River & Rail 2023-2024 Season

Casting Breakdown

SPECIAL NOTE: River & Rail’s Mission Statement: Through the power and beauty of theatre, we seek to unite people from all backgrounds to experience and participate in stories that embody our shared humanity.  Our values and commitments can be found at https://riverandrailtheatre.com/about/

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

Adapted by Joe Landry

Directed by River & Rail Associate Artistic Director Emily Ernst

AUDITION DEADLINE:  9/15/2023

Rehearsals Begin: November 1, 2023 

Performances: December 7-23

Description

George Bailey dreams of going to college and traveling the world. But after he sends his younger brother to college and stays at home to manage the family business, his life begins to feel crushingly ordinary. One Christmas Eve, bruised by quiet desperation and unable to recognize himself, George reaches his breaking point. Would the world be better off without him? Many audiences know this story as the classic film It’s A Wonderful Life. With live foley and a skilled ensemble of actors, River & Rail presents a radio adaptation by Joe Landry as a nod to the film’s source: a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern which was privately printed as a Christmas card and distributed to the author’s friends in 1943. This play is our Christmas card to Knoxville: a show about the power of community, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the true spirit of Christmas.

Casting & Descriptions
The following five actors play all the characters in the play.

Jake Laurents, in his 20s/30s
plays George Bailey / Young George

Freddie Filmore, in his 30s-50s
plays Announcer, Joseph, Mr. Gower, Henry F. Potter, Uncle Billy Bailey, Ernie, Pete Bailey (Child), Mr. Bailey, Old Man Collins, Ed, Man, Giuseppe Martini, Nick, Bridge Keeper, Binky

Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood, in his 30s/40s
plays Harry Bailey / Young Harry, Bert The Cop, Clarence Oddbody, As-2, Sam Wainwright, Lawyer, Dr. Campbell, Randall, Tom, Man 2, Charlie, Carter, Horace the Bank Teller, Tommy Bailey (Child), Mr. Welch

Sally Applewhite, in her 20s/30s
plays Mary Hatch Bailey / Young Mary

Lana Sherwood, in her 30s/40s
plays Violet Bick / Young Violet, Matilda, Ruth Dakin Bailey, Rose Bailey, Mrs. Hatch, Passerby at Run on Bank, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Davis, Schultz, Janie Bailey (Child), Zuzu Bailey (Child)

Fat Ham
By James Ijames

Directed by 

AUDITION DEADLINE 10/1/2023

Rehearsals Begin: January 8, 2024 

Performances: February 8-25 2024

About

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece with his new drama, a delectable comic tragedy. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. It feels like a familiar story to Juicy, well-versed in Hamlet’s woes. What’s different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. From an uproarious family barbecue emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy.

Casting & Descriptions
Juicy – Male. a young, queer black man
Pap – Male. Juicy’s Father
Tedra – Female. Juicy’s feisty mother
Rev – Male.
Tio – Male. Juicy’s Horatio-=like  cousin 

Rabby – Female. Sharp-witted and loving, echoing Polonius

Opal – Female. headstrong and combative; the foil to Ophelia

Larry – Male. Opal’s brother ( like Laertes). Active military.

The Burn Vote
Music and Lyrics by Don & Lori Chaffer
Book by Chris Cragin-Day

AUDITION DEADLINE 01/02/2024

Rehearsals Begin: Late March 2024 

Performances: April 25 – May 12, 2024

About

It’s 1920 and Harry Burn, the youngest ever member of the State Legislator, has been been voting no on the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Everything turns when Harry receives a letter from his mother, Febb. He changes his vote and thus the course of American history.

Casting & Descriptions

(6W, 2M)

Played by Women Actors (6):

FEBB BURN, 45 Tall, smart, a fighter

LIZZIE CROZIER FRENCH, 68, Lead Suffragist for the region, smart,

strong, serious, has been through hell and back for this cause and

isn’t intimidated by anything. And she talks fast, not slow like a

traditional Southerner.

LOLA LOCKLEY/SUFF 1/TENNESSEAN 1, 20s, Harry’s administrative assistant

and love interest, pretty, smart, charming, fictional character.

HELEN/SUFF 2/PIT 4, 30s, Febb’s friend, fictional character.

NEWSCASTER/WICKHAM/MCDELMOT/SUFF3/PIT 3/CARL/ GOVERNOR ROBERTS/HOUSE

SPEAKER–40s-60s

SPEEDY JACK/SUFF 4/PIT 2/RICHARD/WOODROW WILSON–20s-30s

Played by Men Actors (2):

HARRY BURN, 22 Tall, handsome, charming, a junior legislator for

Tennessee.

JAMES BURN/PIT 1/WOMAN PARTY GUEST/TENNESSEAN 2, 40S Tall, handsome,

charming, always dressed in a white shirt and tie

Setting alternates between Hathburn, Febb’s home in Niota, TN, and

Harry’s legislative office in Nashville.