A STRANGE LOOP Equity Principal Actors - Various Producers Auditions

A STRANGE LOOP - Chicago EPA

Various Producers | ,

Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

AUDITION DATE

LOCATION

Monday, May 4, 2026
Raven Theatre
6157 N Clark St
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (C) Chicago, IL 60660-2423
Lunch 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Holding Room - Theatre Lobby

CONTRACT

PERSONNEL

CAT Michael R. Jackson: Playwright
$450 weekly minimum (Tier 2)
Catherine Miller (they/them): Casting Director

EXPECTED TO ATTEND

SEEKING

Mikael Burke (he/him): Director
Equity actors for roles in A STRANGE LOOP (See Megan Carney (she/her): Artistic Director for About Face Theatre
Jonathan Berry (he/him): Artistic Director for Raven Theatre
A Co-production between Raven Theatre and About Face Theatre.

OTHER DATES

Midwest Premiere
First rehearsal: Week of August 31, 2026
Tech begins week of September 23, 2026
All roles will be understudied.
Previews begin October 8, 2026
Opening October 14, 2026
Due to budget restraints, local actors are encouraged to audition.
Potential Extension through December 6, 2026, on a weekly basis.

PREPARATION

Please prepare two contrasting 1-min song cuts (uptempo vs ballad), one should be a contemporary musical theatre pop/rock cut and the other a contemporary R&B cut. Have a single pdf headshot/resume ready to submit via a digital audition form you will be asked to fill out. We are not accepting video auditions at this time.

EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.
An Equity Monitor will be provided.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.

Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.

Breakdown

A STRANGE LOOP

NOTE: In reference to the character descriptions below - most characters we encounter currently are in the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns. But however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. In addition, we will list disabilities when specific to a character but are otherwise seeking actors with disabilities as well as non-disabled actors for all roles. (Source: Emily Tarquin, Kevin Kantor and Marilee Talkington)

SEEKING:

USHER: Black, 20-26. Vocal Range: High Tenor (Eb 3-D5)
Usher: A fat American Black gay man of high intelligence, low self-image, and deep feelings. He writes stories and songs and desperately wants to be heard. A musical theater writer and Broadway usher. This role includes scenes of sexual trauma.

Thoughts 1–6: A spectrum of bodies that are Usher’s perceptions of reality inside and out. They come in many shapes and sizes. But they are all Black. And they are as individual in expression as they are a unit:

THOUGHT #1: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano (C3-G5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to a Theatre Patron and Usher’s brother’s baby mama.

THOUGHT #2: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Tenor (C3-Db5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Usher’s Doctor and the first incarnation of Usher’s mother.

THOUGHT #3: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: High Tenor (C3-D5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Agent Fairweather and Todrick.

THOUGHT #4: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bari-Tenor (G2-A4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to the final incarnation of Usher’s mother.

THOUGHT #5: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bass (E2-E4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Joshlet and Usher’s Dad.

THOUGHT #6: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bass (E2 -E4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to the first incarnation of Usher’s Dad and Inwood Daddy. This role includes scenes of sexual trauma.