Auditions

Register For Auditions Here

Audition Information

LOCATION & Contact Information

  • Acadiana Center for the Arts

  • 101 W Vermillion St.

  • Lafayette, LA 70501

AUDITION DATE

  • Saturday, February 7th, 2026

  • 10:00am – 2:00pm

  • Offer Notices: same day

APPOINTMENTS

Once actors complete the audition form, the production team will email reminder of the audition time you selected. Please arrive at least 15 mins before your scheduled time.  Email any questions to BTE@heritageparc.org.

CONTRACT

  • $Paid Project

PREPARATION

Auditions will be cold reads, meaning actors will be given sides from the script to perform during their audition. No need to prepare a monologue—just bring yourself, be open to direction, and be ready to fully embody the character in the moment.

The Juneteenth Story is a powerful, living celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black history. Writer, Twana Benoit, seamlessly blends past and present. This production traces the legacy of Juneteenth through generations, honoring the voices of our ancestors while exploring what liberation means today. With music, movement, and storytelling, the show invites audiences to reflect, connect, and recommit to the ongoing work of justice, unity, and collective freedom.

PERSONNEL

Expected to attend:

Executive Artistic Director/Producer: Leigha Porter

Director: Josiah Price

Reader: Jay Price

Production Overview

Contracts Due: Feb 2026

First Rehearsal: Feb 2026

All Rehearsals: 3-9 hours a week

Opening: June 19th, 2026

Closing: June 20th, 2026

Please email thejuneteenthstory@gmail.com with any questions

SEEKING:

AUNT EMMA – 90s, Black

  • 99 year old narrator and heartbeat of the piece. Warm, vivid, and humorous. She guides the audience through memory, history, and meaning.


MAMA / AUNT SISSY – 40s, Black

  • MAMA (present day): A firm, loving mother who keeps her home grounded. She is faith-forward, protective, and not easily shaken by her children’s debates or the pressures of the day.

  • AUNT SISSY (past): Older, skeptical, and rooted in what she knows; fear of the unknown collides with the community’s joy. She is complex, outspoken, and emotionally layered.


DADDY / JOHN – 40s, Black

  • DADDY (present day): Playful but hardworking father carrying the strain of providing; his presence affects the whole family dynamic.

  • JOHN (past): Steady, courageous, and principled; pushes for freedom and family unity, determined to move forward even when others are afraid.


EUNICE / MAE – 70s, Black

  • EUNICE (present day): The outspoken elder with sharp humor and sharper instincts; brings warmth, comedy, and truth-telling.

  • MAE (past): A mother figure with deep faith and endurance; steady under pressure, carrying both tenderness and grit.

REVEREND MARSHALL / ASHMAY  – 70s, Black

  • REVEREND MARSHALL (present day): Flirtatious. Measured, guiding, and authoritative without losing warmth.

  • ASHMAY (past): A respected community voice and organizer; leads discussion, calms conflict, and helps others make life-altering decisions.

JANET / QUEEN MOTHER – 60s, Black 

  • JANET (present day): Mama’s friend. She offers humor, commentary, and lived experience.

  • QUEEN MOTHER (past): Ceremonial, spiritual, and commanding; embodies ancestral memory and communal prayer – poetic language, strong stage presence.

ALEX / ESTHER – teens, Black

  • ALEX (present day): Bright, composed, and conviction-driven daughter. A young woman preparing to speak at a Juneteenth celebration while navigating family tension and big questions about history, justice, and unity.

  • ESTHER (past): Spirited, funny, and resilient; a woman on the cusp of freedom, carrying hope and urgency as she plans for what comes next.

TONI / BELLE – teens, Black

  • TONI (present day): Alex’s bold, stylish best friend. Quick-witted, confident, and unafraid to challenge people while showing real loyalty underneath the humor.

  • BELLE (past): Intelligent and careful with her words; strong in love and survival, facing high-stakes choices about family, safety, and the future.

MATT / ISAAC – late teens, Black

  • MATT (present day): Alex’s brother – intense, argumentative, and passionate; protective, politically charged, and ready to challenge the “official” version of history.

  • ISAAC (past): Quiet strength with a watchful mind; his choices are driven by love, dignity, and the need to protect what’s his.


JEREMY / MASSA – late teens, White

  • JEREMY (present day): Matthew’s white best friend; affable and intelligent, often serving as a calming counterbalance and an outside perspective in the family’s debates.

  • MASSA (past): Entitled and shaped by power.


IMANI / PEACHES – 9-12, Black

  • IMANI (present day): The youngest child. Curious, funny, and honest; provides levity and heart while asking the questions adults avoid.

  • PEACHES (past): A child experiencing history in real time. Innocent, observant, and emotionally open; her relationships reveal tenderness across lines of power.

CAROLINE – 9-12, White

  • CAROLINE (past): A white child and Peaches’ “best friend”; innocent in her affection, but raised inside the logic of ownership.

TOM – 9-12, Black

  • TOM (past): Peaches’ adventurous and confident brother. He’s funny with quick wit and quicker feet. 


ARCHIE – 9-12, White

  • ARCHIE (past): Tom’s “best friend”. Playful, big personality and confidence that clashes with Tom.