ABOUT THE SHOW

Spokane Civic Theatre’s celebrated Bryan Harnetiaux Playwrights’ Forum Festival is designed to promote the art of playwriting and to serve Northwest playwrights selected to be showcased in the Festival. The festival is performed in two separate sets on alternating days. In honor of his unflinching dedication and innumerable contributions, the Festival has been named after Bryan Harnetiaux, Civic’s resident playwright since 1982, and a principal catalyst in establishing the Festival.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Firth J Chew Studio Theatre
June 13 – 16, 2024
(Each play will be have three performances in the rotation)

AUDITIONS

Monday, April 15 — 6:30 PM
Tuesday, April 16 — 6:30 PM

AUDITION LOCATION

Spokane Civic Theatre, Studio Theatre
1020 N. Howard St.
Spokane, WA 99201

NOTES

• Seeking all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds for all roles
• Age range and gender listed for characters is to appear on stage as
• Audition registration required — link below
• Please be prepared for cold readings from multiple scripts

ROLES

Ask. Tell.

By Barbara Lindsay
Directed by Karen Brathovde

A grandmother in a hospital waiting room awaiting word on her injured grandson meets his boyfriend (who is trans), discovering for the first time her grandson is gay.

Jace — A young man, early 20’s. Calm, friendly, relaxed.
Debra — Late 70’s, trim, brisk. Doing her best to cope with life’s changes.

Broken

By Siena Lotrario
Youth Division
Directed by Melody Deatherage

Broken tells the story of Ella and her conflict between getting back on a broken train. But the train is more than what meets the eye, as Ella discovers more and more about herself the story unfolds to the train being a representation of her relationship. Ella has to decide if this dangerous ride is worth the minor triumphs.

Ella — A young people pleaser who is confused by the decisions and feelings she must navigate.
Andre — Ella’s boyfriend who often ridicules her and does worse behind closed doors.
Logic — A logical woman who tries to solve the problems at stake, breaking down when she can’t fix everything.
Instinct — An older woman who has an eccentric spirit. They make decisions based off gut instinct which often angers those around her.
Safety — A very young girl who has been abandoned by her parents. Conquered by fear of being left or leaving those she needs.
Hope — A brainwashed conductor who reminisces in their past. As they drive, they believe in good things coming.

Damn Ye Jack Slade

By Paul Lewis
Directed by Adam Sharp

The Old West, 1863, A Nebraska Jail. Legendary outlaw Jack Slade confronts his past the night before he’s scheduled to be hanged. Jack Slade — 30s, gunslinger, stagecoach driver, Pony Express Superintendent 1860-61

Robbie — late teens
Sheriff — 30s or older
Virginia — 20s-30s, Jack’s former wife

The Invention of Pickle Ball

By Rachael Carnes
Directed by Tom Armitage

A long-married couple struggles with whether to attend a clothing optional wedding.

Anne — In here seventies
Tom — He’s also thereabouts

Jack and Jorma (Yorma)

By John C. Davenport
Directed by Kathie Doyle-Lipe

Two brothers are reunited under unusual circumstances.

Jack and Jorma — Two middle-aged men

Lily

By Bryan Harnetiaux
Playwright-in-Residence Non-Competitive Entry
Directed by Sara Edlin-Marlowe

Lily is near death and asks for help from an unlikely source in navigating her final days.

Lily — Early to mid 70s, gravely ill
Joe — Mid 70s; healthy

Master of the Revels

By Ross Peter Nelson
Directed by William Marlowe

Elizabethian times, and the show must go on, but William Shakespeare can’t find a boy as a last-minute replacement for Juliet.

Will — 30s; William Shakespeare, actor and playwright
Ben — early 30s; Ben Jonson, playwright
Richard — Teens; boy actor
Viola — Teens; Richard’s sister, goth
Master — 30s; Master of Revels

Oblivious

By John C. Davenport
Directed by Pam Kingsley

Judith and Albert return from vacation and are at “sixes and sevens” over a (seemingly) dead body in their living room, and the plot thickens. A couple return from vacation to find a surprise, which may be dead.

Judith and Albert — married couple
Bianca — middle-aged
Gregory — 30s-40s

Salt Pie

By Jean Hardie
Directed by Hazel Bean

Libby is trying to work but is frustrated by Beth’s constant distracting chatter about the past, including, among other things, their mother’s most disastrous pie-baking incident. Which of them will win the battle between work and reminiscence?

Libby — a woman nearing retirement age
Beth — a younger woman

Until the End

By Joy Simmons
Directed by Jamie Suter

Paulette is visited late at night by her long-dead husband.

Paulette — A serious woman in her 80s.
Roger — A laid-back man in his mid-30’s. Paulette’s deceased husband. Possibly a ghost, possibly a hallucination.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL

Production@SpokaneCivicTheatre.com

Summer @ Civic | Main Stage

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to 1989. Westerberg High is terrorized by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place — six feet under.

Deliciously, darkly funny, romantic and moving, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is a truthful, uplifting parable for anyone who’s ever been in love, in trouble, or in high school.

