WORK WITH US
Michele Egerton in THE CRUCIBLE.
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Pam Sontag in GROSS INDECENCY.
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Chelsey Patriss, Nate Malone, and Scott Kurland in THE WAVERLY GALLERY.
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UPCOMING AUDITIONS
AUDITION NOTICE
PRODIGAL SON
Written by John Patrick Shanley | Directed by: Andrew DeSisto
Produced by: City on a Hill Arts
Performance Venue: Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453
From the Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Doubt and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea comes a highly personal, explosive, and portrait-like drama.
Prodigal Son is a passionate, semi-autobiographical depiction of a young man on the razor-thin edge between salvation and destruction. Set in the mid-1960s, the story follows Jim Quinn, a 15-to-17-year-old working-class Irish-Catholic kid from the Bronx, who is given a scholarship to a prestigious, elite boys' preparatory school in New Hampshire. Gifted, poetic, and fiercely intelligent, Jim is also intensely alienated, violent, and battling a profound loneliness. As his self-destructive behavior tests the limits of the school's strict rules, two faculty members and the headmaster find themselves caught in a high-stakes debate: is this brilliant, rebellious young man a rising star to be nurtured, or a disaster waiting to happen?
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNThe production is seeking a diverse, dynamic, and emotionally courageous cast of 5 actors (4 male-identifying, 1 female-identifying). All roles require strong physical presence, excellent command of language, and the ability to navigate rapid shifts between sharp humor and intense emotional vulnerability.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Quinn
15 – 18
(To be played by an actor 18+ who can play younger)
Working-class Bronx accent.
The "Prodigal Son." Represents John Patrick Shanley as a teenager. Highly intelligent, extremely well-read, poetic, and passionate, but also aggressive, volatile, and deeply troubled. He is a walking contradiction of massive confidence and devastating insecurity. Requires an actor with magnetic stage presence and deep emotional range.
Carl Schmitt
50s – 60s
Standard American.
The Headmaster. The traditional, strict, and highly principled founder of the Thomas More Preparatory School. Carl values honor, order, and shaping "extraordinary young men." While he is a tough disciplinarian who is frequently pushed to his absolute limit by Jim's antics, he possesses a hidden capacity for grace and a painful personal history.
Alan Hoffman
30s – 40s
Standard American.
The English Master. A dedicated, sensitive, and intellectual teacher who acts as Jim's advocate and mentor. He is the first to recognize the boy's unique literary voice. Alan is warm, persuasive, and deeply invested in saving troubled students, but he is also a complex figure carrying his own burdens and secrets.
Louise Schmitt
30s – 50s
Warm, sophisticated Standard American.
The Headmaster's Wife. A smart, independent-minded, and sharp-witted educator who teaches honors English tutorials. Louise is empathetic and level-headed. She does not hide behind her husband’s authority and is capable of speaking to Jim with a direct, maternal, yet intellectually rigorous honesty.
Austin Schmitt
15 – 18
(To be played by an actor 18+ who can play younger)
Standard American.
Jim's Roommate. The nephew of Headmaster Carl Schmitt. Austin is studious, orderly, affable, and somewhat nerdy. He serves as a stark foil to Jim's wild, chaotic nature. Though he is easily persuaded and occasionally swept up in Jim's rebellion, he maintains a strong, quiet moral compass and genuine loyalty.
Note: The roles of Jim Quinn and Austin Schmitt involve portraying characters aged 15 to 17 over the course of several years. Actors auditioning must be comfortable portraying this transition.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Louise/Jim/Schmitt
Austin/Jim
Jim/Schmitt
AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS & APPOINTMENTS
For further inquiries please contact Andy DeSisto at [email protected].
.
PRODIGAL SON
Written by John Patrick Shanley | Directed by: Andrew DeSisto
Produced by: City on a Hill Arts
Performance Venue: Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453
- PRODUCTION SUMMARY & SCHEDULE
- Audition Dates & Times:
- Sunday, August 16 at 6:00 PM
- Monday, August 17 at 7:00 PM
- Audition Location: Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453
- Callback Date: Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00 PM (if needed)
- First Read-Through: Sunday, August 30 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Rehearsal Schedule: TBD based on cast availability
- Performance Dates: November 7, 8, 12, 14 (four performances)
From the Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Doubt and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea comes a highly personal, explosive, and portrait-like drama.
