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Brunswick Little Theatre Announces Auditions for

 

                                                                             RED VELVET

                                                                              By Lolita Chakrabarti

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals

Directed by Ken Greenman

kdolphin48@aol.com

Dates (no appointment necessary): 

• Audition:

 August 17 from 1-4pm

 August 18 from 6-8pm

 August 19 – callback or first cast meeting, 6-8pm

 Please bring a resume and a list of conflict dates

• Performances:

 October 9-12, 17-19, 24-26, 2025

 Show Times: 12, 19, 25 & 26 @ 3PM. All others 7:30PM

Location: Brunswick Little Theatre (BLT), 8068 River Road SE, Southport

All roles are open except Ira Aldridge, which was cast at a special audition in May. 

Anticipate rehearsals three nights per week (M, T, Th), beginning August 19. Additional rehearsals may be added, depending on need and availability. Not everyone will be called for every rehearsal.

Please prepare a list of any known conflicts to assist in finalizing a schedule. You may assume weekday rehearsals will be restricted to evenings, and there will be no rehearsal on September 1.

Synopsis:

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1833. Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage while playing Othello. A young black American actor has been asked to take over the role. A black man has never starred on a major London stage—not even as Othello—until tonight.

An imagined version of true events, RED VELVET transports audiences to the turbulent backstage world of London’s Theatre Royal in Covent Garden to tell the little-known story of Ira Aldridge. As British Parliament debates the abolition of slavery, Aldridge prepares to make his entrance as Othello. His groundbreaking performance upends centuries of British stage tradition and changes the lives of everyone involved.

The audience is enamored but the critics are not amused, and the Theatre Royal is temporarily shut down. Despite this, Aldridge went on to build a stellar career with an impeccable reputation throughout Europe, but he never returned to a London stage again.

Here are two videos (each under 5 minutes) discussing the play, the historical context, and its lead character: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Kapj7VhaU

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY7faBfM_w0

Characters:

• CASIMIR - White male, 20's, Polish stage-hand. Inexperienced, low status and likes Halina. 

• HALINA WOZNIAK - White female, 20's. Polish journalist. Bright, ambitious, frustrated with her life. 

• TERENCE - White male, 50's, English. Ira Aldridge's valet and dresser. Loyal, hard working. 

• IRA ALDRIDGE (already cast) - Black male, 20’s, American, actor. Ambitious, keen, passionate and optimistic. Also plays a later stage of life, 60’s, grand, impatient, ferocious and unwell. Possibly played by two actors.

• CONNIE - Jamaican female, any age, experienced, servant. Older than her years and the voice of truth. 

• BETTY LOVELL - White female, 20's, English, actress. Self-concerned, not clever but pleasant. 

• HENRY FORESTER - White male, 20's, English actor. Political, self-interested, ambitious and earnest. 

• BERNARD WARDE - White male, 50's, English, actor. Old school, a bit lazy, opinionated and insecure. 

• CHARLES KEAN - White male, 30's. English, actor (son of Edmund Kean). Grand but without the talent to support it. Suffers from being Edmund's son. 

• ELLEN TREE - White female, late 20's, English, a leading actress. Talented, motivated, classical but progressive. 

• PIERRE LAPORTE - White male, mid 30's – 50’s, French, manager of the theatre. Gay, revolutionary, entrepreneurial. 

• MARGARET ALDRIDGE - White female, 30's, English, wife of Ira Aldridge. Plain, solid, trustworthy, Ira's rock
 

 

 

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A BLT VOLUNTEER?

 

Ongoing Roles for Volunteers:

It takes so much more than just actors to put on a show! We depend entirely on volunteers – like you! No experience necessary but if you have special interests or talents, we’ll find something wonderful for you to do! Our shows are full of volunteers who offer their gifts of time and talent. Some work one show and some enjoy it so much, they come back to do more.

We are currently looking for:

  • Ushers and Greeters for upcoming shows. Stand at the door and say hello to old friends and new. And when the show opens, slip in and watch the play for free!
  • Front of House Staff to accept tickets and help with concessions. If you love the smell of coffee, this job is for you.
  • Lighting and Technical Assistants for upcoming shows. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds and we’ll even train you! If you can push a button, you can do this.
  • Set builds – Ladies, if you need to get hubby out of the house, send him over with a hammer and we’ll put him to work. Of course, women have that stylish vision, so bring your own hammer and we’ll let you work out your frustrations on something creative.
  • Graphic design and advertising, website and email assistants. Creative types and social butterflies need to apply.
  • Directors – Bring your original play or come and peruse those that we have our eyes on for upcoming shows

Interested in volunteering? Email us at volunteer@brunswicklittletheatre.com

 

Auditions

Actors and actresses, if you are interested, we encourage everyone to audition regardless of their acting experience. We all started somewhere! Previous acting is not necessary, but if you have it, it’s a plus. Our goal is to make this experience fun and rewarding for all involved.

For more information or to volunteer, call (910) 447-2586 or email volunteer@brunswicklittletheatre.com.

Audition details for specific performances are provided on our homepage and at the link at the top of this page.