THE WHALE Equity Principal Auditions - Playwrights Horizons Auditions

All roles are available unless otherwise specified:

CHARLIE: Late 30s – 40s. Male. A morbidly obese man (somewhere around 650 lbs) who is dying of congestive heart failure throughout the play. He’s been wasting away for years, ever since giving up on himself since the death of his partner. But however awful his life has become, he has put all of his hopes and optimism on his daughter, who he hasn’t seen in 17 years. A very insightful, intelligent, well-educated man who is sensitive, gentle, and thoughtful. Actors of all physical types should audition.

ELLIE: 19. Female. Charlie’s daughter whom he hasn’t seen since she was a baby. A deeply intelligent, deeply cynical teenager who feels—probably accurately—that she is always the smartest person in the world. Very manipulative and shrewd, has convinced herself that she doesn’t care about her ailing father. Never valley-girl or sarcastic and eye-rolling, Ellie doesn’t say things to be mean, she says them because they are true.

LIZ: Late 30s – 40s. Charlie’s best friend. A nurse who would like to think of herself as very hardened, but she’s not. She’s masking a huge amount of emotional depth, and she’s constantly trying to shove her feelings down into herself. She’s brash, stern, and loud, but pretty sensitive on the inside.

MARY: Late 30s – 40s. Ellie’s mother. Charlie’s ex-wife, who has also not seen Charlie in 17 years. A hardened alcoholic who has been there, done that. A woman who has made a lot of bad choices, but feels that she has done the best she can given the cards she was dealt.

ELDER THOMAS: CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible (emergency) replacements, should any become necessary. 19. Male. A Mormon missionary who happens upon Charlie just as he has his first cardiac episode. A somewhat naïve, innocent young man who just wants to see Mormonism help one person before he ends his mission. He makes a big effort to be a good Mormon boy, but underneath it all he’s a normal disaffected, pot-smoking Midwestern teenager.

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Theatre's statement:"PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS does not believe in discrimination based on color, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, disabilities, gender, or otherwise. All performers, including those of color, seniors, women, and performers with disabilities, are encouraged to audition and will be given full consideration."