Performers Needed for "The Miss Firecracker Contest" Show
Casting actors for "The Miss Firecracker Contest" Show and looking for performers, please see the details below ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE CONSIDERED. About the project: The place is the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott (known locally as “Miss Hot Tamale") is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The unexpected arrival of her cousin Elain, a former Miss Firecracker winner, (who has walked out on her rich but boring husband and her two small children) complicates matters a bit, as does the repeated threat of Elain’s eccentric brother, Delmount, (recently released from a mental institution) to sell the family homestead and decamp for New Orleans. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named Popeye (who is hopelessly smitten by Delmount) and several other cheerfully nutty characters, Carnelle perseveres—leading to a denouement of unparalleled hilarity, compassion and moving lyricism as all concerned finally escape their unhappy pasts and turn hopefully toward what must surely be a better future. Additional info: Actors are asked to prepare a 1-2 Minute comedic monologue. Please apply if interested.
6 roles
The beauty contestant. Female presenting, and a beauty. Carnelle starts out with the namesake energy of the pageant. She has a poor reputation due to her promiscuous past. Carnelle is on a mission to change the town’s perception of her and leave in a blaze of glory but it doesn’t play out as she expects. Carnelle learns, grows, and matures with her views of herself and how society sees her throughout the play. The character will smoke simulated marijuana during the production.
The seamstress. Non-white actor preferred. Female presenting. Popeye is plain looking; not particularly attractive or unattractive. Popeye is somewhat quiet and reserved but has a certain sparkle in her eyes; she knows what she wants in life. Popeye is immediately smitten with Delmount and pursues him throughout the show. Shares a single kiss with him.
Carnelle’s first cousin and Delmount’s sister. Fmale presenting, and a beauty. She was a previous winner of the Miss Firecracker contest and is now a well-off trophy wife, with kids; the picture of traditional happiness in society. Elain has an energy, but it is more mature and slightly contrasts with Carnelle’s. Elain is initially unhappy with her chosen path and wants a fresh start but finally accepts and resigns herself to her lot in life.
Carnelle’s first cousin and Elain’s brother. Male presenting. Average looking. Not particularly striking on either side of the attractiveness scale. Initially not interested in Popeye, but eventually learns that she is what he wants and/or needs. Delmount has a mental illness that gives him a manic energy and focus without knowing how to harness it. He shares a single kiss with Popeye. The character will smoke simulated marijuana during the production.
A balloon man. Non-white actor preferred. Male presenting but may be lightly ambiguous with gender and/or sexual norms. He is thin and does not appear in good health, for good reason. Mac is content with his life, including his poor health and the choices that lead him there. The character will smoke simulated cigarettes during the production.
The beauty contest coordinator. Female presenting. Not attractive. Tessy is strong-willed and sarcastic but in a sweet and humorous way. It is a compensatory strategy for not being a “beauty.”
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