AUDITIONS
Seeking local actors for all roles in Fat Ham performing at the Aurora Fox from MArch 27-April 19, 2026 directed by donnie l. betts!
Auditions will occur at the Aurora Fox (9900 E. Colfax Ave.) in five-minute time slots on Sunday, January 18 from 12-5PM by appointment only. Please check in for your audition at the Fox Box Office approximately 10 minutes before your audition.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Playwright James Ijames reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece with his new drama, a delectable comic tragedy. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. It feels like a familiar story to Juicy, well-versed in Hamlet’s woes. What’s different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. From an uproarious family barbecue emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this first-run production is a must-see.
Email Jen at JOrf@auroragov.org if you wish to read a perusal script.
Rehearsals begin on or around February 23, 2026. Generally rehearsals will be 6PM-10PM Sundays through Thursdays, but days off will depend upon cast availability.
Technical rehearsals will begin March 19, 2026
REHEARSALS:
Auditions will take place in five-minute time slots in-person and by appointment only on Sunday, January 18, 2026 from 12-5PM. To sign up, please scroll to the bottom of the page and use the scheduler.
AEA contracts are available. Equity members, please be prepared to show your card when you check in to audition.
As a courtesy to other actors and the production team, if you sign up to audition and cannot attend, please cancel your appointment.
If you are local but unavailable for these dates, please email Jen at JOrf@auroragov.org to discuss other options.
Fat Ham will perform Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March 23-April 19, 2026. Additionally, There will be an industry night on Monday, April 6 at 7:30 PM, a weekday matinee on Thursday, April 16 at 10AM. The Saturday performances on April 11, and April 18 will be at 2PM. There will be no performance on April 5th due to the Easter Holiday.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
ABOUT THE AUDITION:
Please prepare two contrasting contemporary monologues totalling no more than 3 minutes. Please select material showcasing one of the character types within Fat Ham. You may, where possible, use a monologue from the play.
PREPARATION:
JUICY is thicc. 20-21, Black. He’s beautiful. He is lonely. He is smart. A kind of Hamlet.
TEDRA is Juicy’s mother. 45-50, Black. She is a good mother. A kind of Gertrude.
REV is Tedra's husband. 45-50, Black. Her dead ex-husband’s brother. Pigfarmer and pitmaster. Electric. A kind of Claudius. Same actor as PAP.
OPAL is one of Juicy’s only friends. 19-20. Black. She loves Ham and worries about him. A kind of Ophelia.
LARRY is a boy that is attracted to Juicy. 21-23. Black. A marine. Trying to heal from PTSD. Has a secret. Awkward. A kind of Laertes.
RABBY is Larry and Opal’s mother. 40-45. Black. Tedra’s friend. Semi-churchy but honestly she just wanna drink and praise the Lord. A kind of Polonius.
PAP is the Ghost of Juicy’s father. Appears 45ish. Black. Was in prison for killing someone cause their breath stank, til he got shanked on the way to dinner. A kind of Hamlet's Father. Same actor as REV.
TIO is clever. 20-40. Black or Afro-Latinx. Juicy’s cousin. Oldest friend. A kind of Horatio.ll.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
The Aurora Fox operates under an agreement with Actors Equity Association. Equity members are encouraged to audition and will be considered for any role. Rates under our 2025 contract are $400/week plus health and pension. Non-equity rates are $400/week. We use a 22 hour a week rehearsal schedule all weeks except for tech.
The Aurora Fox is committed to casting choices that represent and celebrate all of our incredibly talented and diverse communities. Unless otherwise required by the script, and therefore reflected in the casting notice, individuals of any and all ages, ethnic identities, gender identities or expressions, sizes, spiritual identities, disability statuses, and sexual orientations are strongly encouraged to audition.
CASTING PRACTICES:
If no times appear in the scheduler below- we are fully booked. We will maintain a wait list and fill cancellations in order of request and we do expect to be able to see everyone who wants an appointment.
We will attempt, within reason, to make alternate arrangements for local actors who are unable to attend during the available timeslots. We are not accepting video submissions at this time.