We are fortunate to have a unique opportunity to present a staged reading of John Cariani’s new play, Dark Night Bright Stars. It is a sequel to Almost, Maine. The World Premiere of the play will happen at Portland Stage Company this year or next. We are the fortunate ones to get to be the first group to do a public staged reading of the play.
Here are the details:
Title (Work-in-progress): DARK NIGHT BRIGHT STARS or DARK NIGHT BRIGHT STARS SMALL TOWN or DARKER THE NIGHT, BRGHTER THE STARS or IT GETS DARK HERE by John Cariani
Notes for Readers from Cariani: Dark Night Bright Stars is an autobiographical and biographical collection of related short plays that will hopefully shine some light on what it’s like to grow up in rural northern Maine. Rural Americans are largely absent from contemporary American theatre, TV, and film. And when they do appear on our stages and screens, they’re not portrayed with much complexity, compassion, or dimension. I hope Dark Night Bright Stars gives some dimension the complex, compassionate people who made me who I am.
Characters*/**:
TEDDY
SHAY
CARLY
JARED
SCOTT
MARTY
SAM
CASEY
MARC
TIFFANY
DEREK
LILY
YOLAND
GWEN
*These characters are 20+ somethings and include queer representation.
**There is the possibility of actors playing more than one role depending on level of interest.
Performance Date and Location: Saturday, February 15th at 2:00 PM at The Colonial Theatre in Laconia. All actors will get to meet and poitentially wiork with John Cariani in this process. Additionally, all actors will be given comp tickets to see the evening performance on 2/15 of Powerhouse’s production of Cariani’s play Love/Sick.
Audition/Interest Information: Please send an email stating your interest to Fran Page (f_page@plymouth.edu) by Sunday, February 2nd. In the email, please include a video audition of a contemporary monologue.
Link to full play script (please do not share): DNBS Script 01.12.25
Casting and Rehearsal Process: Casting will be announced the week of 2/3/25. Rehearsals will be arranged based on actor schedules. As the play is a series of vignettes, the rehearsal process is flexible.