Interested in being part of Spark Plug Theatre Collective’s
2025/2026 Season onstage?
FIRST - please review the show schedule, synopsis, character descriptions, and director notes below. Spark Plug Theatre Collective is a volunteer-based theatre company.
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IMPORTANT DATES:
Performances: October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 2025. All Performances at 7:30pm
Rehearsals: late August/September/October. Rehearsal schedules will be built around actor availability.
SYNOPSIS
An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. And a dead man – with a lot of loose ends. So begins Dead Man’s Cellphone, a wildly imaginative new comedy by MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient and Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl. A work about how we memorialize the dead – and how that remembering changes us – it is the odyssey of a woman forced to confront her own assumptions about morality, redemption, and the need to connect in a technologically obsessed world.
CHARACTERS: (All Roles Are Open)
JEAN: The woman who finds Gordon’s phone.
Gender: Female
30s. (In script mentioned as “almost 40” Tends to blend into the background until she is pulled into the main action. A passive luddite, which isolates her.
MRS. HARRIET GOTTLIEB: Gordon’s Mother
Gender: Female
late 50s/60+ A faded flower who does not suffer fools. who holds up high standards for both herself and others. A product of old money, that has also faded.
DWIGHT: Gordon’s Younger Brother
Gender: Male
late 20s/30s/40s Looks like Gordon. A sensitive outsider. Average.
HERMIA: Gordon’s Widow
Gender: Female
30s/40s A woman who attempts to keep up appearances, but does so unsuccessfully. Lived an average upper middle class life with a larger than life husband. She became smaller to make room for him and bursts open after his death.
GORDON: The Dead Man
Gender: Male
Late 30s- Late 40s. A man who was always extraordinary. Commanding presence. A leader.
The following two roles are played by the same actress:
Gender: Female
30s - 40s.
OTHER WOMAN: Gordon’s Mistress
Confident, stylish, has an edge to her
STRANGER
The Other Woman in disguise with an Eastern European accent. Mysterious
DIRECTOR NOTES:
This story seamlessly weaves together truth and lie. The absurd moments are played with truth and without a nod to their absurdity. Actors should be prepared to take direction in auditions.
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IMPORTANT DATES:
Performances: February 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 in 2026. All performances at 7:30pm.
Rehearsals: Will start rehearsals early December before Christmas and New Years break and resume in January. Rehearsal schedules will be built around actor availbility.
SHOW SYNOPSIS:
Sometimes what happens after last call just might change your life. One night in 1981, just as Jamie is closing the bar where he works, a desperate last-minute customer offers him and his girlfriend Abby two thousand dollars to sit and have a drink with him. Who wouldn't take it? As the trio swaps stories and Jamie considers the decisions he faces about his musical career and his future with his girlfriend Abby, the young couple begins to realize that this older man is unusually invested in their choices... and the reason he gives them is completely unbelievable. But when a very displeased second stranger arrives, the unbelievable begins to look like it just might be true. Now and Then is a heartfelt romantic comedy about the costs of the choices we make, and the people who make them with us.
CHARACTERS: (All Roles are Open)
JAMIE: Roughly 25-30 years old in 1981. Employed bartender and aspiring pianist. Dreaming of taking a sabbatical in order to improve his skills as a musician. Sincere, hard-working, modest, and polite. Very much in love with his girl-friend Abby.
ABBY: Abby is roughly 25-30 years old in 1981. Waitress at an IHOP restaurant. Has quit her English studies to take care of a sick family member and is dreaming of returning to the University. Funny, smart, and very much in love with Jamie.
MAN: (“Jimmy”): He is in his mid-60s. A bit beaten down but good-natured. Easily to talk to, well-spoken, sincere, and very intent of his mission. Married to Woman for 35 years and father of two children and grandfather of two twins.
WOMAN (“Abby”): Abby is in her Mid-60s or a bit younger in 1981. Strong, direct, loving, a little coarse. She is Man’s wife for 35 years. She and man bicker but there is a bedrock of love there. They’d do anything for each other, and no one can hurt either of them like the other one can
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR:
THEMES:
Choices and Consequences: The play explores how choices, even seemingly small ones, can have profound and lasting effects on lives.
