Upcoming Casting Opportunities
AUDITIONS FOR WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
Book by Jeffrey Lane; Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek;
Based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar
Directed by Xavier Taylor
Music Direction by Erica Umback
Choreography by Liberty DeLeon
Performances: Dec. 5, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026, with a special New Years’ Eve performance. Dec. 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, Dec. 31, Jan. 2, 3
Auditions: Sunday, Sept. 7, 7-10pm; and Monday, Sept. 8, 7-10pm
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unavailable on the audition dates listed, please let us know. We will consider accepting video auditions, under certain circumstances. Callbacks need to be in person.
Callbacks: Thursday, Sept. 11, 7-10pm and Saturday, Sept. 13, 11am-4pm, dance and music.
The callbacks will begin on Saturday, Sept., 13, with dance/movement call; please remember to bring water and wear clothes you can move in (NOT jeans).
Rehearsals Begin: Sunday, Sept. 21
Rehearsals are scheduled Sunday-Thursday evenings from 7-10pm
Please bring a list of schedule conflicts to your audition.
Show Description: A sizzling musical farce of female resilience, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN whisks us off to sexy 1980s Madrid, and to the unravelling world of a voice-over artist – Pepa – Pepa’s wandering lover, the lover’s ex-wife, their son and his fiancée, Pepa’s angsty model friend and her suspicious boyfriend, plus a lawyer, and a talkative taxi driver. All this black comic chaos is served up with a very specially laced gazpacho, and an irresistible Spanish-flavored beat. We encourage color-conscious casting and are striving to be an inclusive theater. The idea behind conscious casting is that the casting decisions are made with intent. Productions actively seek to create a more diverse cast while respecting the playwright’s specific character descriptions.
To Audition: Please email volunteer@livearts.org with any questions or if you are interested in auditioning and would like to reserve a time slot. We encourage you to read the script before auditioning.
Please contact Aldrian Argante (aldrian@livearts.org) and Susan E. Evans (susan@livearts.org) if you need assistance and/or would like access to view the script.
This musical contains: Some comedic references to sex, drug use, suicide, terrorism. Gunshot sounds.
What to Prepare: Please be prepared to perform a one to two minute monologue from modern/contemporary theater and sing 32 bars from a contemporary musical theater song (ideally in the styles of the show). Please bring your sheet music scored for piano and in your preferred key. Make sure to mark the cut you are singing. If you are able to send us your music in advance, and bring it with you in a 3-ring binder, we would really appreciate it. An accompanist will be provided. Tracks can be accepted, Please, no a cappella.
Character Breakdown* (*PLEASE NOTE: these descriptions are from MTI, the licensing organization; gender delineations and character age ranges are completely open and subject to change, and vocal ranges are also for reference only. We are estimating six ensemble members, who may playing 3-5 roles each.
Pepa: Ideally 43, though somewhere between 35 – 45 can work. A working actress. Warm, funny, sardonic, down to earth, emotional, motherly and naturally sexy (i.e., not working it.) Gender: female Age: 35 to 45 Vocal range top: Ab5 Vocal range bottom: F3
Ivan: Handsome and smooth. Pretty much a haircut and a voice, it would be possible to mistake him for a bounder, but the truth is he falls in love with every woman he meets. Gender: male Age: 45 to 60 Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Lucia: Ivan’s ex-wife. She has just been released from a mental institution after 20 years. Both comic and scary with a heartbreaking vulnerability underneath it all. Gender: female Age: 50 to 60 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Carlos: Ivan’s and Lucia’s son. Shy and studious looking, handsome behind glasses. Struggling to break out of his shell. Gender: male Age: 22 to 27 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: C3
Marisa: Carlos’ fiance. Very matter-of-fact and no-nonsense. Firmly holding onto her virginity, but with a passion and freedom struggling to break free. Gender: female Age: 22 to 27 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: C4
Candela: Pepa’s best friend. A working model. Very pretty with a small town innocence underneath her cosmopolitan sexiness, she is easily distracted – usually by love. Gender: female Age: 28 to 30 Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: F3
Paulina: A lawyer, a 1987 feminist. Despite her cold demeanor, we must also believe she can be swept off her feet. Gender: female Age: 30 to 40 Vocal range top: Ab4 Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Taxi Driver: Off-center, talkative and big hearted. He takes on the problems of any of his passengers. Still grounded in reality, he is the spirit and energy of Madrid. Gender: male Age: 30 to 50 Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: B2
Ensemble Roles:(estimated at 6, depending on doubling) include:
Pepa’s Concierge: (Religious and a little loopy, Gender: female, Age: 50 to 70)
Ivan’s Concierge: (The self-appointed ruler of her apartment building, Gender: female, Age: 40 to 70)
Cristina: (A receptionist and a busy body, Gender: female)
Hector: (The director and owner of the dubbing studio where Pepa works, Gender: male, Age: 35 to 50)
Rosalia: (A voice-over actress, Very attractive, Gender: female, Age: 25 to 40)
Doctor: (A doctor, Gender: male, Age: 35 to 60)
Chief Inspector: (A tough, no-nonsense police detective, Gender: male, Age: 35 to 60)
Detective: (The Chief Inspector’s assistant, A bit bumbling, Gender: male, Age: 20 to 30)
Telephone Repairman: (Handsome, Gender: male, Age: 20 to 30)
Ambite: (A guy on a motorcycle (or Vespa), Gender: male)
Two Security Guards: (Security Guards. Two Male or One Female, One Male, Gender: any)
News Reader On TV: (A News Reader on TV, Gender: any)
Three Magistrates: (Magistrates. Three Male or Two Male, One Female, Gender: any)
Young Lucia: (A dancer, Gender: female)
Young Ivan: A dancer, Gender: male)
More Ways to Get Involved!
Check out our volunteer page for more opportunities to get involved!
Check out our more opportunities page for information on year-round programming
Meet Our Production & Volunteer Manager Aldrian Argante!
Looking to get involved, but don’t know where to start? Aldrian Argante will get you signed up for an audition, help you find volunteer resources, or chat about what volunteer opportunities might be a good fit for you.
If you are interested in auditioning this season, reach out to aldrian@livearts.org.
