CARMEN JONES

About the Production
In a Southern town during World War II, an army corporal named Joe is stationed near a parachute factory where Carmen Jones is employed. Fickle and flirtatious, Carmen manages to steal Joe away from his fiancée, and the army as well, and they run off to Chicago together. But Carmen loses interest in Joe when she meets and successfully woos Husky Miller, a prize fighter on his way to the top. Mad with jealousy, Joe waits for Carmen outside the stadium the night of Husky’s big fight to make a last desperate plea for her love.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 10a – 2p

Callbacks:
Sunday, April 21, 2024, 1p – 4p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10a – 1p
June 8 – July 25, 2024 (off July 3-4, 2024)
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p
Performances:
July 26 – August 18, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles

Carmen Jones…. Mezzo soprano, Intoxicatingly beautiful, strong actor & dancer/good mover. She moves with a confident attitude and personality about everything.

Joe… Tenor, strong actor with a army fit physique. He has the personality & attitude of a small town devoted guy.

Cindy Lou… Beautiful soprano, strong actor with the personality of a determined small town faithful woman.

Sergeant Brown... Bass, strong actor & army fit physique.  He has the attitude and personality of a boss.

Frankie... Soprano, strong actor and good mover. She has a friendly personality & attitude.

Rum… Baritone, strong actor with the attitude & personality of a salesman.

Dink. . Tenor, good actor with the attitude and personality of a bodyguard.

Myrt… Mezzo soprano, good actor with an opportunistic attitude and personality.

Husky Miller… Baritone, good actor with a tall boxer fit physique.
He has a superstar attitude and personality.

COCONUT CAKE

About the Production
For some, there’s nothing better than retirement, but when Eddie Lee’s wife, Iris, joins him in retirement, the truth about his “ladies’ man” ways resurfaces. To avoid her, Eddie retreats to the sanctuary of McDonald’s, where coffee refills are free and the rest of his retired friends, with marital problems of their own, wait faithfully for him. When a mystery woman moves in the abandoned house down the street, with her Creole’ wiles, melt in your mouth coconut cake, and medicine cabinet secrets, Eddie is not the only one who pays her a visit; a visit that threatens to change all their lives forever.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 10a – 12p

Callbacks:
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, June 22, 2024, 10a – 1p
June 29 – August 8, 2024 (off July 3-4, 2024)
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
August 9 – September 8, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles

• EDDIE
  (African-American male. Late 60s) Semi-retired. Handsome but frail. Married to Iris, yet refuses to change his “ladies man” ways.
• JOE
  (African-American male. Early 70s) Retired, know-it-all. Eddie’s best friend. Self-proclaimed jack of all trades. His views on women, marriage, and life provide entertainment. Wears his money. Struts when he walks.
• MARTY
  (African-American male. Mid-70s) Retired steel worker and ex-con turned church deacon. Spiritual voice of reason.
• HANK
  (Caucasian male. Early 70s) Retired. Unassuming. Marty’s brother-n-law. Recent widower. His struggle with loneliness clouds his judgement.
• GOTDAMNIT
  (African-American male. Early 60s) Mentally ill. Beggar. Omniscient. Speaks with the speed of his erratic thoughts.

PARADISE BLUE

About the Production
Blue, a gifted trumpeter, contemplates selling his once-vibrant jazz club in Detroit’s Blackbottom neighborhood to shake free the demons of his past and better his life. But where does that leave his devoted Pumpkin, who has dreams of her own? And what does it mean for the club’s resident bebop band? When a mysterious woman with a walk that drives men mad comes to town with her own plans, everyone’s world is turned upside down. This dynamic and musically infused drama shines light on the challenges of building a better future on the foundation of what our predecessors have left us.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 10a – 12p

Callbacks:
Sunday, June 16, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, July 27, 2024, 10a – 1p
August 3 – September 12, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
September 13 – October 6, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Role:

• PUMPKIN
  (Black woman. Late 20s/Early 30s) Pretty in a plain way. Simple. Sweet. Waitress, cook and caretaker of Paradise Club. A loving thing with a soft touch. Adores poetry.
• BLUE
  (Black man. Mid/Late 30s to early 40s) Handsome. Mysterious. Sexy. Quiet danger. Aloof. A hard shell and a hard interior. Battling many demons. A gifted trumpeter.
• CORN (aka CORNELIUS)
  (Black man. Late 40s to early 50s) Slightly chubby. Easygoing and thoughtful. A real sweetheart with a weakness for love. The pianoman.
• P-SAM (aka PERCUSSION SAM)
  (Black man. Mid/late 30s.) Busybody. Sweet-talker. Hustler. Always eager for his next gig. The percussionist.
• SILVER
  (Black woman. Late 30s to early 40s) Mysterious. Sexy. Charming. Spicy woman. Gritty and raw in a way that men find irresistible. Has a meeeeaaaannnn walk.

