Casting Performers for "Purpose" Play
Casting actors for "Purpose" play. More details provided below. About the project: Meet the Jaspers — a Black political dynasty of civil rights leaders, pastors, and congressmen who have long anchored Black American life. But beneath the surface, cracks and secrets simmer. When the youngest son, Naz, returns home with an unexpected guest, long-buried resentment boils over, fracturing the family's foundation. Wickedly smart, outrageously funny, and ultimately devastating, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose is a provocative, deeply felt exploration of legacy, belonging, and the cost of believing in something bigger than yourself. Rate: $1,320 weekly minimum (LORT B+, LORT Non-Rep). Additional info: Calls run on a first come, first served basis; sign-ups begin at 9am. Prepare 1 short song and 1 short monologue, OR 2 contrasting short monologues. Auditions may not exceed 3 minutes total. An accompanist will be provided. Have a headshot and resume (as a PDF) on your phone ready to upload to an online form. Bring a hard copy of headshot and resume stapled together. Always bring your Equity card. First rehearsal: January 5, 2027. First preview: February 5, 2027. Opening: February 11, 2027. Closing: March 28, 2027. Please do not attend both DC and NYC auditions — choose your closest location. An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition. Performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, are encouraged to attend. If interested, please apply.
6 roles
The patriarch of the Jasper family. A legendary civil rights leader and minister whose reputation looms large over everyone in the household. Commanding, intelligent, and deeply invested in legacy and public image.
The matriarch of the Jasper family. Fiercely protective of the family and committed to maintaining its image. Warm but controlling. Acts as the emotional and political “manager” of the household, trying to preserve appearances.
The youngest son of the Jasper family and the play’s narrator. Introspective and sensitive. He left divinity school and prefers a quieter life centered around photography and nature.
The eldest son and former state senator, who has recently been released from prison for campaign fraud and embezzlement. Charismatic, arrogant, wounded, and desperate for validation.
Junior’s wife. Intelligent, exhausted, brutally honest, and no longer interested in pretending everything is okay. She is also facing prison time connected to Junior’s scandal.
Naz’s friend. Gets unexpectedly pulled into the family gathering. Smart, curious, grounded, and emotionally open in a way the Jasper family isn’t used to.
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