Website InvictusTheatre Invictus Theatre Company
Invictus Theatre Company presents The House That Will Not Stand by Marcus Gardley, Directed by Aaron Reese Boseman
Previews Begin October 28, 2025 | Runs November 3 – December 14, 2025
SEEKING: Non-Equity actors for roles in THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND (See breakdown).
The House That Will Not Stand – Casting Disclaimer from Director
This production of Marcus Gardley’s The House That Will Not Stand, set in 1800s New Orleans, delves deeply into the complex social dynamics of the period, particularly the practice of Placage and the pervasive influence of colorism and the hierarchy of skin tones within the community of women of African descent.
We are specifically seeking women of African descent to portray the characters in this historically grounded narrative. Our casting process is committed to honoring the playwright’s specific vision and the intricate historical realities explored in the play. We aim to assemble an ensemble that can authentically embody the emotional depth, social complexities, and the nuanced relationships dictated by the societal structures of the time.
We strongly encourage and welcome submissions from women of African descent of all backgrounds, skin tones, hair textures, body types, gender expressions, abilities, and ages (within the parameters of the character’s age ranges). The play explicitly explores the varied experiences within this community related to colorism, and our casting will reflect this narrative truth through authentic and powerful performances.
While the play directly addresses the historical context of colorism and its impact on individuals, this production is firmly committed to an equitable and non-discriminatory casting process. Our aim is to find artists who can powerfully tell this story, reflecting its intricate dynamics through compelling performances.
We look forward to meeting passionate artists who are eager to engage with this profound and important work.
-Best, Aaron Reese Boseman, Director
Material to Prepare:
TO APPLY:
Send an email with your headshot and resume along with the role(s) you’d like to be considered for to Casting Director, Becca Holloway at InvictusTheatreCasting@gmail.com with the subject line: House Audition Request. If given an appointment, you will be asked to prepare the following:
PREPARATION:
Please prepare one or more sides from the show that best represent the role(s) you are interested in. If you are called in for multiple characters, please prepare only one side per character. In addition to the side(s), please prepare a short rendition (up to 45 seconds) of the Christian hymn Amazing Grace or a gospel song of your choice.
Time Commitment:
Rehearsals: September 16 - October 21, Mon-Wed 6PM - 10PM (Earlier Rehearsal times if applicable)
Sat-Sun 9AM - 2PM
*Actors may be asked to attend media/ marketing curation events i.e., photoshoots, interviews, etc. prior to rehearsal*
Tech Week October 24-27, 6-11pm Friday & Monday, 10am-6pm Saturday & Sunday
Performance Schedule:
Previews: October 28, October 31, November 1 at 7PM, November 1, November 2 at 1PM
Press Opening: November 3, 2025, at 7PM
Performances run from November 3 - December 14, 2025: Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays: 7PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 1PM
*There will be no performances during Thanksgiving Break, November 28-30, 2025.*
Official Understudy Rehearsals
October 11, October 18 from 2-5pm
October 29, 2025 from 6:00pm-10:00pm
Tuesdays from 6:00pm-10:00pm (November 4- December 9)
(Pre-Tech/Run rehearsals TBD)
Character Type/Restrictions:
LAZARE ALBANS (50s-70s, Male Identifying - White/Caucasian) The Merchant. A wealthy merchant, Lazare mysteriously kicked the bucket at the play's opening, only to return as a possessed figure. He was a loving father to Beartrice’s daughters, though he was also known for being a bit too “familiar” with women. As Southern as they come, he was notoriously ornery and had a legendary thirst for liquor. (Speaks Creole)
BEARTRICE ALBANS (Late 30s-50s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Bear. A free woman of color, she is the dignified mistress of Lazare Albans and the sovereign heart of her home. Her maternal love, though fierce, comes with unwavering discipline. She carries herself with a commanding air and an innate Southern grace, deeply committed to upholding appearances, decorum, and cherished traditions. As a woman of African descent, her lighter complexion is integral to her unique historical context and social standing within the 1800s Placage system of New Orleans. (Speaks Creole)
AGNÈS ALBANS (Late Teens-Early/Mid 20s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Sensual. Pronounced ‘An-yes,’ Agnès is Beartrice's eldest daughter (19), full of desire and frank humor. She yearns for adventure outside her mother’s home and is willing to take significant risks to find love, driven by a desperate ambition to be the first of her sisters to achieve triumph. As a woman of African descent, her lighter complexion is key to her character's unique position in the societal fabric of the time. (Speaks Creole and must sing)
MAUDE LYNN ALBANS (Late Teens-Early/Mid 20s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Spiritual. Maude Lynn, the middle of Beartrice's three daughters (18), is guided by a strong moral compass and deep devotion to her spirituality. She recoils from conflict and her family's machinations. Despite her initial aversion to trouble, she ultimately finds the strength to bravely stand for her convictions. As a woman of African descent, she has the lightest complexion among her sisters, a detail central to her societal placement and journey. (Speaks Creole and must sing)
ODETTE ALBANS (Late Teens-Early/Mid 20s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Romantic.Odette is the youngest of Beartrice's three daughters (16). Romantic and blissfully unaware of the world's perils, she readily trusts her sisters' words. Yet, beneath her innocent exterior lies a wellspring of undiscovered confidence, poised to emerge. As a woman of African descent, her darker complexion shapes her unique journey within the familial and societal landscape. (Speaks Creole and must sing)
MAKEDA (40s-60s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Wise. Makeda is an enslaved woman who works in Beartrice's house. She is a figure of profound wisdom and sharp observation, carrying a regal energy. Acting as a second mother and fierce protector to the three daughters, she is resourceful and resilient, harboring the deepest hope of one day purchasing her freedom from Beartrice. As an enslaved woman of African descent, her dark complexion is integral to the storytelling, powerfully underscoring the colorism and complex social hierarchies central to the play's narrative within Beartrice's household. (Must sing well)
MARIE JOSEPHINE (30s-50s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Clairvoyant. Beartrice’s sister, Marie Josephine is a deeply intuitive soul, gifted with clairvoyance and a profound connection to the spirit world. She wistfully dreams of a lover from a past life and is fiercely determined to liberate her nieces from Beartrice’s oppressive control. As a woman of African descent, her lighter complexion is integral to her unique historical context and social standing within the 1800s Placage system of New Orleans. She defies the societal expectation to seek a white man as a placée and chooses love over societal approval. (Speaks Creole, Dances, Must Sing Well.)
LA VEUVE (Late 30s-50s, Female-Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Gossip. A free woman of color, La Veuve is Beartrice's bitter adversary. She's the town's resident provocateur, always ready to spread rumors and ignite conflict for her own gain. (Speaks Creole)
MAN WITH THE BAMBOULA (20s-30s, Male Identifying - Black/African Descent) The Lover/Spirit. A young man, tall and dark-skinned, trapped between realms. He's Marie Josephine's devoted lover, who died longing for her return, his spirit now defined by the persistent rhythm of his drums. (Non-speaking part. Dancer, Plays drums.)
Understudies will be required to attend a specified rehearsals during the regular rehearsal process and will have their own dates for rehearsal prior to the run and during.
To apply for this job email your details to invictustheatrecasting@gmail.com