DISNEY’S LION KING JR.

About the Production
A lively stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 Disney film, The Lion King is the story of a young lion prince living in the flourishing African Pride Lands.
When an unthinkable tragedy, orchestrated by Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar, takes his father’s life, Simba flees the Pride Lands, leaving his loss and the life he knew behind. Eventually companioned by two hilarious and unlikely friends, Simba starts anew. But when the weight of responsibility and a desperate plea from the now ravaged Pride Lands come to find the adult prince, Simba must take on a formidable enemy, and fulfill his destiny to be king.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, August 3, 2024, 10a – 2p
Callbacks:
Sunday, August 4, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10a – 1p
August 17 – October 17, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 5:30p – 8:30p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 3p

Performances:
October 18 – October 27, 2024
Fridays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles

• RAFIKI
  Mysterious and wise mandrill.
• MUFASA
  Lion, king of the Pridelands, and Simba’s father.
• SARABI
  Lioness, queen of the Pridelands, and Simba’s mother.
• ZAZU
  Hornbill, Mufasa’s loyal yet fretful attendant.
• SCAR
  Lion, Mufasa’s jealous brother.
• YOUNG SIMBA/SIMBA
  Curious, eager lion who will one day be king.
• YOUNG NALA/NALA
  Spunky, brave lioness and Simba’s best friend
• LIONESSES
  Female lions who care for the Pridelands
• SARAFINA
  Lioness, Nala’s mother
• BANZAI
  Scruffy male hyena who serves Scar
• SHENZI
  Tough female hyena who serves Scar
• ED
  Dimwitted male hyena who serves Scar
• HYENAS
  Stinking, mangy animals who live outside the Pridelands
• TIMON
  Sarcastic, outgoing meerkat who lives in the jungle
• PUMBAA
  Gentle, kind-hearted warthog and Timon’s best friend
• ENSEMBLE
  The animal inhabitants of the Prideland, including the wildebeest also transform into the jungle and desert

A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS

About the Production
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with this exciting, family-fun Christmas musical. All your holiday favorites from such celebrities as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5 will be performed with that dazzling Westcoast signature style coupled with a soulful Motown flair. In keeping with our long tradition of presenting electrifying musicals and world premieres, this holiday celebration promises to the most memorable Christmas treat of the season!

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, August 31, 2024, 10a – 2p

Callbacks:
Sunday, September 1, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, September 28, 2024, 10a – 1p
October 5 – November 21, 2024
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
November 22 – December 22, 2024
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles
All performers are Black, 20+ years old. Each role needs to be able to sing and move/dance.

• Brian
• Raleigh
• Leon
• Ariel
• Joanna
• Michael
• Ashley
• Carmi
• Tarra
• Nate
• Joey
• Derric

BLACK ODYSSEY

About the Production
Obie-winning playwright Marcus Gardley blends classic mythology, African American history, and modern theatricality to create the poetic black odyssey. This vibrant reimagining of the Odysseus saga is set in modern-day Harlem, telling the epic tale of Ulysses Lincoln, a soldier facing the most daunting of voyages to reunite with his family. While fate may seem in control of Ulysses’ destiny, his ancestors and their buried history will help guide his journey home.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 10a – 2p

Callbacks:
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 10a – 1p
November 30, 2024 – January 23, 2025
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
January 24 – February 16, 2025
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles

Ancestors

• DEUS/EATON/SUPER FLY TIRESEAS
  god of gods, god of the sky/a chef/the shagadelic prophet
• PAW SIDIN/NAVAL OFFICER/JOHN SUITOR/OFFICER 1
  god of sea, king of fish/Nella’s love interest
• GREAT AUNT TINA/SCYLLA/CALYPSO
  goddess of war, the sea creature, Ulysses’ grandmother

Mortals

• ULYSSES LINCOLN
  (black, 33) a vet from the Gulf War
• NELLA PELL
  (black, 33) Ulysses’ wife
• MALACHI/POLY’FAMOUS
  (black, 16) their son
• ARTEZ SABINE/ALABAMA SLIM/THE SOUL SIREN/THE ALTER EGO/OFFICER 2
  (black, 49) Grand Marshall of a Second Line
• ALSENDRA SABINE/CIRCE/CARIB’DISS
  (black, 40) his wife
• BENEVOLENCE NAUSICCA SABINE/AFRICAN ANCESTOR
  (black, 10) Their daughter

THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN

About the Production
Dawn breaks in Brooklyn, and seven black men rise to meet the day. One of them, a finance director, leaves his luxurious condo to jog around their rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, just as a grocery-store clerk is starting another soul-crushing shift. At the bus stop, two best friends debate the intricacies of modern dating, while a basketball coach at the youth center grapples with his unrealized potential. At the hospital, a teacher and his father-in-law welcome a new life. And at the barbershop, the whole group meets for cuts and conversation as sparks fly over questions of identity and community. Through the storytelling style of SLAM Narrative, THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN celebrates the hopes, ambitions, joys, and triumphs of black men in a world that often refuses to hear them.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, December 14, 2024, 10a – 2p

Callbacks:
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10a – 1p
February 8 – March 13, 2025
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
March 14 – April 6, 2025
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles
All of the following characters are to be played by black men:

• LOVE
  18, college student. Poet by trade. Young in every sense of Lowerd. He’s a sneaker head and dresses like the youth of now, he threw about his clothes. Shy in certain situations. Needs to be well versed with the language of poetry.
• LUST
  20, retail worker. Heavy New York accent. Charming and naturally flirtatious. Purehearted. As carefree as he is reckless. His words are unrefined, and he has no filter. He is highly sexual and addicted to women and has enough confidence to go around.
• ANGER
  25, youth coach/part-time barber. A former collegiate basketball player that is an academic in disguise. He carries a chip on his shoulder. Has a rawness to him. Must have the energy of SLAM poetry during poetic scenes.
• DEPRESSION,
  28-30, grocery store clerk. An astute survivor. A true neighborhood guy at heart. Highly intelligent and steady; equally comfortable in multiple different environments, can adapt to his sur roundings, but at times he exposes himself to be socially awkward.
• PASSION
  35, teacher. A scholar from the inner city. A seasoned guy who has seen a lot in his life and is very in tune with the world around him. He has an articulate but edgy presence. He possesses the spirit of ancestral orators. Must be rhythmically inclined and fluent with poetic verse.
• HAPPINESS
  late 30s-early 40s, financial director. An upper-middle- class man originally from the South. A man who happens to be gay, but his sexuality does not rule his life, nor does he wear it on his sleeve. He has a polished look and demeanor with Ivy League schooling. A dressed-down casual Brooks Brothers man. He’s externally unapologetic, but deeply caring internally.
• WISDOM
  60-65, shop owner/entrepreneur. A man of dark complexion, African born. An immigrant to the United States. His accent has weakened over time. Heavy thinking man. Regal postconfident, but equally humble. He has a calm presence and possesses a strength only age can bring.

THE BOY WHO KISSED THE SKY

About the Production
Set in the heart of Seattle to the rhythms that shaped a generation, The Boy Who Kissed the Sky is inspired by the early life and influences of musical icon Jimi Hendrix. In the early era of rock n roll music, we see a young Black boy conjure his creativity as a budding guitarist. Guided by the spirit of music itself, the Boy learns to find harmony inside the challenging noises of his life. Although more mythology than biography, The Boy Who Kissed the Sky is a celebration of our muses and the forces that pull us to be who we are. Told with vibrant music and daring imagination, this new family musical inspires us to dream big when it matters most.

Venue:
Hattiloo Theatre
37 S Cooper, Memphis, TN 38104

Audition:
Saturday, February 15, 2025, 10a – 2p

Callbacks:
Sunday, February 16, 2025, 1 – 3p

Rehearsals:
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 10a – 1p
April 5 – May 15, 2025
Tuesdays – Thursdays, 6p – 9p
Saturdays, 10a – 2p
Sundays, 1p – 4p

Performances:
May 16 – June 8, 2025
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30p
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2p

Roles

• THE BOY —
  African-American. Male.
• J SONIC —
  African-American. Male. A spirit and the bandleader of an acting/singing chorus, and accompanying band.
  THE FEEDBACK: The shape-shifting acting ensemble.
• MEL/NEIGHBOR 1/GRANDPA/MUDDY WATERS
  African-American. Male. The Boy’s father, lean, confident, hard working, not without his demons.
• DONNA/NEIGHBOR 2/GRANDMA
  African-American. Female. The Boy’s mother, a free spirit, adventurous, unable to sit still, not without her demons
• NEWTON/VAUDEVILLE PERFORMER A/KOKO TAYLOR/LOCAL BAND MEMBER
  African-American. Female. Well intentioned nosy neighbor.
• PERSON WITH THE CLIPBOARD/PRODUCER/ARMY RECRUITER 1/LOCAL BAND MEMBER/VOICE
  Male.
• PERSON WITH THE CLIPBOARD 2/VAUDEVILLE PERFORMER B/ARMY RECRUITER 2/MUSIC PROFESSOR DR. MURPHY/VOICE
  White. Female.