Description:

The Story Theatre is holding auditions for the love object by Justine Gelfman Directed by Jasmine B. Gunter.

Synopsis
On the eve of Ramona's sold-out stadium tour, her best friend and trusted assistant, Paula, announces she is leaving to pursue her own artistry. Fearing the loss of her closest confidante, Ramona reveals that a sex tape she made is about to be released, tainting her image (and ticket sales) forever. Will Paula stay and clean up Ramona's mess one more time or finally escape the oppressive celebrity machine for good? A contemporary adaptation of Euripides' Hippolytus, the love object examines the hypersexualization of women celebrities, the power struggles of interracial friendship, and the tragedies of late-stage capitalism, all through the bubblegum veneer of an early 2000s pop superstar.

Character Breakdown:

paula - ramona's assistant, she/her, black, late 20s
best friend / assistant to early 2000s pop superstar, ramona. an emerging filmmaker, but hesitant to claim her artistic identity. poised under pressure. grounded, intellectual, and nuanced in a shallow high-stakes world. she's the anchor holding the whole operation down and keeping people in check. girlfriend to simon. must have an excellent facility with language, comedic timing, and access to emotional depth.

ramona - a teen pop sensation, she/her, white, mid 20s
an all-powerful early 2000s pop princess. the it-girl. a triple threat. she has poured everything into building a bubblegum empire with her best friend/assistant, paula. in charge of an eighty-person team. incredibly charismatic, especially when performing. behind the scenes, her insecurity can lead to a tendency to manipulate others around her. takes over any room she's in. must have an excellent facility with language and comedic timing. must be a strong dancer and singer.

simon - ramona's choreographer, he/him, poc, late 20s / early 30s
choreographer to early 2000s pop superstar, ramona. confident and suave in rehearsal, but secretly disappointed and hurt behind the scenes. incredibly charismatic and a perfectionist, especially when performing. boyfriend to paula. must have an excellent facility with language and comedic timing. must be a strong dancer.

tish/ backup dancer / voice #1 - he/she/they, open, 20 - 30s
dance captain and backup dancer to early 2000s pop superstar, ramona. the mediator of the group. elegant, hardworking, and polished. graceful under pressure when problems erupt among the group. must be a strong dancer. must have an excellent facility with language and comedic timing.

randy / backup dancer / voice #2 - he/she/they, open, 20 - 30s
backup dancer to early 2000s pop superstar, ramona. the clown/provocateur of the group. headstrong, ambitious, and daring. sex-positive and ready to start a revolution. a gossip hound. must be a strong dancer. must have an excellent facility with language and comedic timing.

kylie / backup dancer / voice #3 - he/she/they, open, 20 - 30s
backup dancer to early 2000s pop superstar, ramona. the baby of the group. virtuous, diligent, and faithful (literally) in rehearsals, but starting to question ramona's behavior behind the scenes. desperate not to disobey the group. must be a strong dancer. must have an excellent facility with language and comedic timing.

Pay: $1,595 stipend
*A Note on Pay: As part of our 5 year plan, The Story is working towards paying artists an hourly wage. This stipend was calculated by accounting for roughly 73 hours of rehearsal/tech at $15 an hour, and $100/week for 4 weeks of performances with a possible 5th week extension.