Quintessence is proud to open auditions for four of its Season XIII offerings: The Chairs, Mary Poppins, Waiting for Lefty, and The Tempest. Seeking actors to play all listed roles. Local applicants highly encouraged. Quintessence is committed to diversity in all hiring and will carefully consider all applicants. Applicants from under-represented populations are encouraged to apply.

The Chairs:
Director: Alex Burns
First rehearsal - 8/31/2022
Opening - 10/1/2022
Closing - 10/23/2022
Possible extension - 10/30/2023

Mary Poppins:
Director: Emily Trask
First rehearsal - 11/1/2022
Opening - 12/2/2022
Closing - 12/31/2022
Possible extension - 1/8/2023

Waiting for Lefty:
Director: Kyle Haden
First rehearsal - 12/27/2022
Opening - 1/21/2023
Closing - 2/12/2023

The Tempest:
Director: Alex Burns
First rehearsal - 1/24/2023
Opening - 3/4/2023
Closing - 3/26/2023
Possible extension - 4/2/2023

THE CHAIRS:

Orator (45 - 50). Resembles a nineteenth century painter or poet. Experience in physical theatre and clowning encouraged. Proficiency in American Sign Language preferred.

MARY POPPINS:

• Bert – Baritone: B - F# .the narrator of the story. A song and dance man, charismatic and charming. A working class "jack of all trades", may possess some magic ability as well.
• Winifred Banks/Ensemble – Mezzo: A – D. Winifred is the wife of George Banks, and mother to Jane and Michael. A society woman and a former actress. Confused and overwhelmed with her family and her role in it.
• George Banks/Ensemble – Baritone: Bflat – Eflat. George is the husband of Winifred, and father of Jane and Michael Banks. Works at a bank in London, is often away at work and rarely spends time with the children. Learns lessons about being more affectionate to his family and is taught that they are more important than work.
• Jane Banks – Soprano: A - F#. Reads 11 or 12. The eldest of George and Winifred, she is described as being messy and having a bad temper.
• Michael Banks – Treble: A - E . Reads around 10. The son of George and Winifred. He is a mischievous little boy who likes to play pranks on his nannies and not follow the rules. He longs for more attention and time with his father, which is most likely the cause of his behavior.
• Mrs. Brill/Bird Woman/Miss Lark/Ensemble – Alto: F# - D#. Mrs. Brill is the maid for the Banks family. She is overworked and often stressed due to the behavior of the children and the demands placed on her by Mr. and Mrs. Banks. The Bird Woman is a beggar woman who is dressed in rags and looks disheveled. She sits on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in London every day, selling bags of crumbs for a tuppence. Miss Lark is the lady that lives in an elaborate home next door to the Banks family. She often runs into Jane and Michael on Cherry Tree Lane when she is out walking her dog, Willoughby. She has a flirtatious relationship with Admiral Boom.
• Robertson Ay/Park Keeper/Ensemble – Tenor: F - G#. Robertson Ay is the house servant for the Banks family. A bit lazy and sleepy, but also kind and a friend to the Banks children. Often is the cause of chaos and is not very helpful, however the Banks family puts up with him. Physical comedian. Seeking an actor with dance ability and the ability to play an instrument.
• Admiral Boom/Miss Andrew/Bank Chairman/Ensemble – Baritone: C – D. Admiral Boom is a retired sea captain that lives in a grand house next door to the Banks home. An older man who often gives readings of the weather and keeps an eye out on the neighborhood. Miss Andrew is George Banks' former nanny. A very mean and strict nanny, the antagonist of the story. An old spinster, never having married or having children of her own.
• Mrs. Clara Corry/ Katie Nanna/ Queen Victoria/ Miss Smythe/Banker/Ensemble – Soprano. Mrs. Corry is magical woman who operates a magical pop-up "Talking Shop". Her customers are described as magical people known as "Chatterboxes" who feed off of good conversation and difficult words. “One of the oldest women in the world” (although she doesn't look it).
• Neleus/Northbrook/Valentine/Doorman/Ensemble - Neleus is a statue in the park across from the Banks house that Mary Poppins brings to life. Seeking an actor of any gender (character will be male-presenting) with dance ability.
• Policeman/Von Hussler/Teddy Bear/Banker/Ensemble - Seeking an actor of any gender with dance ability to play several minor parts

WAITING FOR LEFTY:
Actor's gender does not need to match the gender of the character.

