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Our Story →WES (male-presenting, mid-late 20s, Pop Tenor/Bari-Tenor) — A fashion designer from the present day. Stylish, self-conscious, anxious, and prematurely jaded. Major leading role requiring a strong contemporary singer and actor.
PATRICK (male-presenting, early 20s, Tenor) — A young runaway and hustler. Appears innocent but far tougher than he seems. Develops an intimate relationship with Wes. Requires warmth, vulnerability, and emotional depth.
BUDDY (male-presenting, 40s-50s, Tenor/Bari-Tenor) — The resident piano player at the UpStairs Lounge. Charismatic, funny, theatrical, and increasingly bitter. Closeted and married to a woman. Piano ability welcomed but not required.
WILLIE (male-presenting, 40s-60s, Black, Tenor) — A holdover from an earlier era with a fabulous camp sensibility. Funny, wise, theatrical, and eccentric. Requires exceptional personality, comic instincts, and emotional depth.
HENRI (female-presenting, 30s-40s, Strong R&B Belt to E) — The bartender and one of the strongest forces in the community. Tough, no-nonsense, fiercely protective. Requires powerful presence and strong R&B/gospel vocals.
FREDDY / AURORA WHOREALIS (male-presenting, 20s-30s, Latino/Hispanic, High Tenor/Belt with Falsetto) — Construction worker by day, drag queen by night. Energetic, magnetic, funny, sexy. Requires fearless performer comfortable performing in drag. Drag experience welcomed but not required.
INEZ / REALTOR (female-presenting, late 40s-60s, Latina/Hispanic, Soprano) — Freddy's Puerto Rican mother and mother figure to the community. Also plays a real estate agent in the present day. Warmth, humor, and versatility required.
RICHARD / RITA MAE (any gender, 35-55, Tenor) — Minister of the Metropolitan Community Church. Warm, level-headed, compassionate. May be played by any gender.
DALE (male-presenting, 20s-40s, Tenor) — Sensitive, volatile, wounded, and politically radical. Requires an actor capable of navigating a complicated character with nuance.
COP (male-presenting, 30s-50s, Baritone) — Appears in both past and present. Strong character actor needed to create two distinct versions of the role.
Book, Music & Lyrics by Max Vernon
Presented by convergence-continuum
Directed and choreographed by Scott Zolkowski
Music Direction by Ryan Charles Ramer
convergence-continuum announces auditions for Max Vernon's The View UpStairs, a bold, funny, sexy, heartbreaking musical that brings together two generations of queer life and asks us to consider what we've gained, what we've lost, and what we owe to those who came before us.
AUDITION DATES: Saturday, October 3rd 12pm – 2pm, Sunday October 4th 7pm – 9pm
LOCATION: convergence-continuum at The Liminis.
REHEARSALS: Rehearsals to start immediately, starting October 11th. Rehearsal schedule will be formed from actor/director conflicts. Weekday evenings and open availability on weekends.
PERFORMANCE DATES: 14 total performances –
COMPENSATION: All actors will receive $500 compensation for the show.
When Wes, a young fashion designer in the present day, purchases an abandoned building in New Orleans' French Quarter, he unexpectedly finds himself transported to the UpStairs Lounge in 1973 — a vibrant gay bar filled with a community of unforgettable characters.
As Wes becomes immersed in their world, he begins to understand a generation of queer people whose lives, struggles, friendships, and loves existed in a very different America.
Inspired by the real-life UpStairs Lounge and the devastating 1973 arson attack that killed 32 people, The View UpStairs is simultaneously a celebration of queer community and a powerful examination of memory, progress, identity, and the people history too often forgets.
Featuring a gritty glam-rock, pop, gospel, and R&B-influenced score, the musical is energetic, irreverent, intimate, hilarious, and deeply moving.
Please prepare:
Acting sides will be provided at the audition. Actors may be asked to read individually or with other performers during their scheduled hour.
Please also bring a headshot and résumé, if available.
We anticipate spending approximately 30 minutes of each session on individual vocal auditions, with the remainder of the hour available for readings and additional work.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A9AB29A3FBC25-65953912-theview
The View UpStairs is an adult musical centered on LGBTQ+ history, identity, sexuality, and community. The production contains strong language, sexual themes, references to drug and alcohol use, homophobia, violence, religious themes, and the historical deaths associated with the UpStairs Lounge fire. Some roles involve same-sex romantic and/or intimate interactions, including kissing, and Freddy/Aurora performs in drag. Specific staging and intimacy requirements will be communicated clearly during the rehearsal process.
convergence-continuum is committed to telling this story with a company that reflects the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community represented in the work. Performers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, body types, and abilities are encouraged to audition for roles for which they feel they may be appropriate, while respecting identities specifically written into certain characters.
DAY ONE — Saturday October 3rd
Session 1: 12:00 PM
Session 2: 1:00 PM
DAY TWO — Sunday October 4th
Session 3: 7:00 PM
Session 4: 8:00 PM
Please register for one one-hour session.
Space in each session will be limited so that every performer has adequate time to sing and read.
AUDITION SIGN-UP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A9AB29A3FBC25-65953912-theview
Questions may be directed to: szolkowski@convergence-continuum.org
Come ready to sing, play, take risks, and help us bring the UpStairs Lounge back to life.
Listing posted by convergence-continuum. Always verify details directly with them.