By Rachel Bublitz 

Directed by Paige Conway 

 Looking to cast the following roles…  

• Monroe: she/her, mid-twenties, any race. Makes bad jokes. Like, really bad. Can juggle quite well, actually. 
• Jade: she/her, close in age to Monroe, any race. Has legitimate concerns and distress over how to actually help her friend.  

We are open to seeing both AEA and non-AEA actors for these auditions. 

 About The Play…  

Monroe is planning a surprise party for her bestie Jade complete with decorations, chocolate cupcakes, puns and 20 giftbags full of surprises.  However, the biggest surprise is that she’s planning to give herself a home-concocted abortion. Set in a future America where even saying the word “abortion” is a crime, this play is about loyalty, friendship, and the value of life. A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Funny, Like An Abortion was originally developed with PlayGround’s 25th and 26th Festival of New Works with Jim Kleinmann as Artistic Director.

About The Process…  

This rehearsal process will be very physical in nature. This show is a marathon. Actors do not need to be trained in any specific type of physical work, but should be prepared and willing to explore movement in new ways. In the script, Monroe must juggle, and both actors tap dance. Though these skillsets are encouraged, it is not necessary to have experience in juggling or tap dancing to audition. 

The rehearsal room will be run with attention being placed on trauma-informed practices. This production will adhere to the CLEan House Standards. 

Rehearsals will begin on or around March 18, 2024. Rehearsals are 5-6 times a week, with evening weekday rehearsals and some daytime weekend rehearsals.  

Important Dates… 

• 3/18/24 – First rehearsal 
• 4/20/24 – Tech Starts 
• 4/25/24 – First Preview 
• 4/27/24 – Opening Night 
• 5/11/24 – Closing Performance 
• 5/12/24 – Possible hold for extension 

Funny, Like an Abortion runs April 25 – May 11 Thu/Fri/Sat/Mon at 7:00pm, with 1 Sunday matinee in the James Levin Theatre.  

Important Information about The Play…  

Funny, Like an Abortion is a play about reproductive rights, and includes frank conversations and dark humor about abortion, sexism, and economic discrimination. 

Auditions…  

Thursday, August 3rd, 6:30pm – 9:00pm 

Saturday, August 5th, 1:00pm – 4:00pm 

Auditions are by appointment only and will be scheduled in 15-minute increments. Prepared auditions will be individual, but you may be asked to stay and read with a fellow actor. Actors should plan to stay at the audition for up to 75 minutes, though you may be released sooner. The director, Paige Conway, will be watching the auditions.  

What to Prepare…  

• Prepare one comedic monologue, 60-90 seconds in length.  
• Some actors may be asked to do simple movement and contact work, so please wear clothes you can move in. No movement pieces need to be prepared. 
• Some actors may be asked to do cold readings from sides provided by CPT at the audition. 

• Headshot and résumé.  

To schedule an audition appointment, please email auditions@cptonline.org. Please include [Funny Like An Abortion Auditions] in your subject line. Be sure to include your name, email address, phone number, preferred audition time, and role you are auditioning for in your email. Send a copy of your headshot and resume as an attachment to your email. No phone calls please.  

About the Playwright:  

Rachel Bublitz is an internationally produced playwright known for telling stories about women and creating exciting new work for young performers. She won the Will Glickman Award for Best Premiere Play in the San Francisco Bay Area for Ripped (World Premiere at Z Space). Other plays include: Burst (World Premiere at Alleyway Theatre, developed at The Road Theatre Company), Of Serpents & Sea Spray (World Premiere at Custom Made Theatre), My Body (produced at Barrington Stage Company, developed at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival), and Let’s Fix Andy (developed at Salt Lake Acting Company). Rachel has published plays with Playscripts (Biz Town), Dramatic Publishing (The Night Witches), Original Works Publishing (Ripped), Stage Partners (The Book Women), and YouthPLAYS (The Summer I Howled). Rachel resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her family. When she isn’t writing she’s most likely to be watching her kids dominate at water polo. For more visit: RachelBublitz.com. 

About the Director: 

Paige Conway is a director with nearly a decade of experience as a freelancer in the Michigan theatre circuit, now based in Cleveland. With an extensive background in physical theatre and new play development, she often works on newer plays with less traditional structures. Paige has training in intimacy choreography and trauma-informed practices through Theatrical Intimacy Education. Select directing credits include: These Mortal Hosts by Eric Coble (Williamston Theatre), the world premiere of New Releases by Joseph Zettelmaier (Williamston Theatre), Lungs by Duncan Macmillan (Kickshaw Theatre), Dreamscape, created and devised with The Collaboratory (Young Peoples’ Theater), Chalk by Walt McGough (Renegade Theatre Festival), the world premiere of Broken by John McLindon (BoxFest Detroit). Paige currently serves as the Associate Producer at Cleveland Public Theatre.