Audition Notice THREE PLAYS of Season 69

Primary Trust by Eboni Booth - auditions August 11 and 12
Eclipsed by Danai Gurira - auditions August 13 and 14
August Wilson's The Piano Lesson - auditions August 15 and 16

All auditions are In-Person. No video submissions.

SEE BELOW FOR ALL CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS, AND
PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS AT THE BOTTOM ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND SCHEDULE AN AUDITION.

Primary Trust
by Eboni Booth
Performances: November 7 to Dec 28, 2025
Directed by Antoine McKay

Auditions: Monday, August 11,
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
and Tuesday, August 12,
1 p.m. to 7 p.m

About the play:
Kenneth is a shy, middle aged Black man living in a small town in upstate New York. By day he sells books, and by night he drinks mai tais at a Tiki Bar with his best friend Bert. When he is suddenly laid off from the book store, he is forced out of his comfort zone and into a world he has long avoided. Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Primary Trust is an achingly beautiful, ultimately stunning tale that celebrates friendship, connection and how small acts of kindness can change a person’s life, and an entire community.

Roles available: 
KENNETH - male, Black, late 30s
BERT - male, Black late 30s - 40s
CORRINA/WALLY’S WAITER/BANK CUSTOMERS - female, Black, 30s - 40s
CLAY/SAM/LE POUSSELET BARTENDER - male, any race, 50s plus

Eclipsed
by Danai Gurira
Performances: March 27 to May 17, 2026
Directed by Shavonne Coleman

Auditions:
Wednesday August 13,
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
and Thursday, August 14,
3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

About the play:
Written by actress-playwright Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead) comes a stunning tale of hope and resilience set in the midst of the Liberian Civil War.
Five extraordinary women, who have formed an unlikely sisterhood struggle to negotiate power, protection and peace as they try to survive. With wit, compassion, and defiance, this gripping play unearths the wreckage of war and celebrates the women who navigate and survive the most hostile of circumstances.

Roles Available:
HELENA, late teens/early 20s
BESSIE, mid- to late teens
THE GIRL, 15
MAIMA, mid- to late teens
RITA, 40s
All roles are of Black/African descent

August Wilson’s
The Piano Lesson
Performances:
January 9 to March 15, 2026
Directed by Janai Lashon

Auditions:
Friday, August 15
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 16
noon to 5 p.m.

About the play:
This is the fourth installment of the American Century Cycle. In the Charles household, Berniece and her brother Boy Willie fight over the fate of the family piano; she treasures it as a precious connection to their ancestors, and he sees it as the means to a more prosperous future. Boy Willie argues that the past is past, but Berniece proves to be more formidable than he anticipated.

Roles Available:
DOAKER (Male, 40s plus) Berniece and Boy Willie’s uncle. Wise and grounded.
BOY WILLIE (Male, 30s) Berniece’s brash, impulsive, and fast-talking brother. 
LYMON (Male, 30s) Boy Willie’s longtime friend.
BERNIECE (Female, 30s) Sister of Boy Willie. Strong-willed and emotionally complex. (Ability to play the piano a plus, but not necessary to be cast in part.)
MARETHA (Female, 11) Berniece’s daughter. Curious and lively.
AVERY (Male, 30s) A preacher who is trying to build his congregation. 
WINING BOY (Male, 40s-60s) Doaker’s brother. A charming, former musician. (Ability to play the piano a plus, but not necessary to be cast in part.)
GRACE (Female, 20s-30s) A vibrant young woman whom both Boy Willie and Lymon try to pick up.
All roles are of Black/African descent.

Knowledge of the play you wish to be considered for is HIGHLY recommended.

  • There are no video audition submissions. All auditions must be in person.

  • Auditioners must call the Theatre to schedule an audition appointment.

  • The auditions will consist of reading sides from the script. Sides will be provided at the time of your appointment.

Paper scripts are available from the Detroit Repertory Theatre and may be borrowed overnight for a refundable deposit of $20. Due to copyright law, we are not able to share electronic copies of the scripts.

  • To borrow a script, call the office to alert us to save a copy for you,

  • Bring $20 CASH for each script you wish to take overnight.

  • Your $20 will be returned to you when you return the script the following day.

To make an appointment or to request a paper script, call the Detroit Repertory Theatre at (313) 868-1347 during office hours, Tuesday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Detroit Repertory Theatre’s mission is to produce the finest professional theatre, while democratizing the arts, and fighting, by example, the disturbing level of racism that still exists.

The Detroit Rep’s casting policy since 1957 is to cast the best actor for the role, regardless of color of skin, race, ethnicity, gender, and ability unless germane to the play. We expand on this policy today to include all people of intersectional identities.

As the Detroit Repertory Theatre re-builds coming out of the pandemic, we will apply the same tenacity of our casting policy to all areas of the Theatre’s operations, and stay true to our mission – to use the power of theatre to prove the power of diversity acting in unity.

If you would like to be on the actors list to receive audition notices directly, CLICK HERE to sign up.

Audition notices will be sent out via email only. We are no longer Direct Mailing audition notices.

The Detroit Repertory is an Equal Opportunity Employer.