"Merry Christmas, Carol" auditions!

The Pride Collective and Community Center presents a staged reading of “Merry Christmas, Carol” by Em Christie

Audition location: Pride Collective and Community Center, 1105 1st Ave S, Fargo

Date: September 10th

Time: 7 - 9 p.m.

What to bring: resume and headshot if you have it and a complete list of your conflicts through December 10th. As this is for a staged reading, auditions will be cold reads - no need to prepare sides.

Show schedule: There will be one rehearsal in October and one in November as the script continues to develop; these rehearsal dates will be determined by cast conflicts. In December, there will be three nights of consecutive rehearsals followed by a public reading on December 10th at FMCT. The show is free/free-will donation, and all donations will be split among the cast and director.

“Merry Christmas, Carol” synopsis:
Carol is a rich lesbian who owns multiple rental properties and donates to all the right charities, yet she would never give a cent to someone on the street, and she fails to understand or accept her dead sister’s nonbinary offspring. Carol’s assistant, Bobbi, has a chronically ill child, but Carol doesn’t see how directly connected she is to this child’s quality of life. On Christmas Eve, Carol’s deceased wife Marley appears to announce three spirits will try to help Carol change her ways, foreshadowing disastrous consequences should she fail to do so. This is the Christmas Carol 2025 needs as society debates who “deserves” which human rights.

Content warning: Transphobia, alcoholism, drunken car accident resulting in death, abortion, discrimination against unhoused persons, child illness, child death.

Roles:

Ensemble 1: Bobbi Cratchit (a desperate mother, about 40), Kamryn (Lennon’s partner, proudly genderqueer, mid-to-late 20s)

Ensemble 2: Lily Cratchit (age thirteen, identity in the air) Ghost of Christmas Future

Ensemble 3: Lennon (non binary, thriving, Carol’s nibling, mid-to-late 20s) Jenny (Carol’s sister, 40s)

Ensemble 4: Charity Collector 1 (gender non conforming, experienced advocate, 40s - 60s), Marley (Carol’s dead wife, 40s)

Ensemble 5: Charity Collector 2 (gender fluid, fierce, mid 20s to late 30s), Carol’s Mother (a flawed parent, late 30s)

Stage directions (clear, evocative, commanding)

Please note: The role of Carol will be played by Pam Strait.

About the playwright:
Since graduating with a B.A. in English Literature at Minnesota State University Moorhead (‘16), Em has continued a lifetime’s theatre involvement (actor, technician, director) by writing in their home medium, focusing on creating space for fem and trans theatre artists. They served on the Artistic Direction Committee at Theatre B (2016-18) and was the dramaturg for two productions with Shakespeare in the Park (Detroit Lakes, MN). Their original work, “The Lofton March,” which is about the 2017 Women’s March, received a staged reading in 2019 by Playpractice Theatre Co. in Inglewood, CA, and their adaptation of “Orlando” received a staged reading at Theatre B in Moorhead, MN in June 2024. Em has been the Artist-in-Residence at Bridgeview Liquors since April 2024. They write, paint, and create cool stuff at Bridgeview’s tasting bar several days a week, usually accompanied by the store’s Chihuahua mascot, Roxie. Em is also a volunteer with FargoMoorhead Rocks, a group painting and hiding rocks in public spaces to spread art and joy.

Also check out other Arts events in Fargo, Nonprofit events in Fargo, Theatre events in Fargo.