OPEN AUDITIONS – A Rock Sails By

AUDITION DATES:
Tuesday, February 25 @ 7PM
Thursday, February 27 @ 7PM
Saturday, March 1 @ 2PM

The Garfield Center announces auditions for “A Rock Sails By”

The second production in the 2025 season at the Garfield Center for the Arts is Sean Grennan’s “A Rock Sails By.” To be directed by the GCA’s Theatre Manager Nic Carter, the Garfield Center has announced audition dates and times for the production, which will be performed over three weekends from April 25th through May 4th.

In Grennan’s play, Dr. Lynn Cummings, a facts-only astrophysicist, has discovered herself at life’s crossroads as she deals with personal, life-altering challenges. She has always believed in science over faith in the unknown, but this certainty, once a source of comfort, is now a cause for emptiness. When an unidentified object is sighted heading toward Earth, she grants an interview to a journalist who misquotes her. With her credibility on the line, she invites him to witness the object with her as it comes closest to Earth. Dr. Cummings hopes it will pass without incident, but there is no telling what she will discover beyond the stars. It is a thought-provoking story filled with wit, humor, emotion and meaning.

Auditions for “A Rock Sails By” are scheduled for Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 PM.

All auditionees will be asked to do cold-readings from the script. A prepared monologue is not required, but if an actor has one prepared, the Director will gladly allow the actor to perform it.

In past productions, a single actor played Haley, Chancellor, Taylor, and Doctor.  Auditionees will be asked if they are comfortable performing multiple roles.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

Dr. Lynn Cummings – Female, 50’s-60’s. An astrophysicist and professor. She is very intelligent, somewhat sardonic, and a believer in facts. She can be terse and dismissive. She was widowed two years ago and is still in mourning. She has a daughter, Olive. Dr. Cummings receives a diagnosis of early-onset dementia but shows only slight signs of it during the play.

Olive Cummings – Female 20’s-30’s. Dr. Cummings’ daughter.  Smart, self-possessed, caring. A positive, attractive person, she believes in more than she can see or, unlike her mother, is at least open to the possibility.  She is a doctorate candidate in English Literature.  Also a bit terse at times.  They clash over this and other things. Still, she loves her mother very much. She and Jason are a possible fit.

Jason Harper – Male, 20’s-30’s. A journalist, he is “floating through life” somewhat.  He works for a magazine he doesn’t respect, has recently broken up with his girlfriend, and isn’t sure what he believes about the greater questions. He does want there to be more than this. He wants there to be meaning and order. Ethical, intelligent, searching.

Messenger – Any gender or nonbinary. Any age.

Haley – Any gender or non-binary. A teaching assistant who works for Dr. Cummings.

Chancellor – Any gender or nonbinary. The head of the university.

Taylor – Any gender or nonbinary. Jason’s superior at Grate Magazine

Doctor – Any gender or nonbinary. The specialist who Dr. Cummings sees.

Tom (offstage voice) – Male 50’s-70’s.  Dr. Cummings’ husband who died two years earlier. This role will likely be pre-recorded, so the actor would not have to be available for performances.

For any additional questions, email ncarter@garfieldcenter.org and use “Auditions question” in the subject field.