Prodigal Son is a passionate, semi-autobiographical depiction of a young man on the razor-thin edge between salvation and destruction. Set in the mid-1960s, the story follows Jim Quinn, a 15-to-17-year-old working-class Irish-Catholic kid from the Bronx, who is given a scholarship to a prestigious, elite boys' preparatory school in New Hampshire. Gifted, poetic, and fiercely intelligent, Jim is also intensely alienated, violent, and battling a profound loneliness. As his self-destructive behavior tests the limits of the school's strict rules, two faculty members and the headmaster find themselves caught in a high-stakes debate: is this brilliant, rebellious young man a rising star to be nurtured, or a disaster waiting to happen?
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNThe production is seeking a diverse, dynamic, and emotionally courageous cast of 5 actors (4 male-identifying, 1 female-identifying). All roles require strong physical presence, excellent command of language, and the ability to navigate rapid shifts between sharp humor and intense emotional vulnerability.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Quinn
15 – 18
(To be played by an actor 18+ who can play younger)
Working-class Bronx accent.
The "Prodigal Son." Represents John Patrick Shanley as a teenager. Highly intelligent, extremely well-read, poetic, and passionate, but also aggressive, volatile, and deeply troubled. He is a walking contradiction of massive confidence and devastating insecurity. Requires an actor with magnetic stage presence and deep emotional range.
Carl Schmitt
50s – 60s
Standard American.
The Headmaster. The traditional, strict, and highly principled founder of the Thomas More Preparatory School. Carl values honor, order, and shaping "extraordinary young men." While he is a tough disciplinarian who is frequently pushed to his absolute limit by Jim's antics, he possesses a hidden capacity for grace and a painful personal history.
Alan Hoffman
30s – 40s
Standard American.
The English Master. A dedicated, sensitive, and intellectual teacher who acts as Jim's advocate and mentor. He is the first to recognize the boy's unique literary voice. Alan is warm, persuasive, and deeply invested in saving troubled students, but he is also a complex figure carrying his own burdens and secrets.
Louise Schmitt
30s – 50s
Warm, sophisticated Standard American.
The Headmaster's Wife. A smart, independent-minded, and sharp-witted educator who teaches honors English tutorials. Louise is empathetic and level-headed. She does not hide behind her husband’s authority and is capable of speaking to Jim with a direct, maternal, yet intellectually rigorous honesty.
Austin Schmitt
15 – 18
(To be played by an actor 18+ who can play younger)
Standard American.
Jim's Roommate. The nephew of Headmaster Carl Schmitt. Austin is studious, orderly, affable, and somewhat nerdy. He serves as a stark foil to Jim's wild, chaotic nature. Though he is easily persuaded and occasionally swept up in Jim's rebellion, he maintains a strong, quiet moral compass and genuine loyalty.
Note: The roles of Jim Quinn and Austin Schmitt involve portraying characters aged 15 to 17 over the course of several years. Actors auditioning must be comfortable portraying this transition.
WHAT TO PREPARE
- Selected sides from the play are available below.. You will be asked to read these during your audition block.
Louise/Jim/Schmitt
Austin/Jim
Jim/Schmitt
AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS & APPOINTMENTS
- Location Details: Auditions will be held in person at Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453.
- To Schedule an Audition: Please follow this link to sign up or email [email protected] with your preferred date, time block, and the role you are most interested in. Walk-Ins are also encouraged.
- Sides: Selected sides will be made available for download/perusal prior to the dates.
For further inquiries please contact Andy DeSisto at [email protected].
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Jack Crory and Matt Valeri in tech rehearsal for END DAYS.
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JOIN OUR CREW!We are always looking for more stage managers, designers, and technicians to join our team! City on a Hill Arts offers modest stipends to stage managers and designers, and gratefully accepts volunteers who want to learn new skills in a fun environment in set construction and painting, lighting crew, light and sound board operation, and backstage run crew. To inquire about open positions, please email Executive Director Debbie Moylan at [email protected].
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