Opportunities at Firehouse

AUDITIONS

War in Pieces 2025

The Firehouse Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, in partnership with the Mighty Pen Project and the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, is announcing auditions for War in Pieces, a festival of new short plays written by Veterans, capturing their experiences in and out of uniform.

The Project:

The War in Pieces new play festival is an annual event sponsored by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation as an extension of the Mighty Pen Project. The MPP is a multi-faceted writing program for military veterans and their spouses, to help them learn how to express their own powerful stories through the medium of the written word. In the War in Pieces program, Veterans pen four new short plays which are professionally developed, rehearsed, and publicly performed. Firehouse Theatre once again serves as the producing partner, bringing these vital stories to life onstage.

The Plays:

A Couch by Cam Torrens
An Air Force officer pushes to be in the first wave of responders to the 9/11 attack, but his wife - who outranks him - has different ideas.

Kaho’olawe by Harry Meyer
On a small Hawaiian island once used for bombing practice, an unexploded bomb must be defused, but it isn’t going to go down quietly.

Cao by Larry Meier
An Army captain accompanies the flag-draped remains of a fallen soldier from Vietnam home to the remote coalfields of Virginia.

War’s Teeth by Shani Miller
A young mother, home from deployment in Afghanistan, thanks a Vietnam vet for his service, unleashing for them both memory and healing.

Audition Dates and Times:

Monday, January 6th, 2025 6-9 pm AUDITIONS (by appointment)
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 6-9 pm AUDITIONS (by appointment)
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 6-9pm CALLBACKS (if necessary)

Location:

All auditions are at the Firehouse Theatre
1609 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220

Seeking:

Firehouse seeks a diverse ensemble of collaborative, hardworking, kind actors who support one another and are invested in the overall success of the project. Actors will likely be asked to play roles in more than one of the four plays. Veterans and active duty service members are strongly encouraged to audition.

Seeking non-union actors to play one or more of the following roles:

A Couch
Linda……………..….… USAF Lt. Col., Pilot, Cam’s Wife…………… 35-45/F
Cam…………….…..….. USAF Major – Pilot………………………………… 35-40 M
Lips………….……..…… USAF Lt. Col., Pilot, Commander………… 40-45/M
Jefe……….………..…... USAF Pilot……………………………………………… 30-35/M
Tav………….……..…….. USAF Co-Pilot………………………………………. 25-30/M
Planners 1 and 2… USAF mission briefers…………………………. 25-35/M-F

Kaho’olawe
Slick………………………EOD Technician, first assignment……… 25-30 M
Game Show Host…………………………………..……………………………….35-55/M
Aunt Pearl………………………………………………………………………………..40-60/F
Miss Crabcakes……………………………………………………………………. 18-35/F

Cao
Larry…………………….. Army Capt. home from Vietnam……….. 25-28/M
Preacher……………… Rural Preacher…………………………………….. 40-70/M
Bobby Sr……………… Father of Fallen Soldier……………………… 45-60/M
Mrs. Divine………….. Mother of Fallen Soldier…………………….. 40-60/F

War’s Teeth
Shani…………………… USAF veteran, mother, spouse………….. 30-35/F

To schedule an appointment:

Please email auditions@firehousetheatre.org, with your preferred time and role(s) you are most interested in, and we will provide you with your appointment date and time prior to auditions.

What to prepare:

Please prepare a dramatic monologue (under 2 minutes) or two contrasting monologues (no longer than 1 minute each).

Rehearsals:

First read thru will be during the week of February 17th.
Rehearsals will begin the week of February 24th. *Rehearsals will be on weekday evenings and weekends.

Performance Schedule:

Friday, April 4th, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 5th, 7:30pm
Sunday, April 6th, 2pm
Thursday, April 10th, 7:30pm
Friday, April 11th 7:30pm
Saturday, April 12th 2pm
Saturday, April 12th 7:30pm
Sunday, April 13th, 2pm

Compensation:

All actors cast in multiple shows will be paid a flat fee of $1,550 for the project. Actors cast in a single show will be paid a flat fee of $1,000. The cast will be paid in two installments - the first upon opening night, and at the second following the closing performance.

FIREHOUSE LADDER APPRENTICESHIP

Firehouse Theatre is assembling a team of highly motivated and collaborative individuals who are interested in joining our Firehouse Ladder Program. Apprentices have opportunities to learn and work across production, performance, and management based on each participant's interests and Firehouse's production needs.

Expectations and schedule will be agreed on before beginning the program. Work hours are flexible and based on the needs of production, but expected to fall within 10-20 hours per week, for a period of at least one month. The Ladder Program is an unpaid educational opportunity. Apprentices must arrange and cover their own housing and travel expenses, as well as any college credit that may be available.

To apply please submit the following materials in a single PDF document: A current resume and a cover letter (a) introducing yourself, (b) stating your specific area of interest, (c) explaining why you think you'd be a good fit for Firehouse's Ladder Program, and (d) your schedule/availability.

Please submit all materials or questions to evial@firehousetheatre.org

VCU FEDERAL WORK STUDY PARTNERSHIP

Current and Incoming VCU students may apply to join the VCU Work study program, which partners students with Firehouse Staff to receive a financial aid based award, in exchange for job experience in a working professional theatre.

All levels of experience are encouraged to apply. Eligibility is based on Federal Financial Aid awards, and VCU award selection processes. All Applicants must apply through Handshake Job Boards. For more information on the VCU Work study program and eligibility, please contact the VCU Work study Office (workstudy@vcu.edu) or evial@firehousetheatre.org for more details on the partnership.

PRODUCTION RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

In the 2023-24 season, Firehouse Theatre is piloting a partnership with VCU’s Department of Sociology to establish a Production Research Internship. Interns will research the social political landscape of the play, providing directors, designers, and actors the necessary context to bring the play to its most authentic realization. This opportunity is for VCU Sociology majors only. The position is filled for the 2023-24 season. For more information contact Dr. Frankie Mastrangelo, mastrangelofa@vcu.edu

RICHMOND CITY PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE TO STAGE SUMMER CAMP

The Firehouse is a proud partner of Richmond City’s Page to Stage Summer camp, providing professional mentorship and production oversight. For more information and to register visit parksandrecreation.richmondgov.com