The Philadelphia Women's Theatre (PWT) is seeking video submissions from non-equity actors for their upcoming production of the new play, Stella for Star, by Megan McDermott. This is a world premiere production, presented as part of PWT’s 11th Annual Festival this August, at Theatre Exile (1340 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147). Rehearsals start July 14th. Shows run August 8th-16th. Details on roles below. Video submissions are due June 27th. To submit, please, fill out this google form and follow the video submission instructions noted below. If you have any issues with the form or uploading, please email glynnis@phillywomenstheatrefest.org. 

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Synopsis:

Follow the journey of Stella Kowalski after the events of A Streetcar Named Desire. What happens to her, her child, and her marriage after her sister Blanche is led away? At turns both visceral and poetic, this tale centers on Stella as she sets out on a journey to uncover the truth about Blanche’s fate, discovering along the way a sense of agency, a passion all her own, and a new sisterhood with a nurse named Louise. With elements of lyrical and dreamlike storytelling that contrast sharply with the gritty realities of domestic violence and mental illness, Stella and Louise form a friendship that empowers both of them to reclaim their lives. Stella for Star is a story of sisterhood, salvation, and survival.

 

ROLES

A note on dialect: All characters speak with a Mississippi Delta Accent.

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LOUISE HUBBARD: Female, early 30’s. Black.

A Nurse. Loves the study of psychology, takes her job seriously, and works hard to get ahead in the male dominated medical world. She has a warm heart, keen insight, and is a straight shooter. Deeply loves her husband. She is a dedicated Mother. She wears a pocket watch necklace, similar to a locket, at all times. She comes from a lower class, but is well educated. There is a sadness about her, a sense of something lost, longing to be found again.

Time Commitment: Average 3-4 rehearsals a week. 

Stipend: $975

 

STANLEY KOWALSKI: Male, 30’s. White.

Based on Stanley in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Sexy, virile, primal. Charming and charismatic. He has a commanding presence and wants things the way he wants them. Can turn into a frightened little boy when confronted with the loss of his wife. Stella is genuinely the love of his life. He can be manipulative, volatile, and violent.

Time Commitment: Average 1-2 rehearsals a week

Stipend: $750

 

JOHN HUBBARD: Male, 30’s. Black.

Louise’s husband. A mechanic. Hardworking. Very in love with Louise and supportive of her studies and career, rare for a husband in these times. He has a great sense of humor and a fabulous Baritone laugh! Suffering from undiagnosed PTSD from his time serving overseas in the war, which makes him volatile.

Time Commitment: Average 1-2 rehearsals a week

Stipend: $750

 

YOUNG BLANCE DUBOIS: Female, 20’s-30’s. White.

Based on the character of Blanche in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. A younger version of Blanche before Streetcar begins. The Blanche Stella remembers growing up with. Effervescent, poetic, and coquettish. An elaborate, upper class, southern debutante. Proper in etiquette. The older sister who has opinions on Stella’s choices. Long before her mental collapse. Her voice is filled with lilt, and bubble, and lyricism.

Time Commitment: Average 3-4 Rehearsals a week

Stipend: $975

 

DR. PAYTON : Male, late 50’s-60’s. White.

Dr. Payton, is the doctor in charge of the hospital and Blanche’s treatment. He is the embodiment of the white patriarchy. Patronizing, not a listener, believes he is always right. He has a relaxed, sometimes flirtatious, charm about him. There is something suave, yet impatient and condescending about his tone. He can turn into a vicious bully in an instant.

Time Commitment: Average 1-2 rehearsals a week

Stipend: $750

 

These three characters are triple cast for one actor who can play the age range of late 30s-early 50s:

MRS. AURORA FAIRCHILD: Female, 30’s- 50’s. 

A talented milliner and owner of the hat shoppe in New Orleans where Stella works. Vivacious. She is business savvy, style savvy, and the only thing larger than her sense of humor is her heart. She is very funny. Her speech is excessively expressive; her vowels are elongated and melodic, a one syllable word easily becomes five syllables. She is an independent woman with her own money. She defies class, gender and racial lines because her craftsmanship and entrepreneurship are that good. Ladies won’t dare to go anywhere without a Fairchild Hat. She lives her life as she chooses and regards Stella as the daughter she never had.

MS. FLORENCE HENRY: Female, late 30’s. 

Louise’s mentor and the former librarian at her College. She is educated, passionate about the quest for knowledge, and extremely encouraging of her students; particularly aspiring women. There is a reserve about her expression, but she has a strong determination and a very bright mind. Still waters run deep. She has a past that she keeps to herself, but that has made her a survivor and a champion for other women. She is now pursuing a graduate degree in Library Science at The University of Chicago. Louise reminds her of her younger self and she regards her as a younger sister.

CURRENT BLANCHE: Female, 30’s- 50’s.

Her voice is low in range and slow in tempo, grunt -like, and far off, not necessarily in volume, but in the presence of the speaker. She doesn’t always comprehend what she is expressing, it is  distorted. There is no lilt or melody in the tone, none of Blanche’s poetic lyricism from Streetcar. 

Time Commitment: Average 3-4 Rehearsals a week

Stipend: $975

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Rehearsals: July 14th - August 1st. Rehearsals will mostly be in the evening on weekdays, with some afternoons on the weekends. Rehearsals will take place at The Perch (2321 Emerald St, Philadelphia, PA 19125). 

Tech: August 4th-7th

Show Schedule:

Saturday, August 8th, 7:00pm Opening Night

Sunday, August 9th, 7:00pm

Thursday, August 13th, 7:00pm

Friday, August 14th, 7:00pm

Saturday, August 15th, 2:00pm

Saturday, August 15th, 7:00pm

Sunday, August 16th, 2:00pm Closing