AUDITIONS FOR THE STAGED READING:

THE GULL

When: Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 2:00-4:00 PM

Where: IUCC, 644 Titus Ave, Rochester, NY

A reimagining of Chekhov’s The Seagull set in 1930s Black America

Synopsis:

In the summer of 1938, acclaimed Black radio actress Anna Cardin returns to her family’s Martha’s Vineyard home after losing the role of Mammy in Gone With the Wind to Hattie McDaniel. Her arrival stirs long-simmering tensions with her sensitive artist son Conrad (Connie), who resents her for prioritizing career over family. Connie is infatuated with young neighbor Nia, who aspires to be an actress like Anna, but is unaware of the steps needed to make that dream a reality. Sometimes, sacrifices are made for art, love, and survival in an era of limited opportunities for Black artists, exploring whether the grass is really greener on the other side.

"The tragedy isn’t falling short. It’s realizing you flew in the wrong direction.”

This year's Anansi edition presents When They Flew, which introduces folktales around the legend of the Flying Africans, popularized in books, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly, Kei Miller's Augustown; in the modern art of Constanza Knight and known through story among the state of Georgia's Gullah/Geeche people, peoples of West-Central Africa. Just us for this year's edition and other Anansi Tales folklore favorites.

{theatre}+{náfsi} FOR Youth is a mixture of Youth and Adults who weave these stories with help from the audience and community guest readers. ANANSI TALES FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a mixture of African, Caribbean, and African-American folklore presented in interactive theatre, storytelling, and puppetry.  Folktales are stories traditionally passed from generation to generation orally to teach a lesson, gain insight into specific situations, or as a pass-time.

{theatre}+{náfsi} FOR Youth shares these tales with the whole family, showing "brains" is always a great option when dealing with obstacles—we're one of Rochester's newest Holiday traditions. This interactive production further enhances and frames the holiday season as a time of communal sharing. 

This year's Anansi edition presents When They Flew, which introduces folktales around the legend of the Flying Africans, popularized in books, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly, Kei Miller's Augustown; in the modern art of Constanza Knight and known through story among the state of Georgia's Gullah/Geeche people, peoples of West-Central Africa. Just us for this year's edition and other Anansi Tales folklore favorites.

{theatre}+{náfsi} FOR Youth is a mixture of Youth and Adults who weave these stories with help from the audience and community guest readers. ANANSI TALES FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a mixture of African, Caribbean, and African-American folklore presented in interactive theatre, storytelling, and puppetry.  Folktales are stories traditionally passed from generation to generation orally to teach a lesson, gain insight into specific situations, or as a pass-time.

{theatre}+{náfsi} FOR Youth shares these tales with the whole family, showing "brains" is always a great option when dealing with obstacles—we're one of Rochester's newest Holiday traditions. This interactive production further enhances and frames the holiday season as a time of communal sharing. 

The Bronze Collective welcomes Incorrigible as this Third Thursdays table read/auditions. Every third Thursday of the month audiences, auditioners, playwrights etc get together to hear a new theatrical tale whether locally or nationally. This Third Thursday welcomes all to come hear a read and if desired audition also.

Step into the intricate web of familial dynamics with these three captivating one-act plays, each poignantly reflecting the complexities that define family bonds. As the curtains rise, you'll find yourself immersed in narratives that resonate deeply, perhaps mirroring the dynamics of your family or those you've encountered.

These riveting portrayals remind us that family is a tapestry woven from the threads of love, loyalty, and longing. Despite their flaws and imperfections, these characters are bound together by a shared heritage, a common history, and an unbreakable bond that transcends their trials. Ultimately, they are not just relatives—they are family, united by the intricate dance of cultural dynamics; they are ...Kinfolks.

The desperate denizens of the once-thriving planet Egami-On find themselves teetering on the brink of annihilation as they swiftly succumb to the malevolent clutches of a venomous substance known as NEM—a sinister residue lingering from a devastating war that has cast an ominous shadow over their home. What initially commenced as a hopeful expedition to peacefully coexist with the unsuspecting denizens of the distant realm known as Earth has now grotesquely metamorphosed into a harrowing mission of conquest and genocide, as the very essence of Egami-On's existence becomes entangled with the dark machinations of an insidious plot to subjugate and obliterate Earth's innocent inhabitants. The cosmic dance of fate unfolds, weaving a tragic tapestry of betrayal, despair, and the impending doom that looms over two worlds locked in a perilous clash of survival.