ALEX (The Book Club Play)
Playing age: 30s-40s
Any gender/ethnicity; a literature professor who loves popular fiction.
Ways & Means Theatre 2027 Season: The Book Club Play, ‘Or,’, Red Speedo & The Read Through Series
Ways & Means Theatre Company
Audition · Chicago
- Roles
- ALEX (The Book Club Play) · 30s-40s; Understudies for ANA, ROB, WILL, JEN, and LILY (The Book Club Play) (understudy)
- Pay
- $50–$500 Full terms
- Auditions
- Nov 16, 2026
- Commitment
- Rehearsals: Jan 5, 2027Performances: Jan 28, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Who they’re looking for
Equity and non-union actors, 18 and older, of all races, ethnicities, gender identities and abilities.
Understudies for ANA, ROB, WILL, JEN, and LILY (The Book Club Play) · Understudy
Understudies for ANA, ROB, WILL, JEN, and LILY.
ACTOR 2 (‘Or,’)
Playing age: 20s-40s
Nell/Maria/Jailer.
Understudies and replacements (‘Or,’) · Understudy
Understudies and replacements are sought.
ACTOR 3 (‘Or,’)
Playing age: 30s-40s
Charles II/William Scot/Lady Davenant.
Understudies and replacements (‘Or,’) · Understudy
Understudies and replacements are sought.
APHRA replacement (‘Or,’)
Aphra is cast; an Aphra replacement is sought.
RAY (Red Speedo)
Playing age: mid-late 20s
Elite swimmer, athletic build, performs in a Speedo; ethnicity to match Peter.
Understudy (RAY, Red Speedo) · Understudy
Understudies are sought.
COACH (Red Speedo)
Playing age: 40s-50s
Understudy (COACH, Red Speedo) · Understudy
Understudies are sought.
LYDIA (Red Speedo)
Playing age: 30s
Understudy (LYDIA, Red Speedo) · Understudy
Understudies are sought.
PETER replacement (Red Speedo)
Peter is cast; a Peter replacement is sought.
Understudy (PETER, Red Speedo) · Understudy
Understudies are also sought.
Roles (Yella Jack, Read Through Series)
Eight roles; individual roles are not named in the posting.
Roles (Independence, Read Through Series)
Replacements only.
Roles (Goodnight, Miss Julie, Read Through Series)
Twelve roles; individual roles are not named in the posting.
Roles (The Miss Firecracker Contest, Read Through Series)
Six roles; individual roles are not named in the posting.
Roles and ensemble (Bleachers, Read Through Series)
Four roles plus ensemble; individual roles are not named in the posting.
Roles (Woman and Scarecrow, Read Through Series)
Four roles; individual roles are not named in the posting.
Roles excluding Torvald (A Doll’s House, Read Through Series)
Six roles; Torvald is cast.
Torvald (A Doll’s House)
This role is already cast.
Torvald is cast.
Playing age, Equity, understudy… what do these mean?
Playing age is how old a character appears, which may differ from your own age. Equity is the actors’ union; check each theatre’s eligibility rules. An understudy learns a role to perform when the main actor is unavailable.
What does it pay?
Equity CAT Tier Pending; non-union mainstage $500 stipend; understudies $200 plus $25 per performance (one guaranteed); readings $50 per role per reading.
Contract: Equity CAT Tier Pending; non-union mainstage, understudy, and reading compensation is also stated.
Dates & location
Auditions
Nov 16, 2026
Equity Principal Auditions: Monday, November 16, 2026, noon to 8 pm (meal break 4–5 pm), booked through Equity’s online EPA sign-up.
Auditions
Nov 17, 2026
Non-union: Tuesday, November 17, noon to 8 pm (dinner break 4–5 pm), by Calendly appointment after completing our audition form.
Auditions
Nov 18, 2026
Self-tapes due Wednesday, November 18, by 11:59 pm.
Callbacks
Nov 30, 2026
The Book Club Play callbacks: Monday, November 30, from 6:30 pm.
Rehearsals
Jan 5, 2027
The Book Club Play: rehearsals begin o/a January 5, 2027.
Performances
Jan 28, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
The Book Club Play: runs January 28 to February 13.
Rehearsals
May 4, 2027
‘Or,’: rehearsals begin o/a May 4, 2027.
Performances
Jun 10, 2027 – Jun 27, 2027
‘Or,’: runs June 10 to 27.
Rehearsals
Aug 10, 2027
Red Speedo: rehearsals begin o/a August 10, 2027.
Performances
Sep 16, 2027 – Oct 10, 2027
Red Speedo: runs September 16 to October 10.
Rehearsals
Readings are usually one evening rehearsal plus the reading; Yella Jack and Goodnight, Miss Julie are three-day developmental processes.
Auditions location
Little Studio (Studio 732, 7th floor), Fine Arts Building
410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605 Chicago
Access and accommodations: Actors of all abilities are invited. Productions include scripted intimacy and stage combat, staged with a coordinator.
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What to prepare
Help with headshots, résumés, and self-tapes
A headshot is a clear photo of you. An acting résumé lists your performance experience and training. A self-tape is a recorded audition video. Sides are the short script excerpts the theatre asks you to perform. Follow this theatre’s specific instructions.
How to apply
Equity actors book through Equity’s online EPA sign-up. Non-union actors make a Calendly appointment after completing the audition form. Self-tapes are due Wednesday, November 18, by 11:59 pm. Prepare two contrasting pieces, one comic and one dramatic, no more than three minutes total. For ‘Or,’, make one piece heightened text (Restoration, Shakespeare or verse; comedy preferred) in a British dialect. Bring a printed headshot and resume stapled together.
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Application email: casting@wam-theatre.com
Before you apply
- The listing metadata says “Anywhere,” while the audition location is specified as the Fine Arts Building in Chicago.
Production & casting team
- Producing company
- Ways & Means Theatre Company
- Production
- The Book Club Play, ‘Or,’, Red Speedo, and The Read Through Series
- Casting director
- Salome Mergia
Listed contact: casting@wam-theatre.com
Full posting and updates
Casting for three mainstage productions and seven staged readings. All actors must be 18 or older. Productions include scripted intimacy and stage combat, staged with a coordinator.
We last checked the posting on Nov 07, 2026. The theatre may have updated it since.