PROJECT: THREADS: A New Musical
CREATIVE TEAM:
Wanderlust: Theatre on Location: producing entity
Nouveau Sud Circus Project: choreography & movement
Book by Nan-Lynn Nelson
Music & Lyrics by Mark Dillon & Randy Redd
Director: Laura Hope-London
Vocal Director: Sequina DuBose
Movement Director: Carlos Alexis Cruz
Dramaturg: Nick Richardson
DESCRIPTION: THREADS is a new immersive folk musical rooted in the true story of the 1929 Loray Mill Strike in Gastonia, North Carolina. The story centers real-life heroine Ella May Wiggins, a single mother, labor organizer, and songwriter whose protest ballads became anthems of resilience for mill workers fighting for dignity and justice. Blending an original folk-inspired score, physical storytelling, and site-specific performance, the show weaves together voices of women, immigrants, Black and white Southerners, and working-class families whose lives and sacrifices shaped a turning point in American labor history. This is a story of community and solidarity told through the threads of music, struggle, and hope.
PRODUCTION TYPE: Musical Workshop. The workshop will focus on the development of the book and music, culminating in a preview performance of selected scenes and a talkback on December 11, 2025 at the Belk Theatre at UNC Charlotte in preparation for a full staged reading on-site at the Loray Mill in Gastonia, NC in late Spring 2026.
COMPENSATION: All actors will receive a workshop stipend of $100. Transportation and housing are NOT provided. Only LOCAL NORTH CAROLINA actors or those with local housing will be considered at this time.
UNION STATUS: Non-Equity workshop. Equity performers may be accommodated under a special contract.
PRODUCTION DATES:
Rehearsals/Workshop: Evenings TBD in person and Zoom October 27-December 4, tech/dress December 5-10
Preview Event: December 11, 2025 @ UNC Charlotte, University area main campus
LIVE AUDITIONS: Saturday, October 18th, 2pm-6pm
Location: CPCC Central, Worrell Building, Room 2140
1228 Elizabeth Ave
Charlotte, NC 28204
Parking Address:
1304 E 7th St
Charlotte, NC 28204
*There is a bridge entrance to the studio hall on the second floor of the parking garage.
Visit
https://bit.ly/THREADSauditions2025 to sign up for an audition time and complete the audition form.
TO PREPARE: Please prepare two contrasting songs (16-32 bars each), one from a contemporary musical, and one folk or traditional country song. Please bring sheet music for our provided accompanist. Instrumentalists encouraged to bring guitars and accompany themselves if desired.
VIDEO AUDITION SUBMISSIONS: If unable to attend in-person auditions, please submit a headshot, resume, and a video submission of the above via YouTube link to
info@wanderlustonlocation.org, and complete the linked audition form:
https://bit.ly/THREADSauditions2025
VIDEO SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 15, 2025
CALLBACKS: By invitation only on October 19th, 2-5pm at CPCC.
SEEKING:
ELLA MAY WIGGINS (White Female), late 20s: Big-hearted. Gritty country girl and proud of it. Genuine. Shows great leadership in her activism. Passionate, almost to a fault, regarding unionizing. Pulls no punches. Some guitar experience is preferred, but not essential. Strong country/folk vocalist.
MELVEENA SANDIFER (African-American Female), to play 80-90s: The story-keeper. Daughter of Ella's best friend, Big Veena, who lives to tell about it. Warm. Keeps humor and joy alive in her heart.
HEATON-VORSE (White Male), to play 30s: Young, ambitious, and earnest journalist. Eager to understand the history and report in all its glory.
CHARLEY SHOPE (White Male), to play 30-40s: Country boy from the hills of Tennessee. Music is his life and Ella May is his love. A gentle imbiber. Wants more out of life. Also plays Bruce Abernathy: A boisterous bossman. Schemer. Seeking actor/musician: guitar and/or banjo. Strong country/folk vocalist.
BIG VEENA SANDIFER (African-American Female), to play 30-40s: Big personality. Full heart. Best friend of Ella May. Knows they do not live in an equal playing field society. Cautiously optimistic. Mother of our narrator, Melveena.
FRED BEAL (White Male), to play 40-50s: A gentle soul, but a fighter. Dedicated to the unionizing of the country. Northerner. Also plays Judge Burnhill: No nonsense in his courtroom. Straightforward. Justice is all that matters.
CHIEF ORVILLE ADERHOLT (White Male), to play 50-60s: A beloved man of the people. Takes his job seriously to uphold peace and justice. Also plays Senator Overman: A feckless politician. Skittish.
ELLEN DAWSON (White Female), to play 30-50: A tough no no-nonsense activist for the union. Engaging. Scottish accent. Also plays Ensemble; Mabel Montgomery: 50s, Self-righteous. Feisty. Member of the Temperance movement; and Sophie Melvin: 30, Flirty. Enjoys the attention.
PASTOR ADAMS (African-American Male), to play 35-55: A powerful man of the cloth. Southern Baptist cadence. Inspiring. Also plays Mill Worker #4, Buford Carrington, DC Reporter/Photographer, and Ensemble.
JAKE SANDIFER (African-American Male), to play 40-60: A man of faith and conviction. Protective of his family. Husband of Big Veena. Also plays Mill Worker #5, Bartender, and Ensemble.
ENSEMBLE - seeking strong actors and vocalists who will play a wide variety of dynamic historical roles. Instrumentalists a plus.
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