Fuse Theatre is proud to announce 3 Sparks in the Dark, A Celebration of Women+ in Theatre, in April 15-26, 2020 at Arts Unity Movement, 149 South Blvd, San Mateo.  

 We are committed to diversity and representation onstage, and encourage all actors regardless of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, legal status, neurological or physical ability, or educational level to audition. 

 We are casting non-equity actors to audition for a stage reading. Many roles are bilingual.

 Just Like Us by Karen Zacarias
Directed by Raquel Hernandez

Based on Helen Thorpe’s bestselling book, this documentary-style play follows four Latina teenage girls in Denver—two of whom are documented and two who are not—through young adulthood. Their close-knit friendships begin to unravel when immigration status dictates the girls’ opportunities, or lack thereof. When a political firestorm arises, each girl’s future becomes increasingly complicated. Just Like Us poses difficult, yet essential questions about what makes us American.  Staged Reading. 

Auditions: Saturdays, March 7th, 4:00-6:00 pm (Redwood City)

Rehearsals: Saturdays, March 7 – 28, 4:00-6:00 pm (Redwood City)

Tech Rehearsals: April 10^th and 11^th, 2020 (San Mateo)

Opening Night: April 25^th, 2020 (San Mateo)

Rehearsal location is in Redwood City, tech and performance is in San Mateo.   Rehearsal hours will be no more than 12 hours.

We will be presenting this reading with the goal of a production for our 2020-2021 Season. 

Character Breakdowns:

JUST LIKE US

HELEN THORPE: 40s. The REPORTER: Irish American-Quaker, very smart, confident, unfussy, woman with a penchant for interesting eye glasses. Highly educated, career woman married to the Mayor of Denver. Mother of one small child. Much more comfortable as a thoughtful observer than as the center of attention. Prefers being a reporter than First Lady of Denver. Has strong conviction of principles, is self-aware about her role, and is consistently fair-minded. 

MARISELA: 18-22. Fully bilingual and bicultural Mexican. Colorful! Does not have legal status to be in the country. Emotional, sassy, intelligent, energetic, ambitious, yet sometimes insecure, a bundle of contradictions, attracted to bad boys yet great student. She craves excitement, wears a lot of make-up, tight jeans, and loves loud music (Ranchera especially) and is an excellent student. Also Plays (RAUL GOMEZ GARCIA) 

YADIRA: 18-22. Fully bilingual- bicultural Mexican. Does not have legal papers to be in the country. Still waters run deep. Beautiful, lean, reserved, smart young woman who craves stability and security. Marisela’s best friend, yet polar opposite in manner and look. Wears skinny jeans and bare rift shirts and yet, isn’t a party girl at all. 

CLARA: 18-22. Bilingual- bi-cultural Mexican. In the US legally. Innocent, religious, earnest girl. Good student. Hard worker. Discreet clothes, no make-up, wears a cross every day. The peacemaker and dreamer. 

ELISSA: 18-22. Bilingual and bi-cultural. In the US legally. The go-getter, team captain of the group. Good student. Hard worker. Also plays ZULEMA, Yadira’s younger sister. 

FABIÁN: 30- 40s. Marisela’s hard working, sometimes grouchy father. Spanish and non-English speaking father. A janitor at a supermarket who loves his family and worries about Marisela’s wild ways. In the US without legal status. Also plays TOM TANCREDO, a 2^nd generation Italian-American Congressman born in a working-class neighborhood in Denver who now represents a very affluent neighborhood in Colorado. The leading voice in Congress against illegal immigration. Charismatic, smart, loud, affable, and very single-minded in his fervor against illegal immigration., Also plays: RECRUITER (Tom Johnson), CEZAR MESQUITA, CARLOS (ALMA’s husband), FEDERICO PEÑA, COP, ensemble 

JOSEFA: Late 30s, early 40s. Marisela’s Mexican mother. Spanish-, non –English- speaking. A devoted mother and hardworking cleaning lady who looks after her four kids in the US. PLAYS MRS SMITH, CAROL VIZZI –maybe LISA MARTINEZ 

YOLANDA: early 30’s Brassy Bilingual hairdresser. ALSO PLAYS ANA, CYNTHIA POUNDSTONE, LUCY, BUSINESS WOMAN, maybe Lisa Martinez 

JULIO: 20s Latino. Plays RAMIRO, MIKE MCGARRY, ensemble. 

Auditions: Saturday, March 7th, 2020 (Redwood City) 4-6 pm