The Pestilence is Coming
Magic Futurebox is casting for the new musical, The Pestilence is Coming, with music by Ben Walpole and The Minor Leagues, and book and additional lyrics by Katharine Clark Gray. Directed by Kevin Laibson.
The show will be rehearsed and performed at Magic Futurebox. Rehearsals begin May 20th, previews begin July 5th, performances July 12th, show runs through July 22nd.
Pestilence follows loner Jake as he finds himself entwined in a corporate conspiracy leading to the end of the world. The show is performed by ten actors playing almost 60 roles, so excepting the roles Jake, Mr. Oliver, Terry, and Christienne, all actors play different characters in almost every scene. As such, type matters very little, except where listed. All ethnicities and body types encouraged to audition. The music is taken from the eponymous indie-pop record, so vocally, we’re much more interested in pitch than tone. Prepare a rock/pop song. No musical theater songs, please. For consideration, submit cover letter, resume, and headshot to info@magicfuturebox.com.
ROLES:
Jake: male, 20s, nerdy, a mess. A collector of comics and all other things, Jake has been sentimental his entire life. Ever trying to figure out his place in life, he suffers through two tragic love stories over the course of the musical, and accidentally positions himself to be the savior of the world. He fails, as with all things.
Mr. Oliver: male, 35-60, black, handsome, muscular. Owns a comics and nostalgia shop in Heartland, USA. In act 1, Mr. Oliver is a mentor/father figure to Jake, warm and kind. In act 2, mid-apocalypse, Mr. Oliver takes over as Mayor of the wasteland, and is transformed in to a Ving Rhames-ian badass with a shotgun.
Christienne: female, 20-40s, more beautiful than you could possibly believe. Villainess. French Canadian (accent a must). A brilliant scientist / neglected daughter, Christienne seduces Jake as part of her scheme to take over the world.
Terry and others: 20s, female, at least a little androgynous. Terry is a Vice President at the Benevolent Energy Corporation (nee Big Evil Corporation) in charge of rebranding. She is fired early on, and engages in a passionate (though brief) affair with Jake, before becoming the first victim of the plague. She is smart, pretty, and all things good. Actress playing Terry also plays several other roles.
Marlena Pritchard and others: 20s-40s, stylish, expensive-looking. Marlena is the CEO of the Benevolent Energy Corporation, and lyrics state her “favorite part of work is picking which purse.” She is self-involved to the point of villainy, and just smart enough not to let anyone know how dumb she is. Actress playing Marlena also plays several other roles.
Mayor and others: Male, any age, any type, funny. Mayor is one of several cartoonish two-dimensional characters played by this actor.
Lackeys Candace and William, Lois Gapp, and others: Female, any age, any type, funny. The lackeys are simply yes-men for the Mayor. Though supposed to be played by two separate actors, the actor playing William has died of plague just prior to his entrance. His understudy, a puppet, is controlled by the actor playing Candace. Lois Gapp is the main organizer in the protests against the BEC. Angry hippie stereotype. Actress playing these roles also plays several other roles.
Protestor Mel and others: Male, any age, any type, funny. Actor must be able to quickly shift between several roles comfortably.
Businessman Bob and others: Male, any age, any type, funny. Actor must be able to quickly shift between several roles comfortably.
Neighbor Dan and others: Female, any age, any type, funny. Actor must be able to quickly shift between several roles comfortably.