Auditions for CONFABULATION - World Premiere Queer Play

The Strides Collective, a Philadelphia based non-profit queer theatre company, seeks audition submissions from local/non-union actors for 5 roles in the World Premiere of Confabulation by Matt Shvyrkov, directed by Jonathan Edmondson.

The production will run Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 20, 2024 at The Bob and Selma Horan Studio Theatre at the Arden’s Hamilton Family Arts Center. 

All performers will be paid a $400 stipend upon closing. Housing and travel are the responsibility of the actor for the duration of the rehearsal and production process. 

ABOUT US: Founded in 2020, The Strides Collective produces and develops theatrical work by emerging playwrights that embraces the queer experience through authentic, modern, and innovative storytelling. Our work prioritizes the goal of normalizing the conversation about queer identity, creating a safe haven in which emerging artists can tell their stories and have the ability to express themselves without fear of judgment

Play Synopsis: A gas station attendant joins a “past life regression” support group to take control of her life, which is currently haunted by past versions of herself. But as she looks inward, her group-mates transform into the people who've hurt her most, exploring new relationships among themselves and forcing her to confront her own darkness. Strangers become sisters become lovers become straight men who become gay men who become straight men again—all under one binding ultimatum: don't break the rules, or you're out of the group.

Character Breakdown

Note: Roles can be played by any actor comfortable with the character’s pronouns. All characters are in their late 20s, except Agnes, who should be a little older. Actors cast as Olivia, Shane, and Grant must be comfortable with onstage intimacy. An intimacy coordinator will be part of the production team. 

• Caroline (she/her): A gas station attendant figuring her shit out. Introspective, cautious, new to the group. 
• Olivia (she/her): was a puritan in one past life, a party girl in another. Confident, direct, flourishing in the group.
• Shane (he/him): was a cowboy in a past life. Naïve, sweet, trying hard to flourish in the group. 
• Grant (he/him): was Queen Victoria in a past life. Aggressive, irritable, disengaged in the group. 
• Agnes (she/her): Support group leader who changes tremendously throughout the play. In act one, she speaks with a Slavic accent. In act two, she is a hippy-dippy valley girl. In act three, she is stoic, robotic, and repressed.

Important Dates

• Audition Submissions: 4.2.24 - 4.23.24 (See below for instructions)
• Audition Date (In-Person, By Invitation): 5.6.24
• Callback Date (In-Person, By Invitation): 5.13.24
• First Rehearsal: 8.19.24*
• Tech Week: 10.7.24-10.9.24
• First Performance: 10.10.24
• Closing Performance: 10.20.24

  Rehearsals will be held in-person in the evenings after 6pm and built around actor availability, 2-3 times a week, in Philadelphia. Exact location TBD

More information can be found at https://www.stridescollective.com/work-with-us

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Please submit a headshot, theatrical resume, and a self-taped monologue of your choosing. We highly encourage monologues from modern/contemporary work; no Shakespeare, please. 

Please submit your materials using the following GoogleForm → https://forms.gle/mfq6dH5nK2fH6aKM7

All submissions must be received by Tuesday, April 23rd at 11:59PM.

The Strides Collective is committed to diversity and inclusion as one of our core values. We actively encourage performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and abilities to submit, as we want to create opportunities to disrupt traditional casting practices and honor roles with authentically lived experiences.