Drama Historical / Biographical Play

Inspired by the real-life murder of Botham Jean that took place in Dallas, TX, For Bo unpacks the unfortunate tragedy that befalls the Jones family when brother and son Bo Jones is murdered in his own home by police officer Amy Guy. Through contemporary free verse poetry, rhythm, percussion, and dance this fictional narrative explores the social issues that lead to Bo Jones’ death and how society, particularly the black community, grapples with the resulting trauma. Most of all, For Bo reminds us that each thought and action has the power to change tomorrow for worse or for better.

By Ayvaunn Penn
Bo art by Brian Dickson Jr.

A co-production by SheDFW Festival and Urban Arts Center in collaboration with The Botham Jean Foundation

Callbacks: Sun. July 14, 2024, 2PM - 6PM; Prepare 2 minutes of a contemporary song of your choice sung acapella

• Located inside of Ed Landreth Hall
• Prepare a 2-minute contemporary monologue of your choice
• Perusal copy of For Bo script available upon request. Email playwright-director Ayvaunn Penn at pennspeaks@gmail.com.

Rehearsals

• Rehearsals are at TCU on August 1, 2024 – August 21, 2024; August 31, 2024; September 7, 2024.
• Sundays are off days.
• Weekday rehearsals are in the evening.
• Saturday rehearsals are during the day.
• Tech/Dress Rehearsal and Performances are at Lyric Stage between September 9, 2024 and September 15, 2024.

Available Roles

• Bo Jones: Black king whose life was unjustly ended by police officer Amy Guy. Singing ability ideal. 26 M, Black
• B Jones: Bo's little brother. He who huggeth. 18 M, Black
• Mama Jones: Mourning mother of Bo and B. Must have a good sense of rhythm and poetry. Singing ability ideal. 50s F, Black
• Amy Guy: Police officer who murders Bo 30s F, White
• Judge Fannie Temp: Judge presiding over the Amy Guy trial. Wears huge ornate necklaces that increase in size every time she appears. 50s F, Black
• She Who Stroketh The Hair: Court Officer who captures the a_enNon of social media. Singing ability ideal. 30s F, Black
• JB: Neighbor of Bo Jones. Testifies against Amy Guy. 20s M, Black
• John Zimmen: Interviews Judge Fannie Temp. Host of Laundromat News. 25+ Any Gender, Black
• Inmate: Amy Guy's jail cell bunkmate 20+ F, Any race
• Boris: Elderly man. Grouchy yet sweet. Loves his neighbor as himself. Married to Gladys. 50+ M, Black
• Gladys: Elderly woman. High maintenance. Loves her neighbor as herself. Married to Boris. 50+ F, Black
• Chorus Roles:
  • Chorus Leader/Narrator; The Violator; Bailiff Jerry; Reporter; Social Media Commenters; News Anchor 1; News Commentator. 20+ Any Gender, Any Race
  • Officer Piedmont 25+ Any Gender, White

Anticipated Double Casting Assignments

• Bo Jones: Not double cast
• B Jones: Double cast as Social Media Commenter
• Mama Jones: Double cast as Social Media Commenter
• Amy Guy: Double cast as Officer Piedmont and News Commentator
• Judge Fannie Temp: Double cast as Gladys and Chorus (sans Social Media Commenter)
• She Who Stroketh The Hair: Double cast as Chorus Leader/Narrator (sans Social Media
  Commenter right aner her scene)
• JB: Double cast as Bailiff Jerry, Boris, Chorus / Social Media Commenter
• John Zimmen: Double cast as Chorus / Social Media Commenter (sans Social Media Commenter right aner his/her scene)
• Inmate: Double cast as The Violator, News Anchor 1, Reporter

Drama Musical Video Allowed Video Only Youth Roles

Set in El Paso, Texas, Olivia O is the story of a 14-year-old girl who is separated from her mother at the US/Mexican border and sent to an abusive foster home, and her aunt who builds a community of support and activism in an effort to find her. Will she be able to reunite this family separated by cruel immigration policies?

Book & Lyrics by Jessica Carmona & Diane Currie Sam
Music by Gil Yaron
Additional Music by Angela Ortiz

Available Roles

Olivia Ortiz (14): Olivia is the titular character and protagonist of the show. Facing the loss of her mother, and the cruelty of the system she’s caught in, she must maintain her hope, kindness and strength of will in order to survive. She was born and raised in Guatemala. Olivia is Spanish speaking, but has learned English at school. She is outgoing, smart and kind-hearted, and loves art. She dreams of being an artist, and enjoys weaving and making art with her mother. While she is not naive to the fact that life in Guatemala is becoming difficult for them because of the violence and poverty in her community, Gabriella, Olivia’s mother, has been very protective of her, allowing Olivia to still have a sense of innocence about her.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 25
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Type: Lead
Voice: Soprano, G#5 (belt), E6

Isabel Castillo (27): Olivia’s newly-found aunt, Isabel was hoping to offer a new life to her niece, but now finds herself fighting against a system that is more powerful than she realized. Strong willed and determined, she knows she has to emerge from her shell and reconnect with her own cultural identity if she wants to find her family and create the life she wants.

Isabel had a white mom and a Guatemalan Father (who fled Guatemala in 1985 to escape persecution for involvement in Leftist rebel activities). Isabel grew up in a middle class suburb in El Paso, and though she had a Guatemalan father, she was somewhat removed and detached from her culture, and felt more identified with her mother’s side of the family and the “All American” life both her parents wanted for her.

