Doubt: A Parable

Written by: John Patrick Shanley

 

The Garden Theatre is seeking actors to fill the understudy roles in John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable. Please note that principal roles have already been cast. Auditions are by video submission only. Callbacks, if needed, will be communicated separately. While we are seeking understudies at this time, all understudies are guaranteed at least one performance. See below for additional information.

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Director: Jennifer Decker

Stage Manager: Sara Denton

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Audition Due Date: Video submissions are due no later than Wednesday, January 22 at 11:59pm.

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Callback Date: Callbacks will be communicated on a case by case basis if needed. 

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Video Submission Instructions: All auditions will be through video submissions. Please slate at the beginning of your video. Make sure your video is filmed horizontally (like a movie, not a TikTok) and that you are lit well. Please upload your video to Youtube as unlisted. Please send a copy of your headshot and resume to logan@thegardentheatre.org. Use the subject line Doubt Audition- [Your Name]. The following form will ask for your link.

 

Submission Form: Please fill out the form linked here. ​

 

Ages: 18+ 

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Audition Requirements: Please prepare the side(s) from the character you would like to be considered for. All sides are linked here. 

 

Health and Safety: Masks during rehearsals are now optional. If a member of the cast or production team falls ill, we will switch to a mask-mandatory rehearsal environment until Garden Theatre personnel deems it safe to return to a mask-optional environment. If a cast or production team member tests positive for Covid-19, the artist will not be allowed to return to rehearsal or performances until two negative tests have been provided over two consecutive days. Depending on the amount of exposure, it is possible that all cast and production team members will need to test daily until we have moved out of the incubation period.

 

Zero Tolerance Policy: The Garden Theatre has a zero tolerance policy for attending rehearsals or performances under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Breaking this rule will result in immediate removal from the production.

 

Performance Dates: March 21-30, 2025 (10 performances; Call time is one hour before each performance. Understudies are only required to be at shows they are performing in, but must be available in the event they need to go on.)

                                 

Friday, March 21: 8pm

Saturday, March 22: 2pm

Saturday, March 22: 8pm

Sunday, March 23: 2pm

Monday, March 24: 7:30pm

 

Thursday, March 27: 7:30pm

Friday, March 28: 8pm

Saturday, March 29: 2pm

Saturday, March 29: 8pm

Saturday, March 30: 2pm

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Performance Venue: MATCH- Matchbox 1

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First Day of Rehearsal: The first day of rehearsal will be Monday, February 10, 2025. 

 

Rehearsal Schedule: Please note that you may not be called to all rehearsals. Understudies are required to attend all rehearsals that the principal actor in which they are understudying is called. 

 

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 7pm-10pm 

*We will not have rehearsals on February 17 (President’s Day)

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Tech Week: Tech will be held in the theatre March 17-20 from 6pm-11pm. 

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Rehearsal Location: All rehearsals will take place within the 610 loop.

 

Compensation: This is a non-union production. Each performer will receive a stipend.                      

                

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of a 1960s America in the midst of political and social change, Doubt is the story of when a progressive young priest’s conduct comes under question by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the school principal whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition. As the actions and motivations of each are scrutinized and suspicion mounts, the two are drawn into a battle of wills that threatens irrevocable consequences for all involved.

 

Casting: The Garden Theatre is committed to bringing Houston (the most diverse city in the country) to our stage. It is written into the by-laws of our organization that we do not discriminate against age, sex, race, color, nationality, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage all who are interested who fit the character descriptions to audition. 

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Available Roles:

Sister Aloysius Beauvier Understudy (White, Female Presenting, Age Presenting: 50’s – 70’s): Principal of St. Nicholas School, she stands as a bastion of traditional Catholic education. As a strict disciplinarian, she is unwavering in her commitment to the conservative ways of the church, believing firmly in the power of rigorous academic and moral instruction. Unsparing and by-the-book, Sister Aloysius enforces the rules with an unsentimental hand, ensuring that her school upholds the values she holds sacred. Driven by an unyielding sense of duty, she is a formidable educator who will not budge on her convictions.

 

Father Brendan Flynn Understudy (White, Male Presenting, Age Presenting: 30’s – 40’s): A warm and affable priest with a working-class background, he is cherished for his commitment to good works at St. Nicholas Church. Articulate and personable, he embodies a youthful yet wise spirit, advocating for a progressive Catholic Church that connects empathetically with the general public. Emphasizing closeness over distance, Father Flynn engages warmly with his parishioners, guiding them with a gentle hand as he aspires to make faith a relatable and living experience.

 

Sister James Understudy (White, Female Presenting, Age Presenting: 20’s – 30’s): A youthful nun and an enthusiastic educator at the St. Nicholas School, Sister James embodies both innocence and an unwavering commitment to her faith. Her heart radiates warmth, drawing students to confide in her. Though her tender-hearted nature makes her easily swayed, life’s harsh realities compel her to confront difficult decisions. Her journey is one of balancing her innate kindness with the complexities of the world.

 

Mrs. Muller Understudy (Black or Black/Mixed, Female Presenting, Age Presenting: 30’s – 40’s): A composed, strict, working-class mother who is fiercely dedicated to her son, Donald. Caught in a heart-wrenching tug-of-war between ensuring her son’s current safety and not jeopardizing his educational prospects, she exemplifies the tenacity and complex sacrifices inherent in motherhood.
 

Questions: For further questions about auditions, please email Founding Artistic Director, Logan Vaden, at logan@thegardentheatre.org.