work with us

The Strides Collective, a Philadelphia based non-profit queer theatre company, seeks audition submissions from local/non-union actors for various productions for the 2025 Season. 16 roles are available in total.

All performers will receive a small stipend. Housing and travel are the responsibility of the actor for the duration of the rehearsal and production process. All submissions must be received by Sunday, March 30 at 11:59PM. No late submissions will be accepted.

ABOUT US: Founded in 2020, The Strides Collective produces and develops theatrical work by emerging playwrights that embraces the queer experience through authentic, modern, and innovative storytelling. Our work prioritizes the goal of normalizing the conversation about queer identity, creating a haven in which emerging artists can tell their stories and can express themselves without fear of judgment.

By Nathaniel Foster
Directed by Jonathan Edmondson
June 12-13, 2025 (Location: TBD in Philadelphia)

SYNOPSIS: Billy is a normal enough gay guy who has normal enough gay guy sex, and he likes it that way. Or so he thought. When he receives an unexpected invitation to participate in a kinky wrestling match, Billy is forced to confront his complicated feelings around his own sexual urges and societal views on queer sexuality. Billy Gets a Bloody Nose is a fun, slutty romp that examines the ways in which we stop ourselves from accessing our deepest desires and explores what would happen if we fully embraced them instead.

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS: 5-6 rehearsals during the month of May. Some will be conducted virtually; some will take place in-person in Philadelphia. Schedule will be built around actor availability, but primarily weeknights after 6pm or weekends.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: The process will culminate in a ticketed script-in-hand, staged-reading at a TBD location in Philadelphia on June 12th and 13th.

STIPEND: $100 upon completion of the run.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

• Billy (25, he/him) - Neurotic but charming. Fun at parties, but not memorable. Bought three new journals this month, convinced every time that they were what he needed to fix EVERYTHING. 

• Bianca (26, she/her) - Outgoing, outspoken and a little outrageous. Fiercely independent, but still somehow always ends up being the caretaker. 

• Brendan (35, he/him) - A little boring, but it’s not his fault. Stopped going to the gym six months ago, but still posts recycled thirst traps. 

• Blake (28, he/him) - Kind, easy going, light hearted, a little fun. 

• Bonnie (52, she/her) - A wine mom who doesn’t need wine to be fun. Loving, nosey and headstrong.

By Jonathan V. Edmondson
Directed by James Bruenger-Arreguin
October - November 2025

SYNOPSIS: An unexpected friend request from an estranged former classmate days before his 30th Birthday sends Ethan spiraling. Wesley and Storen, his longtime best friends, plan a boys weekend at a cabin in upstate Pennsylvania as a distraction. The trio’s solid foundation quickly begins to crack, however, as differing societal ideals and old, unresolved wounds begin to surface. And when a surprise visitor derails their weekend entirely, everyone begins to question their relationship with each other, and to themselves. friend request examines queerness, brotherhood, and self-love in the face of unspeakable trauma.

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS: Each workshop will have 25 Hours to utilize as they wish over the workshop period, which will begin around September 29, 2025, and end around November 15. It will be up to each playwright and director how to utilize those hours. Some rehearsals will be conducted virtually; some will take place in-person in Philadelphia. Schedule will be built around actor availability, but primarily weeknights after 6pm or weekends during the period.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATION: The workshop period will culminate in a private, invite-only presentation on or around November 15, in which a selection of the play will be performed, and a feedback session will be conducted.

STIPEND: $100 upon completion of the workshop.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

• Ethan Sharpe (he/him, 29) – Thoughtful, passionate, careful, introverted, intelligent, envious, clingy, selfish.

• Storen Hunt (he/him, 29) – Extroverted, charming, loyal, sexual, aloof, flighty, mischievous.

• Wesley Payne (he/him, 29) – Driven, generous, focused, headstrong, perfectionist, short-tempered.

• Charlie Vanbeck (he/they, 25) – Protective, genuine, detailed, loyal, shy, removed, skeptical.

By Rayne
Directed by Bryan Hagelin and Satchel Williams
October - November 2025

SYNOPSIS: This fall, we will be workshopping a new play with musical elements. Written by Rayne, this piece will explore the beautiful, complicated, and dangerous dynamics of the creative process through the lens of a queer popstar.

REHEARSAL EXPECTATION: Each workshop will have 25 Hours to utilize as they wish over the workshop period, which will begin around September 29, 2025, and end around November 15. It will be up to each playwright and director how to utilize those hours. Some rehearsals will be conducted virtually; some will take place in-person in Philadelphia. Schedule will be built around actor availability, but primarily weeknights after 6pm or weekends during the period.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATION: The workshop period will culminate in a private, invite-only presentation on or around November 15, in which a selection of the play will be performed, and a feedback session will be conducted.

STIPEND: $100 upon completion of the workshop

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

• POPSTAR: Seeking an actor-musician who is comfortable dancing, singing, and self-accompaniment with an instrument to play a queer POPSTAR. Any gender, any race. Early to late 20s. This performer will collaborate on the music and lyrics of the play through devising sessions with the playwright (Rayne) and directorial team (Satchel Williams and Bryan Hagelin). Specific genre(s) of sound will be built around and with the actor, though early inspirations include Chappell Roan, Doja Cat, Doechii, and more.

•  CHARACTER #2: This role will be cast at a later date.

Playwrights and Directors TBA
Produced by Maddie Breske
December 4 - 5, 2025 (Location: TBD in Philadelphia)

SYNOPSIS: Part developmental opportunity, part community event, New Strides showcases staged readings of brand new one act plays by emerging queer playwrights! Selected playwrights will receive certain elements (assigned by The Strides Collective) and are tasked with writing queer plays that include them within a two month span. Once plays are written, they will be assigned a cast and director to help bring them to life. 

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS: Each actor will be assigned a play and a director by early November. At that point, directors will schedule 2-3 virtual rehearsals built around actor availability.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATION: The process will culminate in a ticketed, staged-reading at music stands of each one-act play at a TBD location in Philadelphia on December 4 and 5.

STIPEND: $50 upon completion of the run.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

• As the one-acts have yet to be written, we are seeking 6 dynamic, creative actors who are willing to jump headfirst into new material.  Anyone interested is invited and encouraged to submit. The one and only stipulation is that they are available during the performance dates.

Auditions submissions are open from March 4 – March 30, 2025, through the form linked below. All actors will be required to submit a headshot and theatrical resume, in addition to a self-taped monologue from the list linked below.

Even if you are auditioning for multiple projects, please only choose one monologue.
Note that the monologues may contain strong homophobic language and references to drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity. 

***NOTE: If you are interested in auditioning for POPSTAR in New Play by Rayne, the creative team also asks that you submit the following (in addition to a self-taped monologue): please sing 60 seconds of any song with self-accompaniment. If you are a dancer, please dance 30 seconds of an improvised or choreographed sequence. In addition, answer the following, on video, in your submission: what is your favorite celebrity controversy and why?***

All submissions must be received by Friday, April 4 at 11:59PM. No late submissions will be accepted.

A member of The Strides Collective will reach out to actors being considered by the creative team with more information regarding the next steps by early May. We thank you in advance for understanding and greatly appreciate your time and interest!

The Strides Collective is committed to diversity and inclusion as one of our core values. We actively encourage performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and abilities to submit, as we want to create opportunities to disrupt traditional casting practices and honor roles with authentically lived experiences.

Questions? Email us at Casting@StridesCollective.com