CONTENT WARNING — This show is based on a 1988 American teen black comedy film. Material includes reference and depiction of adult language, alcohol and drug use/abuse (including date rape), bullying, eating disorders, fatphobia, gun violence, homophobia, murder, sexual assault, and suicide.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy
Based on the film written by Daniel Waters

Directed by Troy Nickerson and Heather McHenry-Kroetch
Music Directed by Tonya Ballman

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Margot & Robert Ogden Main Stage
July 12 – 28, 2024
(Wednesday – Friday at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM or 7:30PM, Sunday at 2:00PM)

AUDITIONS

Sunday, May 5 — 6:30 PM
Monday, May 6 — 7:00 PM

CALLBACKS

Tuesday, May 7 — 7:00 PM

AUDITION LOCATION

Spokane Civic Theatre, Studio Theatre
1020 N. Howard St.
Spokane, WA 99201

NOTES

• Based on the 2019 West End production
• Seeking all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds for roles
• Age range and gender of characters is to appear on stage as (Parent/Guardian approval required for minors’ participation)
• Some roles require onstage intimacy and may include some level of undress; production team includes Intimacy Coordinator/Consent-Forward Artist
• Please prepare a 1 minute or less cut from a pop/rock song or musical of similar style. Please bring prepared sheet music or an instrumental track on a device with a 3.5mm audio jack/aux — sheet music preferred

ROLES

VERONICA SAWYER – (17) Burns to be both cool and kind, but doesn’t yet know how to be both at the same time. Fierce sense of right and wrong, keen sense of ironic humor. Thinks she’s an old soul, but she’s still innocent enough to be blindsided by love or shocked by cruelty. Voice: high belting required, up to A♭. Must have dynamic and stylistic range.

JASON “J.D.” DEAN – (17) Darkly charismatic, compelling, attractive. Charming on the outside, damaged on the inside. Keen smarts, savage wit. Voice: strong, confident belt to at least an A♭, A preferable; wide emotional range.

HEATHER CHANDLER – (17) The richest, hottest, cruelest girl in town. Relishes power and wields it without fear, patience, or mercy. Voice: strong belt to F or higher preferred. Mezzo for chorus. NOTE: In certain choral songs, CHANDLER can switch parts with the other HEATHERS as needed.

HEATHER MCNAMARA – (17) Beautiful, innocent, stupid. Can be mean on command if Heather Chandler orders it, but actually quite vulnerable and fearful. Voice: strong belt to D♭, D preferred. Soprano for chorus. NOTE: In certain choral songs, MCNAMARA and DUKE can switch vocal parts as needed.

HEATHER DUKE – (17) The whipped beta dog of the three Heathers. Deeply insecure. When she finally becomes Queen Bee, she wields power like a bulldozer. Voice: strong belt to C, D preferred. Alto for chorus. NOTE: In certain choral songs, DUKE and MCNAMARA can switch vocal parts as needed.

MARTHA DUNNSTOCK – (17) Nicknamed “Martha Dumptruck,” the opposite of confident and popular. Huge and beautiful soul, optimistic even in the face of rejection. Voice: strong belt to E or F, wide vocal expression.

RAM SWEENEY – (17) Linebacker. Big, insensitive to the feelings of others, ruled by appetites. Voice: strong baritone, belt to G, some falsetto useful. NOTE: In certain songs, RAM and KURT can switch choral assignments if, say, RAM sings higher than KURT.

KURT KELLY – (17) Quarterback and captain. Chiseled, rude, entitled, cocky. He’s the brains in the friendship with Ram. Voice: tenor, strong belt to A♭ or A, some falsetto. NOTE: In certain songs, KURT and RAM can switch choral assignments if, say, RAM sings higher than KURT.

RAM’S DAD / BIG BUD DEAN / COACH RIPPER – (40-45)

RAM’S DAD: Former football player turned suburban dad, has never outgrown his high school glory days. Hates weakness, but capable of soul-searching when tragedy strikes.
BIG BUD DEAN: J.D.’s single dad. Big jolly personality that barely conceals the enormous rage bubbling just below the surface. Quite possibly a serial bomber.
COACH RIPPER: Stalwart, man’s man; quick to defend his players.
Voice: baritone/tenor, power Country/Gospel belt to A♭, higher welcome. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played PRINCIPAL GOWAN instead of BIG BUD / COACH.

MS. FLEMING / VERONICA’S MOM – (45-50)

MS. FLEMING: Aging hippie teacher, still yearning for the day the Age of Aquarius reaches Ohio. Resentful of today’s entitled youth, protective of the underdogs. Despite a penchant for self-promotion, genuinely cares about the students in her charge.
VERONICA’S MOM: Easygoing, distant, yet capable of laying down the law.
Voice: great belt up to C, higher always welcome.

KURT’S DAD / VERONICA’S DAD / PRINCIPAL GOWAN – (30-45)KU

KURT’S DAD: Straight-laced, very conservative, also former football player. A simple guy, not book smart, you’d be happy to share a beer with him.
VERONICA’S DAD: Easygoing and distant.
PRINCIPAL GOWAN: Rumpled, burned out, hates conflict.
Voice: strong baritone/tenor, power Country/Gospel belt to G, even higher better. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played BIG BUD/COACH instead of PRINCIPAL GOWAN.

ENSEMBLE
Very active group of 5 – 7 to represent iconic 1980s types (geek, prep, cheerleader, etc.). All voice and dance types.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL

Production@SpokaneCivicTheatre.com