Auditions

With music and magic, Ifa Bayeza’s Edgar Award-winning drama recounts the last two weeks of Emmett Till’s life on his journey from Chicago to Money, Mississippi in 1955. We meet a young man with boisterous energy and boundless charm whose fateful encounter with Caroline Bryant changes his life and our country forever.

Director: Ray Hatch

Show Dates: May 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24

The Performing Arts Factory
244B South Jefferson St
Frederick MD 21701

Here are some links for educational purposes
as you prepare for auditions:

Audition Dates:
March 23, 2026 @ 7PM
March 24, 2026 @ 7PM
(and March 22 by appointment only)

Please prepare two contrasting monologues.
We will observe inclusive casting. Callbacks will have a chance to cold read from the script.

Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AA9A628A7FBC43-62404110-auditions

Please complete this audition form before auditions: https://forms.gle/uqUQrzo5ArJWYTZj8

“The Barn”: A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight — https://youtu.be/rXqC9I48SHM
Emmett Till: Crash Course Black American History #34 — https://youtu.be/4HljsKwpv3g
- Please pay close attention to this video. I believe it gives a very precise account of the happening without confusion. It also give a close-up look to the victims & villains. -Ray
Roaming History | Emmett Till: Retracing the lynching that fueled civil rights movement — https://youtu.be/oGUwYzgGamU
Emmett Till Memory Project: Bryant’s Grocery & Meat Market — https://tillapp.emmett-till.org/items/show/1
Emmett Till (via Wikipedia, please fact-check for yourself) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Till
Emmett Till (via Google) — https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=emmett%20till
Southside Chicago “What’s Da Dilla” Episode 6: The Home of Emmett Till (via Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMbUApeAwCp/?igsh=MWpja29lNzV3ODg1OA==

Character Breakdown

Emmett “Bo” Till

Mamie Till-Bradley

Mamoo

Wheeler Parker

Mose Wright

Curtis Jones

Heluise Woods

Simeon “Simmy” Wright

Maurice Wright

Lizabeth “Aunty Liz” Wright

Ruthie May Crawford

Johnny B. Washington

Caroline Bryant

Roy Bryant

H.L. Loggins

J.W. “Big” Milam

While the actor who plays Emmett has a singular role, the other five actors in the ensemble will play varied roles evoking his memories:

WOMAN 1 plays Miss Mamie, Simmy, Caroline
WOMAN 2 plays Mamoo, Heluise, Aunty Liz
MAN 1 plays Uncle Mose, Johnny B., H.L. Loggins
MAN 2 plays Wheeler, Bo 2, Roy Bryant
MAN 3 plays Curtis, Bo 3, Maurice, Ruthie May, J.W.

The ensemble also creates various group tableaus: people on the train, dancers in the juke, random folk in Chicago and Mississippi.

Save the dates!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Auditions: May 4 and 5, 2026
Call backs, if necessary, will take place May 7.
Please prepare at least 32 bars of an up-tempo piece to showcase your vocal talent. A short dance sequence will be taught so wear or bring clothing you can comfortably move in.
Show runs from July 31 to August 9.