Uptown Players announces auditions for 2022-2023 Season



Chicken & Biscuits
Initial auditions - Sunday, March 19 
Callbacks - Monday, March 20

Audition Information

Uptown Players announces auditions for the regional premiere of the Douglas
Lyons comedy, Chicken & Biscuits, which runs July 28 through August 13 at
the Kalita Humphreys Theater. 

Chicken & Biscuits explores black and queer identities and the significance
of family through a story of familial love, secrets and reconciliation. Set
in the fictional St. Luke's Church of New Haven, it follows the journey of
the Jenkins family who have gathered there for the funeral of their
patriarch. Rivaling sisters, Baneatta and Beverly, try to bury their father
without killing each other. This proves difficult, when Beverly shows up to
the chapel with all her "blessings" on display. Baneatta's husband tries to
mediate the family drama while preparing Bernard's eulogy. Baneatta's son
intentionally brings his clueless, neurotic Jewish boyfriend along, knowing
Baneatta disapproves. All while Beverly's nosy daughter keeps asking
questions no one wants to answer. But when a family secret reveals itself at
the altar, the family is faced with a truth that could either heal, or break
them.

The following roles are open to both equity and non-equity actors. There are
three LOA/LORT principal equity contracts available for this production.
The production is under the direction of Akin Babatunde.

BANEATTA MABRY (Late 40's-50's, African-American) An upstanding and stern
Christian woman. Mother to Kenny and Simone, and wife to Reginald. She's
overbearingly full of love, but quite uptight and stubborn in her religious
ways. 

BEVERLY JENKINS (Early 40's- 50's, African-American) Baneatta's younger
sister. The "fun Aunt" who's always in a push up bra catering to what the
kids want, but never what they need. A single mother and the life of the
party. She's a savage, classy, not so bougie, but definitely ratchet when
necessary. 

BRIANNA JENKINS (40's- 50's, African-American) Baneatta and Beverly's half
sister through an affair. She didn't know her Father, but has come to his
funeral to learn more about him. Sweet, open and collected. 

REGINALD MABRY (50's, African-American) Baneatta's faithful husband and the
new pastor of their home church. He's the peace-maker of the family.
Reginald is a ball of love, with a side of corny Dad jokes. 

SIMONE MABRY (30's, African American) Kenny's older sister and Baneatta's
favorite. She followed the "right path." She's pulled, slightly shady, and
fierce on the exterior, but internally wounded from a recent failed
engagement.. 

KENNY MABRY (Mid-Late 20's, African-American) Baneatta and Reginald's
youngest child. He's proudly queer, but cowers in the presence of his
mother. Kenny bites when he needs to, but at the end of the day he just
wants to be loved. 

LOGAN LEIBOWITZ (Mid- Late 20's, White) Kenny's neurotic and dramatic Jewish
boyfriend of 4 years. He often spins himself into a tizzy, but always wants
to be there for Kenny. Logan's weed pen is his crutch for tough times. 

LA'TRICE FRANKLIN (16-18) African-American) Beverly's daughter. She's nosy,
loud and in everyone else's business but her own. She shows love, but in her
own Gen Z manner. She's sarcastic to the bone.

Auditions will be held by appointment on March 19 from 5pm to 10pm at the
Uptown Players offices, 1327 Motor Circle, Dallas TX 75207. Callbacks will
take place on Monday, March 20 from 6pm to 10pm.

To sign up for an audition
appointment go HERE

Video submissions will also be accepted and must be submitted no later than March 15.
Submit your video, headshot, and resume.  - HERE

Auditions will consist of reading selections from the script using sides
posted on the website and in the signup site. A headshot and resume are
required. The auditions and callbacks will follow all Actors Equity
Association COVID protocols, including vaccination and COVID testing
requirements during rehearsals. Face masks will be required in the building
for auditions and callbacks but the actor will remove their mask to
audition.  

Rehearsals begin July 3 at the Uptown Players offices and will be evenings
and weekends.  The production will take place at the Kalita Humphreys
Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219 from July 28-August 13.





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