Regret and Second Chances: The characters grapple with past choices and wonder about paths not taken.
Love and Relationships: The play delves into the complexities of romantic relationships and the support and challenges they present.
Dreams and Aspirations: The characters contemplate their dreams and the sacrifices they might make to achieve them.
During auditions, I want to see these elements while reading the sides. Show me how your character is going through these experiences throughout.
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IMPORTANT DATES:
Performances: May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 2026. All shows are at 7:30pm.
Rehearsals: March, April, May 2026
SYNOPSIS:
On a lovely spring evening, all is not quite what it seems for three couples living on the same suburban cul-de-sac. Couple #1 never had children and realize that they might not be all they hoped they’d be. Couple #2 have kids—but they aren’t quite what they hoped they’d be, either. Couple #3 seem to be all that Couples #1 and 2 ever wanted to be: They have two wonderful kids, shiny new cars, and their grass is very green. But life is far from perfect for Couple #3. This is a shocking comedy that explores the extreme measures people take to achieve their dreams—or find happiness—or find their way to what they once were.
CONTENT ADVISORY: CONTENT ADVISORY: This script has an incident of parental harm to children. We highly suggest reading this script before auditioning. If you have questions or would like more details, please email info@sparkplugtheatrecollective.org
CHARACTERS: (All Roles are Open)
Couple #1 - The Jones’
Joe - Male/Masculine presenting - Mid 30s
Jackie - Female/feminine presenting - Mid 30s
As a pair, these 2 need to be the most "white picket fence" Norman Rockwell of the couples. These are the 2 that the other couples measure themselves by, thinking they have all the things we want, we think we want or perhaps we were just told we want which we measure ourselves by.
Couple #2 - The Johnsons (open to all genders - possible same-sex couple):
Brian - Any Gender - 30s - 40s
Diane - Any Gender - 30s - 40s
Brian and Diane are open to any casting, but they may be a same sex couple in this show. This is the couple who has been together for as long as anyone can remember. I am looking to cast on the older side, if possible, but am open to as young as late 30s. Brian does have some physical movements, such as collapsing after being hit with a frying pan, so the actor should be able and comfortable being able to do so.
Couple #3 - The Smiths (open to all genders - possible same-sex couple):
Matt - Any Gender - Late 20s - mid 30s
Christy - Any Gender - Late 20s - mid 30s
Matt and Christy are open to any casting, but they may be a same sex couple in this show. Christy is career-driven and Matt is overly friendly to hide his depression. This couple is full of toxic positivity.
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR:
A note for auditioners: This will be a dark show that tackles what we perceive as happiness and how we measure it against the people around us. The darkness is sometimes dramatic and sometimes hilarious and sometimes will swap between the 2 at a moments notice. At the end of the day, they do all care for each other.
A note on tone: the play is a dark comedy. Please be prepared to explore multiple styles during auditions, even if it seems against how you might assume the scene would be played and be prepared to receive some direction during the audition.
After reviewing the above information: please submit the audition interest form below which will ask for:
+ Headshot
+ Resume (or list of previous roles/experience)
+ Which productions you would like to be considered for
+ Confirmation that you are available for performances dates and during the anticipated rehearsal period
+ Your availability for possible audition dates
+ If you are interested in helping out behind-the-scenes at SPTC
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: AUGUST 1, 2025
Auditions may consist of prepared and/or cold readings from the script, taking direction from the director, actor exercises/games, etc. All scripts are readily available online and we highly encourage you to read them before auditioning.
Directors will review submissions and you will receive an email by August 7, 2025 if you are invited to audition for a production. You may be invited to attend auditions for more than one production.
If you don’t hear from us by this date, please email us. Sometimes technology can be weird and typos happen! It is our goal that everyone who submits information to the form will be notified if they are invited to audition or not.
We appreciate your grace in understanding we’re still a small company with limited productions and cast sizes that we are able to support! Even if we aren’t able to invite you onstage for this season, we look forward to many more productions and the opportunity to work with you on the right project :-)