THE COLOR PURPLE

About the production

The Color Purple begins with 14-year-old Celie Harris, pregnant with her second child and the victim of unspeakable cruelty at the hands of her male family members. As she comes of age, her babies are taken from her, she is married off to an abusive husband, and her sister runs away.  Step by tiny step — and with the help of two courageous Black women — our hero rises up, gains her independence, and rebuilds her life from scratch.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, April 15, 2023, 10a-2p

Callbacks
Sunday, April 16, 2023, 1p-4p

Rehearsals
June 17 – July 27 (off July 1-4, 2023)
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run             

July 28 – August 20, 2023
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

• Celie
  (African American, 20s-early 30s): Drives the story. Vulnerable, spirited, introverted, mischievous, seemingly passive but really not, has a deep, hard soul, believes that she is ugly, has a sense of humor which is sometimes wicked. She is an observer. Needs a great belt singing voice with lots of soul.
• Squeak
  (African American, 20s): Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. Although she is mistreated, she eventually undergoes a transformation, demanding to be called by her actual name, Mary Agnes, and starting a new life. She is of mixed ancestry. Attractive, sassy, fiery, strong-willed, unafraid to take anybody on, has a caring heart. Needs comic chops. Needs a great singing voice with belt and soprano capability.
• Nettie
  (African American, 20s): Celie’s younger sister. Attractive, adventuresome, feisty spirit, maternal, more educated, and knowledgeable than Celie. She has a powerful bond with Celie. Forced by Mister to leave Celie, she starts a new life in Africa. Needs a great belt singing voice with African influence.
• Harpo
  (African American, 20s): Mister’s vulnerable, confused, good-hearted son. Represents the new generation. He marries the independent Sofia. He spends much time trying to get Sofia to obey him the way Celie obeys his father, but he is unsuccessful, as Sofia is considerably stronger than he is. Harpo eventually establishes a juke joint in his first house and becomes Squeak’s lover. Later, he and Sofia reconcile. Through his love of Sofia, he learns how to love a woman. Needs a great tenor singing voice.
• Sofia
  (African American, 30s) Powerful warrior woman. Physically bigger but beautiful. Comfortable being large, great sense of humor, touching, vulnerable. Married to Harpo, she does not let anyone mistreat her. Needs comic chops. Need a great belt singing voice.
• Mister
  (African American, 30s-40s. Also known as Albert): Like Celie, a deep well. Handsome, big, masculine, strong presence. Married to Celie, He is in love with Shug.  Need a great singing voice.
• Shug
  (African American, 30s-40s): A popular singer, we meet her at death’s door. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a frailty, like a wounded animal. She is loved by both Celie and Mister. Needs a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.
• Ensemble Adult Singers
  Males and females, 20s – 50s, African American. All types and singing ranges. Need fantastic singing voices and dynamic personalities. To play various roles in the ensemble The ensemble includes a trio known as Church Ladies, busybody types who are featured throughout the show.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

About the production
Set on Chicago’s South Side, Lorraine Hansberry’s celebrated play concerns the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, May 20, 2023, 12pm – 2pm

Callbacks
Sunday, May 21, 2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals
July 29 – August 24, 2023
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run
August 25 – September 24, 2023
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

ROLES

• Walter Lee Younger
  Black Male mid 30’s is a dreamer.
• Beneatha Younger (“Bennie”)
  Black female early 20’s Mama’s daughter and Walter’s sister. is an intellectual. She attends college and is better educated than the rest of the Younger family.
• Lena Younger
  Black Female in her mid to late fifties. Mother of Bennie and Walter.   The matriarch of the family, Mama is religious, moral, and maternal.
• Ruth Younger
  Black female.  She is about thirty, but her weariness makes her seem older.  Walter’s wife and Travis’s mother.
• Travis Younger
  Black male 10-12 years old. Walter and Ruth’s sheltered young son.
• Joseph Asagai
  Black male 20’s A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. Asagai, as he is often called, is very proud of his African heritage.
• George Murchison
  Black male 20s A wealthy, African American man who courts Beneatha.
• Karl Lindner
  White male 40/50s. The only white character in the play. Mr. Lindner arrives at the Youngers’ apartment from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association.
• Bobo
  Black Male 30s..One of Walter’s partners in the liquor store plan. Bobo appears to be as mentally slow as his name indicates.
• Johnson
  Black Female 50/60. The Youngers’ neighbor.

FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS: PARTS 1, 2, 3

About the production
Susan Lori Parks reconsiders the Civil War and military service in general from the perspective of an African American slave. A group of “less than desirable slaves” wager over the fateful decision of a would-be soldier, to the reappearance of that soldier’s lost dog in this three-part saga.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 10a – noon

Callbacks
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals

August 19 – September 28, 2023
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run             
September 29 – October 22, 2023
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

• Hero
  Hero is an enslaved Black man and the protagonist. Loyal to Boss-Master despite his abuse and disloyalty, Hero chooses to stay with Boss-Master even when opportunities to escape arise. In Part 3, he changes his name to Ulysses.
• Boss-Master
  White male (called “the Colonel” in Part 2) enslaves Hero, Homer, Penny, and others. Dishonest and manipulative.
• Homer
  An enslaved Black Male who lives with Hero and falls in love with Hero’s wife, Penny.
• Penny
  Black female, Hero’s loyal wife.
• Odd-See
  Odd-See is Hero’s good-luck dog. In Part 3 he is called “Odyssey” or “the Odyssey Dog.”
• Smith
  A Black man who can “pass” for white. A Union soldier in Part 2.
• The Oldest Old Man
  Black male lives with Hero on Boss-Master’s land. He offers advice to Hero and treats him like a son.
• The Chorus (2 black males)
  A group of enslaved persons whose conversations give the audience information and insight. It has two parts: Part 1’s “Chorus of Less Than Desirable Slaves” and Part 3’s “Runaway Slaves.”
• The Musician
  (Black male) sings at the beginning and end of each act, bringing deeper meaning to the play’s themes and messages.
• The Missus
  (white female) is Boss-Master’s wife.

