"Prelude to a Kiss" Stage Play In Search Of Males/Females

Peter is the character through whose perspective the audience will experience the play. He is a good man. He's the kind of person that everyone knows, complex & yet simple. Note for the actor: Peter is on stage through the vast majority of the play and is a dialogue heavy role. In most instances Peter is involved with conversations and in most instances instead of traditional scene changes we have Peter breaking the fourth wall to speak to the audience as the scene shifts from one to the next.

Rita is a wonderfully challenging role. Rita begins as a bartender with aspirations of being more. As we learn of her backstory you may describe her as quirky, but not cartoonish. For example, she confesses to having had insomnia for decades and briefly identified as a socialist in college. She meets Peter and falls in love. Directors would be looking for someone who could incorporate the subtle change in speech and movement that might lead someone to notice that they are no longer themselves.

(To portray 60's - 80's) The Old Man begins as a mysterious figure. He appears at the wedding, and no one knows who he is. We do learn his backstory as the play goes on and it's just as real and tragic as some older people you may know in your own life. Again, a wonderfully challenging role, as with Rita, which must embody two separate characters. The Old Man takes on the soul and personality of Rita midway through the play.

Rita's mother. A lovely, caring woman who wants every happiness for her daughter. She also comes to like Peter very much. She becomes very concerned when Peter and Rita's relationship seems to be falling apart and only wants to help.

Rita's father. He's a fun guy with a good sense of humor. A total "dad" in every sense of the word. He loves his daughter very much and also likes Peter when he's introduced. When Peter and Rita's relationship looks to be falling apart, he is more concerned that Peter probably needs psychological help as he is screaming that "Rita isn't Rita".

Peter's good friend. Taylor is the one who introduces Rita to Peter and pops up through the play to be a good friend and lend an ear to Peter during the proceedings.

(Age that would pass for the Old Man's daughter). The Old Man's daughter. Leah has one scene; she is very concerned about her father's health and wellbeing. She gets to show a lot of depth and emotion in her scene.

Rita's aunt. Exactly the aunt you'd expect to meet at a wedding. Which is to say, funny and happy to be there!

Rita's Uncle, husband to Aunt Dorothy. As with Dorothy, Fred is exactly the uncle you'd expect to meet at a wedding. A good guy.

As you'd expect, the minister performs the wedding at the center of the show.

Tom is Rita's friend and co-worker at the Bar where the play starts.

Must be able to pass as Jamaican.