Auditions for Happy Birthday Mars Rover have concluded. Please check back on this page for future audition information.

Content Notes:

Please note that this play contains the following content:

• Suicide attempts (not realistic – the scene involves cows throwing themselves against an electric fence to get to heaven)
• Death (always offstage or implied)
• Physical combat
• Consensual sex

If you would like more information about this content, you can request it below.

Intimacy/Stage Combat: (A fight and intimacy coordinator will be present for this production.)

Stage Combat: The subject of a portrait and the painter fight, and the portrait subject gets a bloody lip.

Intimacy: A prince and princess have awkward sex in hopes of producing an heir.

Materials Requested:

Please submit a self-tape of a contemporary comedic monologue, up to 2 minutes long.

-or-

If you would prefer to use a monologue from the play, you can find a few “extinction report” monologues in this folder. (Note: please don’t focus on “playing a kid” in an extinction report.) 

Self-tape submissions are due by midnight on March 18th.

In-person callbacks will be held on March 28th and 29th at Green Shirt Studio (4001 N Ravenswood Ave)

Characters:

Sandbox Theatre Collective is seeking six actors for this production. Desired qualities include strong comedic skills, adaptability, and a willingness to be silly! Each actor will play a variety of characters across the vignettes.

These roles should reflect the breadth of humanity, and we highly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled actors to audition. Please be don’t let the age/gender breakdown of the tracks discourage you from expressing interest in a role! We encourage performers to audition for whatever roles they are interested in, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, age, or ability status.

All actors must be at least 18 years of age. Sandbox Theatre Collective is an equal opportunity employer.

Actor One – “Son-ish” (any race/ethnicity) Mars Rover Scientist, Dancer, Fern, Caveson, Fan, Passerby, Prince, Cow One, Bubble Blower, Gary, Human Four, Grandson, Sunny Daze, Human Six, Son, Parrot. (This track includes simulated intercourse. A fight & intimacy coordinator will be a part of this production.)

Actor Two – “Daughter-ish” (any race/ethnicity) Mars Rover Scientist, Undergrad, Cavedaughter, Questioner, Loyal Customer, Princess, Gigi, Cow Two, Daughter, Plastic Straw, Human Three, Plague Victim, Human Five, Anne, Endling. (This track includes simulated intercourse. A fight & intimacy coordinator will be a part of this production.)

Actor Three – “Father-ish” (any race/ethnicity) Mars Rover Scientist, Dancer, Paleontologist Two, Fan Two, Spice Seller, King, Painted, Passenger, Craig, Father, Soda Can, Show Host, Recorder, Father, Henry Susan, Doc, Narrator, Voyager Two, Dog. (This track includes fight choreography. A fight & intimacy coordinator will be a part of this production.)

Actor Four – “Mother-ish” (BIPOC) Mars Rover Scientist, Dancer, Paleontologist One, Watcher, Bridgit, Painter, Betty, Realtor, Seagull, Dr. Brunner, Actress, Mother, Susan Henry, Mary, Mom. (This track includes fight choreography. A fight & intimacy coordinator will be a part of this production.)

Actor five – “Grandfather-ish” (any race/ethnicity) Mars Rover Scientist, Dancer/Professor, Cavefather, Climber, Customer, Pilot, Voyager One, Quentin, Brent, Scientist Four, Grandpa, Richard Leslie, Voyager One, Old Man

Actor Six – Grandmother-ish” (White) Mars Rover Scientist, Dancer, Cavemother, Critic, Ill Person, Queen, Barbra, Mother, The Ocean, Sybil, Birthday Mom, Grandma, Leslie Richard, Bowl on Head, Voicemail, Old Woman

Pay:

Actors will receive a minimum $75 stipend at the conclusion of the project; additionally, once production expenses are recouped, a portion of profits from the production will be split evenly amongst all artists.

Production Timeline:

Rehearsals: May 4th-June 8th

There will be no more than 4 days of rehearsal per week. Rehearsals will only take place on weekday evenings after 5pm or on weekends. We will likely rehearse in several locations on the north side of Chicago, potentially as far north as Rogers Park.

All dates, times, and locations will be finalized one month in advanced of the start of rehearsals.

Tech: June 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th

Performances: 

June 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th, 27th, 28th; July 3rd, 4th, 5th in the evening