Written by Dominique Morisseau
Directed by Lorraine Brooks

Audition Dates and Info:

Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 – 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 – 1-3 p.m.
CALLBACKS (if needed) Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY - auditioners will be seen on a first-come/first-served basis.

Please prepare a monologue one to two minutes in length. Sides will be provided at audition. Video submissions will be accepted - Submit via email to LBROOKS127@yahoo.com

Location:

Vagabond Players
806 S. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231

Play Synopsis:

Nya, a public school teacher in an overcrowded and underfunded inner-city high school, struggles to save her 17-year old son Omari from the negative influences around him, while she also grapples with Omari’s often legitimate complaints about the educational system. Nya’s ex-husband and Omari’s father Xavier often disagree about the ways to keep Omari on the “right” path. They send him to private school, where he is involved in an incident that jeopardizes his future in school, and perhaps, in life. The play looks at the phenomenon of what is called the “school to prison pipeline,” which often affects adolescent African-American males. Omari feels that he is being made a victim of this trend, because of a confrontation with a teacher at his school.

Production Dates:

April 4 - 27, 2025
Performances Fri./Sat. at 8 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m.
Special Performance Thursday, April 24 at 8 p.m.
Actors MUST be available for ALL performances.

Rehearsal Dates:

Rehearsals will begin late February and be held 3 times per week - 2 weeknights (most likely Tues. and Thurs.) and Saturdays. Final schedule TBD.

Character Descriptions:

ALL ROLES ARE OPEN Vagabond Players is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and ages to audition. We are a nonprofit, non-union theatre. Actors will receive a $100 stipend.

Nya (Black female, 35-50) Single mother and “Burned out” public high school teacher raising her son on her own. Struggles with her relationship with her ex-husband, who is her son’s father.

Omari (Black male, able to play late teens) Nya’s son, attending private school. Smart, angry, but sensitive. Struggling to find his way through a system that often does not understand his rage.

Jasmine (Black or Latina female, able to play late teens) Tough and sensitive. Insightful. Understands the issues in herself and her environment.

Xavier (Black male, 35-50) Nya’s ex-husband and Omari’s father. Struggles to connect with his son. Financially stable, but emotionally disconnected.

Laurie (White female, 40s-50s) Sharp tongue, tough, aware, doesn’t back down from a fight.

Dun (Black male, any age) Security guard in school. Optimistic, charismatic. Trying to be a positive role model for the students and women.

These are approximate ages – we will consider actors who can present as the ages suggested.

Due to the intimate nature of our shows and venue – we strongly encourage all participants to be COVID and flu vaccinated for the safety of the entire production team.