Website HerStoryTheater Her Story Theater
A theater for social change
Two-person show.
Casting for:
Xan Smith – Female lead
Non-AEA Understudies for both Xan Smith and Henry Percival
SYNOPSIS
Henry Percival is a prominent novelist of his generation. Decades ago, he wrote a bestselling novel that included the murder of a young Black woman. Writer Xan Smith reluctantly accepts a commission from a progressive literary magazine to write an article exploring how white male novelists of Henry’s generation benefitted from a publishing establishment that provided them with massive privilege. The project will interest only a meager audience of academics, pay a few months’ rent. But Xan is stunned when Henry admits that the murder in his novel was taken straight from fact—and that he was involved. Now she might be sitting on a bestseller of her own!
Written by Kurt McGinnis Brown, Directed by Richard Shavzin, Produced by Her Story Theater.
Material to Prepare:
Monologue(s) from script. Send headshot and resume to HerStoryTheatre@gmail.com.
Upon receipt, we'll set up an audition time, provide instructions to find the location (it’s a bit tricky), along with two monologues attached. Please prepare to do either.
Callbacks will be reading from the script; date/time/location TBD.
Time Commitment:
At The Den Theater Main Stage 2nd Floor. Rehearsals begin first week in March, readings required prior. World Premiere. Tech March 23-26 Preview March 27, 2026 in theater runs through April 19th. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30PM shows. Sunday 3PM shows. Possibly Wednesday evening performance during run.
Character Type/Restrictions:
CHARACTERS
Xan Smith. Black woman, late 30s to mid-40s. Career-driven journalist. Smart, talented, cynical.
Henry Percival. White man, 65+. Very successful novelist, disgruntled with life at the end of his career, living in a remote wooded area of Michigan.
THIS ROLE OF HENRY PERCIVAL IS CAST.
To apply for this job email your details to HerStoryTheatre@gmail.com