Audition Notice

ANNOUNCING AUDITIONS FOR THE 2025-2026 SEASON AT THE CONTEMPORARY THEATRE OF OHIO

This is an open invitation from The Contemporary to submit for our 2025-2026 Season. The Contemporary is seeking Equity and non-Equity actors for our upcoming season.    

The Contemporary’s vision is to become a nationally recognized, anti-racist contemporary theatre company, anchoring a thriving Columbus theatre ecosystem in an empathetic, equitable world. Our purpose is to harness the transformational power of theatre that engages with our current moment to inspire a community of empathy. 

CONTRACTS  

AEA Contracts: Equity actors’ work is governed by the AEA SPT agreement. Please see the submission guidelines on the Equity website. Reach out to casting@thecontemporaryohio.org with any questions.    

Non-AEA Contracts: Non-Equity actors will be paid $10.45/hour with a guaranteed minimum of $265/week. Equity Membership Candidacy Points available. See audition information below.  

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio does not provide housing.

Equity Auditions by Appointment with EMC & Non-Equity Walk-Ins welcome are on Friday April 4, 2025 and Saturday April 5, 2025 at the Riffe Center – 77 S High St.  

Friday April 4: 2 PM – 6 PM & 7 PM – 10 PM 

       No accompanist available on this day – feel free to bring in your own backing track.

Saturday April 5: 10 AM – 2 PM & 3 PM – 6 PM 

       There will be an accompanist available on this day.

Equity Actors – email casting@thecontemporaryohio.org to secure an audition spot. 

EMC & Non-Equity actors – auditions are first come, first served. Check-in with the audition assistant when you arrive to sign up.

 Submit headshot and resume here.

Non-Equity Auditions by Appointment are on Sunday April 6 at the Riffe Center – 77 S High St.  

Sunday April 6: 9 AM – 6 PM  

There will be an accompanist available on this day.

Sign up for a time here.

Please ignore signage for the Riffe Center Parking Garage that says “closed” or “full,” including any reserved signs on individual parking spaces. The garage is open and free to everyone after 6:00 pm on week days, and anytime during the weekends. If the gate is down, push the call button and say you are with The Contemporary.

Come to the 4th floor and wait in the Studio Theatres lobby. If you need help finding it, email casting@thecontemporaryohio.org.

Instead of bringing a hardcopy headshot and resume, please share your information here. 

 Please be prepared to share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. If you wish to be considered for singing roles, a brief cut in the style of the music represented in Alice By Heart. An accompanist will be provided on Saturday and on Sunday. Please bring sheet music in a binder. 

Deadline: April 5, 2025, 10pm EST.  

The Contemporary does not provide housing.

If you cannot attend in person, videos can be submitted via private video link (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive).  Please share a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue. If you don’t have a prepared monologue, you can read from one of the pieces here. If you wish to be considered for singing roles, please prepare a brief cut in the style of the music represented in Alice By Heart.

Rehearsal and Performance Schedule:   

Rehearsals will usually be six days a week in the evenings and weekends. Actors will only be called to rehearsal when rehearsing scenes they are in for a maximum of 30 hours total per week.   

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with Sunday matinees. The first two performances are preview performances with rehearsal continuing through opening night on Saturday.  

  

Commitment to Diversity:    

The Contemporary is committed to diversity and inclusion in our casting practices. We strongly encourage actors of all gender identities, ethnicities, races, and ages, as well as actors with disabilities, to audition for any role.   

Characters’ pronouns are listed for reference. We invite actors of all genders to submit for any roles they identify with. We will list race/ethnicity when specific to the characters and are otherwise seeking actors of all races and ethnicities. We will also list disability when specific to a character and are otherwise seeking actors with disabilities and well as without disabilities for all roles.  

  

Accessibility:   

Please email casting@thecontemporaryohio.org with information regarding any accommodations you need in an audition, rehearsal or performance space. 

ALICE BY HEART

Music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater, and a book by Sater with Jessie Nelson

Directed by Leda Hoffmann 

Rehearsals: August 4 – Sept 3, 2025

Performances: Previews Sept 4 & 5; Opens Sept 6 – Closes Sept 21, 2025 

ALICE SPENCER (she/her, Vocal Range: G3-D5) Driven by her imagination and wonder.

ALFRED HALLAM / WHITE RABBIT (he/him, Vocal Range: B2-A4) Pure of heart with charm.

RED CROSS NURSE / QUEEN OF HEARTS (she/her, Vocal Range: F#3-D5) Stern and headstrong.

HAROLD PUDDING / MAD HATTER (he/him, Vocal Range: C3-F4) Manic with witty charm.

TABATHA / CHESHIRE CAT (she/her, Vocal Range: Bb3-D5) Cunning and grounded.

DODGY / DUCHESS (she/her, Vocal Range: C3-E4) Aloof and elegant.

CLARISSA (she/her, Vocal Range: B3-D5) Posh and naive.

NIGEL / DORMOUSE (he/him, Vocal Range: E3-Bb4) Burdened and anxious.

ANGUS (he/him, Vocal Range: F3-B4) Reliant on escapism.

