Audition for The 2026 New Works Lab!
Missed the Boat Theatre is holding auditions for our 2026 New Works Lab, which will feature workshops and staged readings of two new scripts, to be performed at Art House North in Saint Paul on September 24-26, 2026.
Audition Location: Twin Cities Location TBD
Audition Dates: August 3 and 4, 6-9 PM in 30 minute increments
We seek adult actors to play male roles ages 20-50 and female roles ages 20-80. Both featured scripts are straight plays; no singing required. The New Works Lab has a particular focus on character development, text analysis, and providing a space for playwrights to test out revisions and revise their scripts throughout the workshop process; we are particularly looking for actors interested in this type of work.
As Missed the Boat Theatre is a Catholic community theater, performers do not need to be Catholic, but must be okay with working with lots of Catholics who love being Catholic, and performing for a largely Catholic audience.
For the Audition:
Please bring a headshot (any photo clearly showing your face will do); a resume is optional. We will audition groups of up to 6 in 30-minute slots; plan to be available the entire 30 minutes. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to fill out an audition form.
Auditions will consist of reading sides from the script. Sides will be posted online here and emailed to everyone who has already signed up at least two weeks in advance of auditions; you are encouraged to review and prepare sides in advance.
If you’re unable to be present at auditions, please contact us about submitting a video audition.
About the Shows:
The Lost Art of the Private Eye
Written by Hannah Reller
Directed by Sam Vargo
It’s 1950 in the bustling metropolis of Capitol City. Eustace Wonderly, Private Eye, takes on a case to search for the Alabaster Child, a priceless figurine stolen from the Capitol City Art Museum. But something about this case is different. Eustace has taken on a new partner—his younger, starry-eyed brother Ned. As they dive into the eccentric world of art idolizers, corrupt art dealers, and genuine lovers of beauty, the Wonderly brothers must navigate hidden doors, a fist fight, a car chase, and more in order to solve the case of the Alabaster Child.
The Women of Cheboksary
Written by Emily Schoenbeck
Directed by Jimmy Bickerstaff
As the Russian village of Cheboksary prepares to celebrate their annual Kupala festival, a messenger sent on behalf of Ivan the Terrible arrives and announces that the tsar has decided to take a Russian bride and is having all of the virtuous maidens of Russia rounded up to compete for his hand in marriage at the palace. When a young woman of the town does not want to be taken, she and a recently betrothed couple decide to create a fake scandal to let her stay. But how far are they willing to go to keep her in Cheboksary?
Roles:
All auditioners will be considered for all shows. However, you may specify your ranked choice preference of production. We provide the following information to help you make an informed choice for your audition material selection.
Ages listed are ages of character portrayed, not required ages of actors.
The Lost Art of the Private Eye
Principals:
EUSTACE WONDERLY - Male, 35. Private investigator. A dogged, street-smart gumshoe who lives to crack a case. Puts forth a tough exterior but cares deeply, especially for his younger brother Ned.
NED WONDERLY - Male, 25. Eustace’s younger, idolizing brother. A gifted artist; dreamt of going to art school but has accepted a role in the family business to be with his brother instead. Honest-hearted, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.
MADISON - Female, 33. Eustace’s loyal secretary with a longtime secret crush on him. Full of dry humor and unflinching pragmatism.
BABBS O’SHAUNASEE - Female, 58. Wealthy heiress and patroness of the arts. Sensitive soul who wouldn’t harm a fly. Too childlike for her age.
RITA HOLIDAY- Female, 25. Secretive lone wolf with a mysterious past. Somewhere beneath her beauty and cunning is a heart longing for a better life.
Supporting:
MS. HUMPHREY - Female, 47. Art museum manager. Feels superior but secretly knows her life is on a hamster wheel going nowhere.
DETECTIVE ROSCO - Male, 40. Police detective. Merciless but ultimately just. Carries his authority with a hint of swagger Has a history with Eustace.
MAC - Male, early 20s. Police rookie who works under Rosco. Anxious for approval.
AUCTIONEER - Male or Female, 40s. Art auctioneer. Always genteel but relishes the drama of competitive bidding.
HUGO CHANDLER - Male, mid-40s. Art dealer. Successful, sophisticated, and unruffled by his own crooked business ways.
RUSTY - Male or Female, 30s. Muscleman for Chandler. Simple, loyal, and barely literate.
The Women of Cheboksary
Principals:
NINA - Female, 20. A young unmarried woman working as a healer with her grandmother.
ALEXANDER - Male, 23. An orphan raised largely by Nina’s grandmother and in love with Elena.
ELENA - Female, 20. A young unmarried woman in love with Alexander and the daughter of Misha.
Supporting:
BABA - Female, elderly. The grandmother of Nina, who has raised Alexander and serves as the village healer. She walks with a cane.
MARTHA - Female, 22. A young unmarried woman with pox scars on her face. She is the daughter of Elder Govorilla.
ALIONUSHKA - Female, 20. A very beautiful, young unmarried woman.
FATHER LUTONIA - Male, 26. A young Russian Orthodox priest.
MISHA - Male, 40s. Elena’s widowed father.
GOVORILLA - Male, 40s. The town elder and Martha’s father.
LEONTI - Male, 25. The corporal who has come to Cheboksary on the Tsar’s orders.
MINSTREL––Male or female, 25-30. A wandering storyteller who addresses the audience. When not speaking they join the crowd as a villager.
PRIVATE KOSCHEY - Male, 20. A private under Corporal Leonti.
PRIVATE AFRON - Male, 20. A private under Corporal Leonti.
Rehearsal and Performance Dates:
Each show aims to rehearse 20-25 hours between Sept 7 and its reading date. Exact breakdown of rehearsal schedules subject to director and actor availability. However, preliminary schedules are noted on this calendar. Please list any and all conflicts between Sept 7-26, even on dates when rehearsals are not listed, so we can make informed decisions about casting and scheduling.
Rehearsals will be primarily table work and character development. No blocking or memorization is required, but actors are expected to be extremely familiar with their lines and characters.
Required dates: (You will not be cast in a reading if you have conflicts with any of the dates listed below):
The Lost Art of the Private Eye:
Tech/dress rehearsal: Evening of September 23
Public performances: September 25 @ 7 PM & September 26 @ 2 PM
The Women of Cheboksary:
Tech/dress rehearsal: Evening of September 22
Public performances: September 24 @ 7 PM & September 26 @ 7 PM
