Auditions for “Doubt, A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley

Coal Creek Theater of Louisville announces auditions for “Doubt, A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by M. Shane Grant

When: Monday and Tuesday, July 13th & 14th – 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Wednesday, July 15th – 6:30pm to 9:30pm (Callbacks – by invitation only)
If you have conflicts with the audition dates, please email the director at grant.mshane@gmail.com

Where: Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant Avenue, Louisville CO 80027

About the play: Set in 1964, this captivating drama centers on Sister Aloysius’ certainty that the new parish priest, Father Flynn, has had an inappropriate relationship with a student. She has no definitive evidence, but she is certain. As she strives to prove the priest’s guilt she enlists the help of Sister James, a young nun brimming with optimism and kindness. She also calls on the student’s mother, Mrs. Muller, in hopes of finding the proof she needs to send Father Flynn packing. Dealing with themes of guilt, innocence, and the powers of doubt and certainty, audience members will have to decide for themselves if Father Flynn is a predator or victim of false accusation.

Rehearsals: There will be an early week of rehearsals August 23rd – 27th. Full rehearsals start up again in mid-September. Rehearsals will be held 4 to 5 days per week in the evenings and on some weekends. All actors will be called the first week for read-throughs and table work and the final week before tech for run-throughs. For the majority of rehearsals, the actor playing Sister Aloysius will be called 4-5 times per week. The actors playing Sister James and Father Flynn will be called 2-4 times per week, and Mrs. Muller will be called 1-2 times per week. Technical rehearsals begin October 24th.

Performances: There will be 8 performances, October 30th through November 14th. Actors will be called for strike on November 15th.

All roles are available – none have been pre-cast. It is possible understudies will be cast, depending on turnout. No roles are paid; we are all volunteers. CCTL does solicit donations from audience members to a “starving artists” fund. That money is split evenly among the cast (including understudies) and the production run crew.

The director highly desires a diverse cast. Coal Creek theatre does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, or physical ability.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script – no need to prepare anything. There may also be some improv work. Please come to the audition knowing all your conflicts between August 23rd and November 15th. Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required. You will be asked to provide your theatrical experience, but those without experience are enthusiastically encouraged to audition.

Brief Character Descriptions (Ages listed are loose approximations and not proscriptive for the actors who will be cast):

Sister Aloysius (over 50 – any race, female presenting). Principal of the parish’s Catholic school. She lives in a world of absolutes, knows what is right and what is wrong, moral and immoral, and that progress is a threat to tradition and social order. She is often scary, but she never has to try and be scary. Her strictness and inflexibility produce the fear she induces in others. She genuinely cares deeply about the students, their education, and their safety. Speaks with an NYC accent.

Sister James (a few decades younger than Sister Aloysius – any race, female presenting). A new teacher at St. Nicolas School, brimming with optimism and compassion. She loves teaching and wants her students to not only learn but enjoy/have fun at school. She assumes the best in people, including her students, so can be a bit naive as to student trickery and some of the darker aspects of the world. She is scared of Sister Aloysius, but desperately wants to please her. She begins the play thinking the world of Father Flynn and then struggles mightily regarding his guilt or innocence following Sister Aloysius’ accusation.

Father Flynn (a generation-ish younger than Sister Aloysius – any race, male presenting). A charismatic priest and exceptional speaker. He genuinely wants to connect with the members of his parish and the students at St. Nicholas. He supports the Vatican’s recent edicts that the church needs to be more approachable to its parishioners and the public. He believes the church has been too formal and welcomes a bit more secular stories to codified liturgy. He loved JFK and was greatly impacted by his assassination. He speaks with a northeastern (Boston) accent.

Mrs. Muller (old enough to have a 12-year-old son – African American, female presenting). Mrs. Muller’s son Donald is the first and only African American student at the school. She is not at all convinced that Father Flynn has abused her son. She sees Donald’s attendance at St. Nicholas as an opportunity to open doors at better high schools and beyond. She knows how to be polite to those in positions of authority, but can also stand her ground.

Have questions? Email the director at grant.mshane@gmail.com.

Please follow the link below to sign up for one of the general audition sessions. If the slots are full, please email the director.

“Doubt, A Parable” is presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Coal Creek Theater of Louisville is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization based in Louisville, CO and is sponsored in part by the City.