Emotionally, at the start of the show, Isabel is lonely and feeling lost as her parents have recently died (within a year of each other), and she can’t seem to find a way forward in her life. Once she finds out about and makes a connection to Olivia and her mother Gabriella, the growing connection (to Olivia especially) becomes very important and meaningful to her.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 40 (can play 27 yr old)
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Type: Lead
Voice: Alto, D3 - A5

Guy Madden (30): A journalist-turned- activist who wears his heart on his sleeve. Guy continues to put the cause before himself, even as he struggles with anxiety and PTSD from a past run-in with the border police. He grew up in a working class neighborhood in El Paso, and has been friends with Luis since their high school days. He is intelligent and driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. He sees the E-PAIR group (Luis/Jen especially) as his chosen family and while he was brought up to be ‘tough/macho’ he is actually quite sensitive, and at times over-anxious and cautious.

Gender: Male
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 44 (can play 30 yr old)
Ethnicities: White / European Descent
Type: Lead
Voice: Tenor, A2 - A4

Gloria Ramirez (17): An undocumented immigrant who meets Olivia at the detention center. All sharp edges, Gloria is already bitter and jaded, because of the way she’s been treated her whole life. She’s lost the light at the end of the tunnel and refuses to believe it could be there for anyone else.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 25 (can play 17 yr old)
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Voice: Soprano, F3 - E6

Maria (9): Traumatized by an experience while crossing into the States, Maria remains mostly silent while following Olivia on a shared journey through El Paso.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 9
Max Age: 14 (can play 9 yr old)
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Voice: n/a

Bill Collins (58): A burnt out former televangelist turned controlling foster parent, Bill now sets his sights on rebuilding his ministry with a new ‘family’ that can’t fight back.

Gender: Male
Min Age: 18 (can play 58 yr old)
Max Age: 60
Ethnicities: White / European Descent
Type: Lead
Voice: Baritone or Bass

Nancy Collins (57): The second half of Bill’s foster family. Nancy has stood by Bill’s side through thick and thin, but may soon find her limit when Bill’s scheming comes into conflict with her beliefs.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 18 (can play 58 yr old)
Max Age: 60
Ethnicities: White / European Descent
Voice: Alto

Luis Martinez (30): A community leader, activist and long time friend of Guy, Luis likes to enjoy himself and have fun, while putting everything on the line and working passionately for a cause and community he believes in.

Gender: Male
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 45
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Voice: Baritone, G2 - A4

Jen Martinez (29): A co-leader of the immigration justice group along with her husband Luis, Jen is a community builder and organizer. Her growing friendship with Isabel and concern for Olivia’s plight moves her to activate the women of El Paso in support of the cause.

Gender: Female
Min Age: 18
Max Age: 45 (can play 30 yr old)
Ethnicities: Latino / Hispanic
Voice: Soprano G6 - C6

Ensemble / El Pasoans (18+):
The ensemble characters are a mix of men and women representing the ordinary people of El Paso (and Olivia’s mother). Roles played include:

• Gabriella Ortiz (38): Olivia’s mother, or rather a memory of her, that gives Olivia the strength she needs to get through this tough time.
• Detained Girls
• Guards/ICE Officers
• Working People: nurse, shipper, coffee kiosk owner, volunteers (Faviana, Pat, Sophie)
• Immigration Community members: family members of detained/deported people who share stories with Isabel (Anna, Miguel, Dia)
• Carlos: Gloria’s uncle who takes in Olivia and Gloria for a meal, only to find he must ask them to leave again after a traumatizing immigration raid
• Val: Gloria’s aunt who is doing what she can to take of her own family and can’t risk doing anything else
• Eric: Gloria’s older cousin who trivializes the trauma his cousin has gone through, as he tries to adjust to his cousin’s recent arrival in their home

A variety of strong singers to join the ensemble and understudy select roles. The production is particularly interested in bilingual (Spanish/English) performers.

Ethnicity: Latino / Hispanic / Multi-ethnic

Required Skills
Voice Style: Strong

Drama Play Video Allowed Video Only

1959: Priscilla has grown up a ward of the nuns of Saint Catherine’s Academy, and she’s desperately seeking a divine purpose in life — and reeling from her feelings for another girl. Scrappy, genderqueer Sky has been sent to Saint Catherine’s by parents trying to literally straighten them out. When Priscilla thwarts Sky’s attempt to escape the Academy, the two accidentally awaken the ghost of a student who died on campus decades prior. Attempting to set her to rest and solve the mystery of her death, they uncover secrets about the school that shake Priscilla’s faith — and form an unexpected connection.

By Leo Rodriguez

Please note: The Martyr contains discussion of religion, suicide and gender identity, and contains scenes with intimacy. Actors for this show must be 18 or older, regardless of the age range of the characters.

Available Roles

Priscilla-Jane Allaway: Cis female, 15. A student at Saint Catherine’s. Sheltered but not unintelligent. Passionate, fearful, exacting, slightly unstable.

Sky Henriksen: AFAB Nonbinary*, 15. A new student at Saint Catherine’s. Self- possessed, blunt, tough with a gentle center, unconventionally spiritual.

Sister Benedict: Cis female, early 60s. Headmistress of Saint Catherine’s. Still vital and lucid. Motherly– in both positive and negative senses. Totally in control.

The Ghost: Cis female, teen. Has been dead for forty-five years. Disembodied and dislocated, trapped in the emotions of her last living moments.

Sister Scholastica: Cis female, 30s-40s. Deputy headmistress at Saint Catherine’s. Timid and short-sighted, but sincere in her care for her students.

Sister Domitia (Emily): Cis female, mid/late teens. A former Saint Catherine’s student turned nun, and also at times a hallucination. A gentle but conflicted soul.

Heloise Adelard: Cis female, teen. A girl from the Academy’s past. In love, and very afraid.