BUTRIDGE / KING OF HEARTS (he/him, Vocal Range: C3-G4) Bumbling and straight-laced.

THE ROOMMATE

By Jen Silverman

Directed by Eleni Papaleonardos

Rehearsals: October 7 – Oct 29, 2025 

Performances: Previews Oct 30 & 31; Opens Nov 1 – Closes Nov 16 2025 

SHARON (she/her, any ethnicity, 50s) Sharp wit and dark humor – well intentioned and optimistic.

ROBYN (she/her, any ethnicity, 50s) Secretive and guarded, but eager to make a connection.

 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Adapted by Greg Oliver Bodine, story by Charles Dickens

Directed by Leda Hoffmann

Performances: Previews Dec 11; Opens Dec 12 – Closes Dec 21 2025 

CHARLES DICKENS – ALREADY CAST

JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

By Jocelyn Bioh 

Directed by Shanelle Marie

Rehearsals: Feb 10 – Mar 4 2026 

Performances: Previews Mar 5 & 6; Opens March 7 – Closes March 22 2026 

JAJA (she/her, Black, 40s-50s) Senegalese; owner of the shop. The backbone and/or saving grace of everyone in the shop. Getting married today in city hall to Steven—the landlord of a local building.

MARIE (she/her, Black, 18) Jaja’s daughter who runs the shop for her mother; has a lot of weight on her young shoulders because of her circumstances. Secretly wants to be a writer; has a fun and silly side, but is firm and assertive when needed—especially with the women in the shop. 

BEA (she/her, Black, 40s) (pronounced “Bee”) Ghanaian; has been at the shop the longest; the neighborhood gossip with an unpredictable attitude— she seems addicted to causing drama, but is rarely ever wrong.

MIRIAM (she/her, Black, 20s) Sierra Leonean; very kind and seemingly quiet on the surface, but has a fierce spirit underneath her shell; loves the idea of love and is the epitome of an optimist.

AMINATA (she/her, Black, 30s) Senegalese; fun, sexy, and charming. She loves her job and is good at it, but also loves to hang out at the shop as well. The shop is both her job and her favorite place to be social. Has a tumultuous and passionate marriage; Bea’s sidekick in gossip and drama when necessary.

NDIDI (she/her, Black, 20s-30s) (pronounced “IN-Dee-Dee”). Nigerian; the young spitfire; she dresses the youngest and braids the fastest. Everyone at the shop knows that she makes the most money and that doesn’t always go over well with everyone—namely Bea.

JENNIFER (she/her, Black, 20s) American; aspiring journalist; comes to the shop wanting to get micro braids and is in the shop all day; incredibly patient and caring. 

VANESSA (she/her, Black, late teens-30s) Super rude customer that no one wants to deal with. Also plays SHEILA and RADIA.

     SHEILA  30s. The friendly but loud-talking businesswoman.

     RADIA  (pronounced like “Nadia”), 18ish. One of Marie’s former classmates.

MICHELLE (she/her, Black, 20s-30s) The nervous client who doesn’t want trouble and just wants to get her hair done peacefully. Also plays CHRISSY and LANIECE.

     CHRISSY, 30s. Really wants braids that will “make her look like Beyoncé.”

     LANIECE, 20s. A regular at the shop; works as a DJ so she always gets funky braid styles. She likes to have a good time and loves a good meal.

JAMES (he/him, Black, 30s)   Ghanaian; Aminata’s on-again, off-again husband who clearly takes advantage of her. Also plays FRANKLIN, OLU, and ERIC.

     FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN 30s. Black American; quicktalking and friendly neighborhood salesman just trying to make a living

     OLU, THE JEWELRY MAN 30s. Nigerian; a shy, honest man just trying to make a living; has a bit of a crush on Ndidi.

     ERIC, THE DVD MAN 30s. Senegalese; the caring DVD man who looks out for his friends.

PRIMARY TRUST

By Eboni Booth

Directed by Leda Hoffmann 

Rehearsals: Mar 31 – April 22, 2026 

Performances: Previews Apr 23 & 24; Opens April 25 – Closes May 10, 2026 

KENNETH (he/him, Black, late 30s)

Kenneth has a heart of gold and a rich imagination. He is fiercely grounded by his routines, but when he loses his job, he embarks on a journey to adjust to new environments and new people in his life.

BERT (he/him, Black, 30s-40s)

Bert is Kenneth’s best friend and biggest supporter. He is encouraging and non-judgemental of Kenneth as he navigates hardship.

CORRINA (she/her, Black, 30s-40s) 

Corrina is witty, confident, and empathetic. She becomes friends with Kenneth and a positive role model for being open to new things. Also plays WALLY’S WATER and multiple BANK CUSTOMERS.

CLAY (Any race, male, 50s-60s) – ALREADY CAST

Clay is Kenneth’s new boss at the bank, and is nostalgic for his glory days as a college football player. He is extremely receptive to Kenneth’s situation. Also plays SAM, a cantankerous bookstore owner with a soft side, and LE POUSSELET BARTENDER.