NON UNION CASTING NOTICE
Project: Willmar, Staged Readings in Willmar, Minnesota (as part of The Willmar Project)
Company: The Neighborhood Theatre Project (NYC-based company working in Minnesota)
Director: Alejandro Tey
Audition Date, Time & Location: February 1st 2026, 10am-4pm at Mixed Blood, 1501 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN (auditions are by appointment only)
ABOUT THE WILLMAR PROJECT:
The Neighborhood Theatre Project (NTP) is a NY-based non profit organization creating opportunities for community building, reflection, and dialogue through verbatim theatre-making.
NTP’s current project, The Willmar Project, began in 2017 when the company traveled to Willmar, MN for two weeks to conduct interviews with community members. Willmar is composed of verbatim excerpts from 150+ hours of interviews and conversations during this time. We asked each participant we spoke with, “What is it like for you living in Willmar?” Stories in the play include topics such as home and belonging, race and experiencing racism, immigration, friendship across faith and cultural identity, addiction, and experiences of feeling welcome and unwelcome.
The Willmar Project is now in its final stage. This May 2026, NTP will produce 4 staged readings in 4 different venues across Willmar. The readings will be accompanied by community engagement and facilitated dialogue.
For more information on The Willmar Project and the developmental process for Willmar, find us online:
website: theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org
IG: @neighborhoodtheatreproject
FB: The Neighborhood Theatre Project
This activity is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
CASTING NOTICE:
NTP is casting 13 NON UNION Minneapolis-Saint Paul based actors for the tracks listed below. Each track includes multiple characters (note: “age” listed in each track indicates the range of ages played throughout all roles in that track) — these characters are specific interviewees, not fictional characters or representations of participants. Previous acting or verbatim work experience is not necessary. We are primarily looking for folks who are curious about studying language through interviews and representing real people on stage. Actors will not be asked to participate in the community engagement portion of the project.
Actors will be asked to represent speech patterns and vocal tonality of the characters but not necessarily impersonate the person. All dialect work is based on audio interviews that actors may be asked to review and study. Dialects change from character to character and may include Latin American, East African, and Midwestern American dialects. Actors will not be asked to be off book for the readings.
TRACKS:
Track 1: Light-skinned Latina Woman, Age 24-29, track includes: use of Spanish language
Track 2: Latina Woman, Age 25-34, track includes: use of Spanish language, and Latin American, Midwestern, and other dialect work.
Track 3: Latino Man, Age 31-58, track includes: use of Spanish language and Latin American dialect work
Track 4: Black Woman, East African, Age 16-22, track includes: East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab
Track 5: Black Woman, East African, Age 14-23, track includes: East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab
Track 6: Black Woman, East African, Age 28-47, track includes: use of Arabic language, and East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab
Track 7: Dark-skinned Black Man, East African, Age 23-27, track includes: East African dialect work
Track 8: Black Man, East African, Age 19, 46-58, track includes: East African dialect work
Track 9: White Woman, Age 18, 30-46, track includes: Midwestern dialect work
Track 10: White Woman, Age 56-60, track includes: Midwestern dialect work
Track 11: White Man, Age 26-42, track includes: Midwestern dialect work
Track 12: White Man, Age 45-55, track includes: Midwestern dialect work
Track 13: White Man, Age 56-68, track includes: Midwestern dialect work
IMPORTANT DATES:
We will begin the rehearsal process with a virtual meet & greet and read-thru of the script in early 2026. All other rehearsals will take place from May 4-14, 2026 in-person in Minneapolis (exact locations TBA). Performances will take place May 15-17, 2026 in Willmar, MN at four separate venues around the community (exact locations TBA). Travel, lodging and per diem provided in addition to stipend.
*Performers and non-performers who are native language speakers and who share racial and cultural identities with tracks listed above, such as East African, Muslim, and Latine are strongly encouraged to apply.
*Due to the limited rehearsal period, minimal conflicts will be accepted. Please do not submit to audition if you are not available for a majority of these dates or if you are not available to be in Willmar, MN for the performances. General availability will be requested in submission.
COMPENSATION: $600 stipend. Additionally, travel arrangements/reimbursements, lodging and per diem will be provided for performance weekend.
HOW TO SUBMIT: Fill out this GOOGLE FORM no later than January 30, 2026 to submit to audition. Actors will be asked to read from the script at auditions. Actors will receive audition sides in advance.
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