• Harry Fatt - A corrupt union leader, driven by a ruthless greed and a hunger for power. Unmoved by the desperate poverty of the workers he claims to serve.
• Gunman - Harry Fatt's "muscle" and enforcer. A sinister figure, a constant menace.
• Joe – A working-class taxi driver and member of the union committee, the first to rise and speak in Lefty’s place. Has greater hope for the future despite his current poverty, thanks largely to his wife, Edna.
• Edna – Joe's wife, passionate and angry. Pulls her own domestic strike, threatening to leave Joe for a man with a better income. Urges unity above all else among the taxi drivers.
• Miller – An idealistic lab assistant and a principled pacifist.
• Fayette – the head of a large industrial corporation, an industrialist. Charismatic but untroubled by ethics. The enemy of the working class.
• Sid – A taxi driver who seems to have lost hope. Has dreams but does not believe he can attain them. Feels he cannot live up to being a man in the world.
• Florence – Sid's girlfriend, tending to her sick mother. Knows that despite her love for Sid, he cannot provide for her. A dreamer despite her circumstances.
• Irv – Florence's brother. Stern, paternal, realistic.
• Tom Clayton – A "labor spy," who poses as a "brother" cabbie from Philadelphia. Actually a strikebreaker named Clancy.
• Clear Voice (Clancy's sibling) - Emerges from the crowd to denounce "Tom Clayton" as a labor spy. Their commitment to the working class far outweighs the bonds of family.
• Dr. Barnes – An elderly doctor, upset over the way the government controls the hospital. Angry over Dr. Benjamin's firing, he finds his lost idealism.
• Dr. Benjamin – A young Jewish doctor and also a committee member of the taxi drivers' union. Enraged over the classism and nepotism of the government. Fired from the hospital, he adopts the radical ideas he had previously rejected.
• Agate – An "agitator” who stirs up the taxi drivers to go on strike. Defiant against the union leadership, desperate, resolute.

THE TEMPEST:

• Miranda – Daughter to Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan. Escaping Milan with her father as an infant, she has grown up on a deserted island, her father her only tutor and human companion. Innately kind-hearted, without judgement and awestruck. 
• Ariel – An ethereal spirit of the island with magical powers. In service to Prospero for freeing them from a sorceress' prison. Playful and mischievous, they have the power to control nature and humankind.  
• Caliban – An island native and the offspring to the powerful sorceress who previously ruled the island. Half human, half creature. Now Prospero’s slave and enamored with his daughter Miranda. Quick to idolize. Desirous of freedom, pleasure and revenge. 
• Alonso – The proud and aloof ruler of Naples. On a voyage to attend the wedding of their daughter to the Prince of Tunis when their boat is wrecked on Prospero's island. They believe their son Ferdinand is lost in the shipwreck. Twelve years earlier they had helped Antonio to overthrow Prospero to become the Duke of Milan, and now regrets their actions. 
• Ferdinand – Born into privilege, the Prince of Naples, son of Alonso. Strong, handsome and well educated, but as naïve as Miranda, with whom he falls in love at first sight. 
• Stephano - Alonso's drunken butler. Self-important and proud of their excellence. Enjoys having their own servant, becomes drunk with power, and plots to kill Prospero for his riches and power. 
• Trinculo – Alonso's jester. Reluctantly joins Stephano, and follows along with the plot to kill Prospero. 
• Antonio – A politician. Prospero’s younger sibling. They scheme with Alonso and succesfully overthrew Prospero to become the Duke of Milan. Power hungry, crafty and unscrupulous. 
• Sebastian – Another politician. Alonso's younger sibling. Ambitious and eager for power. Easily manipulated and capable of killing their sibling and ruler for advancement. 
• Gonzalo – Alonso's counsellor and trusted advisor. Erudite and honest. Was kind to Prospero and Miranda when they were cast out to sea. The play's moral conscience.