Hello!

We're thrilled that you'll be auditioning for QUEENSBRIDGE, an exciting new play in development that will be featured as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theatre for the New City.

Please note that all auditions will be held in person. Initial auditions will take place on Monday, July 27, with callbacks on Tuesday, July 28. If we'd like to see you again, you'll be notified in the room following your audition on Monday.

If you've received an audition appointment for Monday, July 27, please prepare the material for your assigned role(s):

Please familiarize yourself with all of the sides included in your assigned packet. You do not need to be off-book for either the initial audition or callbacks.

Important: Please bring a hard copy of your headshot and résumé. We will not have printed copies available in the room.

For context, the style of QUEENSBRIDGE is similar to Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992—a collection of interconnected stories told through multiple characters. The piece features both stand-alone monologues and ensemble scenes.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out at hdbauditions@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in the room!

Best,
Holly :)

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

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.