Auditions for Recent Tragic Events by Craig Wright
Advertisement
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, STAGEtwo’s season opener recalls their immediate aftermath with love, discombobulation, and a bit of humor.
On the day after the attacks, Waverly, a young advertising exec in Minneapolis, has not heard from her twin sister Wendy in New York. Soon to venture on a blind date amidst the television news coverage of the September 11th attacks, Waverly is preoccupied with Wendy’s whereabouts but trying to maintain as much “normality” as possible. As the evening unfolds, Waverly and her blind date, Andrew, an airport bookstore manager, realize that they are connected by a succession of bizarre coincidences. As Waverly awaits word on Wendy, the date is complicated by visits from her crazed-musician neighbor, Ron, his sort-of girlfriend, Nancy, and a startling visit from Waverly's great aunt, Joyce Carol Oates—played by a sock puppet.
This show contains mature content.
________
Kate Small, Director
Laura Roberts, Stage Manager
Toni Schaperjohn, Intimacy Director
________
When:
Sunday July 19, 6-9 pm
Tuesday, July 21, 6-9 pm
If anyone cannot make these dates, please contact Kate Small!
________
Where:
STAGEtwo@321
321 N Congress Ave
Evansville, IN 47715
________
Show Dates:
Friday, September 11, 2026, 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 12, 2026, 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 13, 2026, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
________
Characters:
STAGEtwo strives to cultivate a creative environment that values inclusivity and diversity for all individuals. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Waverly Wilson, female presenting, 20s-ish: A spirited advertising executive in Minneapolis. She is hosting a blind date but spends the evening highly anxious while waiting for news about her twin sister, Wendy, who may have been working at the World Trade Center.
Andrew, male-presenting, 20s-ish: An unassuming, slightly neurotic airport bookstore manager. He arrives for a blind date with Waverly, navigating the awkward social protocols of dating amidst a national tragedy.
Ron, male-presenting, open to a wide range of ages: Waverly’s loud, crazed-musician neighbor. He frequently interrupts the evening with unexpected, colorful, and philosophical visits.
Nancy female-presenting, open to a wide range of ages: Ron’s sort-of girlfriend. She is an eccentric, often oblivious presence who brings a unique, grounded, and darkly comedic energy to the apartment.
Joyce Carol Oates: A fictionalized version of the acclaimed author, who is playfully brought to life as a sock puppet worn by Nancy during a startling visit to the apartment.
NOTE: there is a speaking role called “Stage Manager,” which will be “played” by our actual stage manager.
_________
The audition will consist of cold readings from the script. The readings will be posted around 1 week prior to auditions.
_________
We will begin rehearsals the week of July 26.
Rehearsals will be 3ish times a week leading up to the show, with the days of the week determined by cast availability. This is an intimate show, with only 4 cast members. Waverly and Andrew should expect to be called for all rehearsals and Ron and Nancy should expect to be called for most.
There will be no rehearsals the week of August 1 (due to Evansville Shakespeare Players’ Twelfth Night).
Please bring a list of all conflicts during the rehearsal period to the auditions.
________
18 and above.
Intimacy disclosures: there is minimal physical intimacy, however the character of Nancy must appear to be wearing only a tee shirt without bottoms so the actor must be comfortable with that. (The actor will be wearing some kind of skin-tone undies; no one will actually be Pooh-Bearing on stage.)
Please note: any acts of intimacy or stage violence will be choreographed by an Intimacy Director in accordance with STAGEtwo’s Intimacy & Consent Policy.
On the day after the attacks, Waverly, a young advertising exec in Minneapolis, has not heard from her twin sister Wendy in New York. Soon to venture on a blind date amidst the television news coverage of the September 11th attacks, Waverly is preoccupied with Wendy’s whereabouts but trying to maintain as much “normality” as possible. As the evening unfolds, Waverly and her blind date, Andrew, an airport bookstore manager, realize that they are connected by a succession of bizarre coincidences. As Waverly awaits word on Wendy, the date is complicated by visits from her crazed-musician neighbor, Ron, his sort-of girlfriend, Nancy, and a startling visit from Waverly's great aunt, Joyce Carol Oates—played by a sock puppet.
This show contains mature content.
________
Kate Small, Director
Laura Roberts, Stage Manager
Toni Schaperjohn, Intimacy Director
________
When:
Sunday July 19, 6-9 pm
Tuesday, July 21, 6-9 pm
If anyone cannot make these dates, please contact Kate Small!
________
Where:
STAGEtwo@321
321 N Congress Ave
Evansville, IN 47715
________
Show Dates:
Friday, September 11, 2026, 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 12, 2026, 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 13, 2026, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
________
Characters:
STAGEtwo strives to cultivate a creative environment that values inclusivity and diversity for all individuals. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Waverly Wilson, female presenting, 20s-ish: A spirited advertising executive in Minneapolis. She is hosting a blind date but spends the evening highly anxious while waiting for news about her twin sister, Wendy, who may have been working at the World Trade Center.
Andrew, male-presenting, 20s-ish: An unassuming, slightly neurotic airport bookstore manager. He arrives for a blind date with Waverly, navigating the awkward social protocols of dating amidst a national tragedy.
Ron, male-presenting, open to a wide range of ages: Waverly’s loud, crazed-musician neighbor. He frequently interrupts the evening with unexpected, colorful, and philosophical visits.
Nancy female-presenting, open to a wide range of ages: Ron’s sort-of girlfriend. She is an eccentric, often oblivious presence who brings a unique, grounded, and darkly comedic energy to the apartment.
Joyce Carol Oates: A fictionalized version of the acclaimed author, who is playfully brought to life as a sock puppet worn by Nancy during a startling visit to the apartment.
NOTE: there is a speaking role called “Stage Manager,” which will be “played” by our actual stage manager.
_________
The audition will consist of cold readings from the script. The readings will be posted around 1 week prior to auditions.
_________
We will begin rehearsals the week of July 26.
Rehearsals will be 3ish times a week leading up to the show, with the days of the week determined by cast availability. This is an intimate show, with only 4 cast members. Waverly and Andrew should expect to be called for all rehearsals and Ron and Nancy should expect to be called for most.
There will be no rehearsals the week of August 1 (due to Evansville Shakespeare Players’ Twelfth Night).
Please bring a list of all conflicts during the rehearsal period to the auditions.
________
18 and above.
Intimacy disclosures: there is minimal physical intimacy, however the character of Nancy must appear to be wearing only a tee shirt without bottoms so the actor must be comfortable with that. (The actor will be wearing some kind of skin-tone undies; no one will actually be Pooh-Bearing on stage.)
Please note: any acts of intimacy or stage violence will be choreographed by an Intimacy Director in accordance with STAGEtwo’s Intimacy & Consent Policy.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
STAGEtwo at 321, 321 N Congress Ave, Evansville, IN 47715-2442, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherSTAGEtwo Productions
