Queensbridge – A New Play In Development– Dream Up Theatre Festival – NYC - NON-UNION Actors

QUEENSBRIDGE – A NEW PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT– DREAM UP THEATRE FESTIVAL – NYC

Producer: Marlin Thomas

Director: DeMone Seraphin

Writer: Marlin Thomas

Casting: Holly Buczek, HDB Casting

Venue: Theatre for the New City

Non-AEA Only

Project Stipend starting at $700.00

DATES:

Auditions: Monday, 7/27 (In person in NYC)

Callbacks: Tuesday, 7/28 (In person in NYC)

Rehearsals start: 8/10 – 8/22 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday nights and Saturday days; Week of 8/24 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday nights and Saturday days *To be arranged around actor’s schedules as needed.

Tech: Week of 8/30 – Schedule TBD

Performances*: 9/8- 9:00pm; 9/10- 8:00pm; 8/7 – 6:30pm; 9/11– 9:00pm; 9/12– 5:00pm; 9/13-2:00pm

*Please do not submit if you are not available these dates.

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

PLEASE SUBMIT HEADSHOT/RESUMES & REELS VIA EMAIL – [email protected] TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT – WRITE “QUEENSBRIDGE SUBMISSION” IN YOUR EMAIL SUBJECT LINE

Synopsis: Inside the bustling streets of the Queensbridge Houses—the largest public housing development in the United States—the lives of its residents collide in unexpected, deeply human ways. Written by a lifelong member of the community, this raw slice-of-life drama weaves together a mosaic of interconnected stories, offering an intimate portrait shaped by authentic neighborhood experience. Moving beyond stereotypes and statistics, the play reveals the everyday struggle for survival, dignity, and self-determination while celebrating the resilience, complexity, and humanity of a community too often overlooked. From the playwright of REPARATIONS, QUEENSBRIDGE offers a nuanced and compassionate portrayal that honors the quiet heroism and enduring spirit of its residents.

INTERVIEWER/MRS. TREADWAY/ MRS. RUSSELL (Female, 30s+, Black/ African American)
The Interviewer is an urban studies teacher conducting oral history interviews about the Queensbridge Houses. Reserved to the point of brittleness, she eventually reveals a personal connection to the development that has drawn her back to document its history. Mrs. Treadway is Jay-Tay’s mother. A resilient woman whose long and complicated journey has brought her to Queensbridge as a single mother after her husband is incarcerated. Tragically humorous. Mrs. Russell is Lionel’s mother. Exhausted by life’s hardships but unwavering in her love and determination to support her son. THIS TRACK PLAYS ALL THREE ROLES.

LIONEL RUSSELL (Male, 30s+, Black/African American)
The central character of the story. As Lionel reflects on his past, the people who shaped his life return to tell their own stories, revealing the experiences that defined him. Thoughtful, resourceful, and deeply haunted—a survivor carrying the weight of memory. Warm and wry, but angry. He becomes the younger teenage version of himself in memory scenes.

JEREMY "JAY-TAY" TREADWAY (Male, 18–25 to play teens, Black/African American)
Lionel’s friend. Street-smart, independent, and slightly rebellious, Jay-Tay has learned to rely on himself to survive. Very hip and charming.

MR. HABIG / MR. PHAIL/MANFREDO (Male, 40s+, Italian American)
Mr. Habig is a neighborhood loner and devoted chess player who teaches local kids the game. He is brooding and menacing in his energy and is viewed by many in the community as an eccentric outsider. Mr. Phail is the high school gym teacher—rigid, intimidating, and notably unforgiving. Manfredo is a disabled war veteran who is fiercely protective of his family. Consumed by fear and prejudice, he is driven to increasingly violent extremes. Angry and resentful. THIS TRACK WILL PLAY ALL THREE ROLES.

TONY MANFREDO (Male, 18–25 to play teens, Italian American)
Manfredo’s son and one of Lionel’s classmates. Cocky and confrontational, he often uses intimidation to assert himself. Belligerent and aggressive.

MR. ROSENBERG (Male, 40s+, Jewish American)
The neighborhood salesman who always seems able to find a deal. A charismatic wheeler-dealer with a knack for getting people what they need, he's simply trying to make a living. Striving, but exhausted.

PLEASE SUBMIT HEADSHOT/RESUMES & REELS VIA EMAIL – [email protected] TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT – WRITE “QUEENSBRIDGE SUBMISSION” IN YOUR EMAIL SUBJECT LINE