private school girl who spent
winters in New Orleans and summers on Martha’s Vineyard. Stanford Anthropology
doctoral student.
Akintunde “Kin” “Tunde” Adebayo Akintola Ogunde: 30s Nigerian (Yoruba) man.
Julie’s fiancé. A resident at Stanford’s School of Medicine. Raised shuttling between
London and Lagos. Attended boarding school in the UK. Slight British or Nigerian
accent.
Babatunde “Baba” Ogunde: 60s Nigerian (Yoruba), from Ibadan. Kin’s father. An
oil company executive. British or Nigerian accent. Lives in London and Lagos.
Titilola “Lola” Ogunde: 50s, Nigerian (half Yoruba and half Igbo) woman. Kin’s
mother. Former model and boutique owner. Lives in London and Lagos. Nigerian accent.
Harold “Harry” Lawson: 50s, African American man. Julie’s father. Working class
origins in San Francisco. Partner in a law firm.
Diana “Didi” Lawson: 50s, African American woman, Julie’s mother. From the New
Orleans middle class but embraces an Afro-centric style. African Diaspora bookstore
owner. She wears African inspired clothing, and sports locks or braids.
Patricia “Trish” Lopez: 30s, Afro-Latina (think Rosario Dawson or Zoe Saldana)
lesbian. Julie’s best friend. First Gen ‘hood princess. Graduate student at Stanford.
Performances will be February 18 – March 6, with rehearsals beginning in January. Exact rehearsal schedule will be determined by actor availability.
