Auditions
AUDITION
DETAILS
Almost, Maine
by John Cariani
Directed by Don Tabberer
Audition Dates:
November 17-18, 2025
Performance Dates:
February 13-22, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. / Sundays at 2 p.m.
Cast: 4-8 female, 4-8 male roles
About Almost, Maine
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A woman carries her heart, broken into 19 pieces, in a small paper bag.
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A man shrinks to half his former size after losing hope in love.
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A couple keeps the love they have given each other in large red bags, or compress the mass into the size of a diamond.
These playful and surreal experiences are commonplace in the world of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine. The play is a romantic comedy comprising nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical place called Almost, Maine. The play is bracketed by a discussion between two lovers, Pete and Ginette, who are gradually in the process of revealing their love to each other. The Prologue concludes with the paradox that, given the world's roughly spherical shape, people who are as close as possible to one another in one direction are as far apart as possible in another direction. Thus, Ginette heads away from Pete on a journey around the world to bring her closer to him. The subsequent eight scenes involve vignettes of eight other couples, all overcoming relationship obstacles in narrative arcs that pose a problem or paradox, work through short intervals of vaguely surreal comedy, and end with mostly happy resolutions. The play ends with a happy reunion between Pete and Ginette.
On this one deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, the citizens of Almost experience the life-altering power of the human heart. Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers. Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery.
About our Director: Don Tabberer
Don Tabberer holds a B.A. in Theatre and a Master of Divinity. He has directed numerous productions for the Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, most recently, The Girl on the Train. He has also served on the Board, designed scenery, and worked backstage…WAIT! I’ve been in a bunch of stuff, directed some plays, and designed some sets over the past 50 years or so. I went to college during the Age of Aquarius and learned about theatre.
How to Prepare for the Audition:
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Download the Audition Packet for complete instructions.
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Please prepare ONE of the monologues included in this audition packet.
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Auditions will consist of a monologue, improvisation, and readings from the script.
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Dress comfortably.
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Bring with you your completed Audition Form, including a list of ALL your commitments from January 5 through February 22, 2026.
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Please include school and church commitments.
In the original production, the nine couples were played by two female and two male actors. The number of actors we plan to include in our production will not be determined until after auditions, as we have the flexibility to adjust the cast size to our needs. Roles may be double-cast and/or understudied.
INTIMACY:
Roles marked with an (*) will require some choreographed moments of intimacy. Roles marked with a (♱) will require a comedic sequence of disrobing in which both characters strip down to their long underwear. All moments of intimacy will be choreographed to the level of comfort of each actor. Performer agency will always be maintained in the rehearsal room, and we will not tolerate any violation of boundaries or disrespect for one another. Stage management will be in charge of ensuring that daily intimacy checks occur.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
Most characters are ages 20s-40s; Ages listed are STAGE AGES. (i.e., actor need not be that age, just be able to pass in that range while on stage.)
Male Actors
Each male actor cast (Male, 20-45) will play multiple characters, including:
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Pete*: Almost pessimistic, but he truly loves Ginette, although it's hard for him to admit.
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Steve: Open, clueless, and kind. He is clueless to the world due to his inability to feel pain, which is attributed to his disorder.
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Jimmy: A guy whose broken heart makes it hard for him to speak his mind.
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Dave*♱: Not so tough, but loves Rhonda for who she is.
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East*: A repairman, calm and sincere.
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Lendall*: Longtime best friend to Gayle, an understanding and collected person who is trying to understand his girlfriend.
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Randy**: Broke his date’s face while dancing. Ends up having feelings for his best friend Chad, but it's hard for him to admit it.
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Chad**: Was told he smelled by his date. He tells his best friend he has feelings for him.
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Phil: A working man who gets in a fight with his wife after ice skating.
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Man/Daniel: The ex of Hope, who has left the town, but his life has gone on and changed without her.
**Randy & Chad: Must be comfortable playing a gay character. No physical intimacy involved.
Female Actors
Each female actor cast (Female, 20-45) will play multiple characters, including:
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Ginette*: Optimistic and loving toward Pete. A bit of a chatterbox who rambles on when she's nervous.
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Sandrine: Jimmy’s Ex, who left him suddenly but is put together and sensitive towards Jimmy.
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Gayle*: Longtime girlfriend to Lendall, a short-tempered, passionate, and flustered woman who wants to be married.
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Hope: A jittery woman who left her boyfriend to go off into the world, and has come back to see him.
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Glory*: A vulnerable, nervous and guilty hiker.
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Waitress/Vilian: No nonsense, sassy waitress who is meant for Jimmy.
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Marvalyn: A self-protective nurse who is in a rough patch in her relationship.
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Marci: The hardworking wife of Phil who is angry with him over all the things his work has caused him to miss.
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Rhonda*♱: A tough, closed-off, and nervous woman who is awkward around Dave.
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Suzette: Wife of Daniel
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Deena**, an “Aroostook County Girl,” longtime friend of Shelly.
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Shelly**, an “Aroostook County Girl,” longtime friend of Deena.
**Deena & Shelly: Must be comfortable playing a gay character. No physical intimacy involved.
NOTE:
The people of Almost, Maine are not simpletons. They are not hicks or rednecks. They are not quaint, quirky eccentrics. They don’t wear funny clothes or funny hats. They don’t have funny Maine accents. They are not “Down Easters”. They are not fishermen or lobstermen. They don’t wear galoshes and rain hats. They don’t say, “Ayuh.” And they don’t have a Southern accent.
The people of Almost, Maine, are ordinary people. They work hard for a living. They are extremely dignified. They are honest and true. They are not cynical. They are not sarcastic. They are not glib. But this does not mean they are dumb. They’re very smart. They just take time to wonder about things. They speak simply, honestly, truly, and from the heart. They are never precocious about what they say or do.
For an Audition Packet:
Complete it.
Print it and bring to your audition. Thank you.