TAKE THE SOUL TRAIN TO CHRISTMAS

About the production
Ida, Nat, and Rosa are given a school assignment to research how African Americans celebrated the Christmas holiday in the past. A grandfather uses magic to take them through actual history via a “Soul Train.” Their personal witness of both victorious and harrowing accounts of Black history – along with how African Americans endured, prevailed, and still embraced the birth of Jesus Christ – which gives them much more than they need for their school assignment and takes them on a road to real education.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, September 9, 2023, 10a – noon

Callbacks
Sunday, September 10, 2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals
October 14 – November 16, 2023
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run
November 17 – December 17, 2023 (no performance on Thanksgiving Day)
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

• Ida
  Black female, can play a teenager. Nat’s friend and classmate. Studious and inquisitive.
• Nat
  Black male, can play a teenager. Grandad’s grandson. Playful and raucous.
• Rosa
  Black female, can play a teenager. Nat’s friend and classmate. Smart aleck.
• Grandad
  Black male, 35 – 70-year-olds. Nat’s Grandfather. Wise and encouraging.
• Zeke/Claude/Jude
  Black male, 20 – 45-years-old. Can play multiple roles, both dramatic and comedic. Needs to be able to sing and move.
• Miriam/Gloria/Yardstick Sister
  Black female, 20 – 45-years-old. Can play multiple roles, both dramatic and comedic. Needs to be able to sing and move.
• Mary/Janice/Afro Two
  Black female, 20 – 45-years-old. Can play multiple roles, both dramatic and comedic. Needs to be able to sing and move.
• Sarah/Billie
  Black female, 20 – 45-years-old. Can play multiple roles, both dramatic and comedic. Needs to be able to sing and move.
• John/Fred/Afro One/Dyno Man
  Black male, 20 – 45-years-old. Can play multiple roles, both dramatic and comedic. Needs to be able to sing and move.
• Break-dancers

CONFEDERATES

About the production
Two Black American women – an enslaved rebel and a professor at a contemporary university – are having parallel experiences of institutional racism, though they live over a century apart. Tony-nominated playwright Dominique Morisseau’s exacting new play explores the reins that racial and gender bias still hold over American educational systems today.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 10a – noon

Callbacks
Sunday, November 5,2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals
December 2 – December 17, 2023
Christmas Break                                         
January 6 – February 1, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run
February 2 – February 25, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

• Sandra
  A Black female, 25 – 40 years old. A political science professor at a contemporary private college.
• Sara
  Black woman, 18 – 30 years old. An enslaved woman who wants to run away and fight the Confederacy with guns alongside her runaway brother Abner.
• Abner/Malik
  Black man, 20 – 40 years old.
  Abner – A Union soldier who periodically returns to the plantation on reconnaissance missions.
  Malik – an intense Black student who insists on looking for bias in everything.
• Missy Sue/Candice
  White female, 18-30 years old.
  Missy Sue – The enslaver’s pushy daughter who illegally taught Sara to read and considers her a “friend.” Candice – Sandra’s white personal assistant, a self-involved, well-meaning twit who constantly blunders into casual racism.
• LuAnne/Jade
  A Black woman with a light complexion, 20-40 years old.
  LuAnne – An enslaved house woman who displace Sara.
  Jade – Sandra’s Black, untenured junior colleague who claims to idolize her but is actually jealous.

SUCCESSION

About the production
Promising young black actor Steve Harrison will stop at nothing to achieve success. He uses his charm to deceive and undermine older actor and mentor Marcus Chandler and make opportunities for himself to get on the Broadway stage. Steve achieves success in the black theater world, but the enemies he makes on his quest have long memories and stand in the way of his Broadway ambitions.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, December 2, 2023, 10a – noon

Callbacks
Sunday, December 3, 2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals
January 13 – February 22, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run
February 23 – March 24, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

• Marcus Chandler
  Black man, late 40’s to early 50’s.
• Billie Simpson
  Black woman, early to mid-30’s.
• Steve Harrison
  Black man, mid to late 20’s, convenient southern accent.
• Maxine “Max” Favors
  Black woman, late 50s to early 60’s, half-sister of Bird.
• Burton “Bird” Cooper
  Black man, late 40’s to early 50’s, half-brother of Max.
• Anderson Dwight
  White man, mid-50’s.

Blues in the Night

About the production
Set in a rundown Chicago hotel in 1938, this dialogue-free show focuses on three women’s relationships with the same man.  Their stories are told through song of their sweet, sexy and sorrowful experiences.  ˜Blues in the Night” uses music from great artists such as Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and Harold Alen among others.

Venue
Hattiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition
Saturday, February 3, 10a – noon

Callbacks
Sunday, February 4, 2023, 1p-3p

Rehearsals
March 2– April 11, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays – 10a – 1p
Sundays – 1p – 4p

Show run
April 12 – May 5, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 730p
Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2p

Roles

All performers are Black, 20 – 60 years old. They each of them need to be great singing voices and can dance.

• The Lady from the Road
• The Man in the Saloon
• The Woman of the World
• The Girl with a Date