Auditions and Casting Information

Show and casting description: 

Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris

Award winning satirical drama; the first act is set just prior to the events of A Raisin in the Sun, the second act is set 50 years later.

In 1959, 406 Clybourne Park, which is located in a white neighborhood, is sold to a Black family. In 2009 – after the neighborhood has changed into a Black community – the house is sold to a white couple. Through the lens of property ownership, Norris’ cutting humor scrutinizes middle class hypocrisies, white flight, and gentrification in America in this Pulitzer, Olivier and Tony Award-winning modern classic. This show ties into the classic A Raisin in the Sun, as this is the house that the Younger family moves into, and two of the characters have ties to that show.

The show calls for a main cast of 7 actors (4 male presenting, 3 female presenting) who will play significantly different roles in Act I and Act II, with the possibility of 1 additional small male role. The play will be performed in the Black Box Theatre, so projection will be a factor in casting.

Casting team: 

Director- Alan Greenberg

Assistant Director- Ashley W. Morris

When: 

Open auditions: Sunday & Monday, August 30 & 31 at 7:00 PM

Callbacks take place on an invitation-only basis: Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00 PM

Performances and Rehearsal Information:

Performances for Clybourne Park will be November 5-8 and 12-15, 2026 on the Black Box Stage. 

Performance structure at Riverwalk is THURS 7:00 | FRI & SAT 8:00 | SUN 2:00

Character Descriptions: 

Actor 1: Portrays 45-55 years old, a white man

-Russ - A grieving man who is numb, bitter and angry

-Dan – A friendly, somewhat oblivious construction worker

Actor 2: Portrays 40-50 years old, a white woman

-Bev – Russ’s well-meaning wife. Struggling to maintain an optimistic/proper exterior while terrified by her husband’s depression and judgement of her neighbors.

-Kathy – Fast-talking real estate lawyer  

Actor 3: Portrays 30-40 years old, a Black woman

-Francine – Domestic worker for Bev and Russ navigating racial tensions with quiet  professionalism.

-Lena – Fierce, socio-economically upwardly mobile woman who is the great-niece of the family who bought the house in 1959. (Grand niece of the Younger family)

Actor 4: Portrays 30-40 years old, a Black man

-Albert – Francine’s husband. He is polite, accommodating and eager to defuse any racial tensions.

-Kevin – Lena’s laid-back but firm husband.

Actor 5: Portrays 30-40 years old, a white man

-Karl – Nervous, deeply racist neighbor of Russ and Bev. Tries to hide his bigotry behind “Community Values”. (Character directly pulled from Raisin in the Sun)

-Steve – Buyer who wants to demolish and rebuild the house. He tends to put his foot in his mouth, intellectualizing race and telling offensive jokes to prove points about political correctness.

Actor 6: Portrays 25-35 years old, a white woman, will use ASL in act one

-Betsy – Karl’s pregnant and deaf wife. Unaware of the intense argument happening around her, communicates through lip-reading and basic sign-language.

-Lindsey – Steve’s pregnant wife. Anxious and desperately wants to appear progressive and non-racist.

Actor 7: Portrays 25-35 years old, a white man

-Jim – Russ and Bev’s young, patronizing minister who comes to counsel them but what’s his real motive for the visit?

-Tom – Lawyer representing the Neighborhood Association who is trying to mediate the zoning dispute.

Actor 8 (May be doubled by Actor 7): Portrays 25-35 year old, a white man

-Kenneth – Deceased son of Russ and Bev appearing briefly at the end of the play.