SEEKING | CHARACTERS (7)

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YAZMIN ORTIZ - (23-33) Latinx, specifically Puerto Rican in her late 20s/early 30s. In her first year as an adjunct professor of music, Odessa’s niece and Elliot’s cousin. She is smart, focused, funny; caring, but expects a lot from the people around her. While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role.

ODESSA ORTIZ  - (30-40) She is 39, a.k.a. Haikumom. She is the founder of www.recovertogether.com, works odd janitorial jobs and lives one notch above squalor, Puerto Rican. She is a vibrant and street-smart recovering addict, with greater insight into other people's lives than her own. She is Elliot’s mother. While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role.

 

ELLIOT ORTIZ - (20-30) He is 24. He is an Iraq vet with a slight limp who works at Subway Hoagies, an aspiring actor and model, Yazmin’s cousin, Odessa’s birth son, Puerto Rican. Haunted by what he did and saw in the war, he is struggling to reconcile his past with his present.

 

FOUNTAINHEAD - (40-49) White. 40s, a.k.a. John, a computer programmer and entrepreneur, white. A struggling addict, the newest member of the chat room. Successful and seemingly confident, he's hiding his addiction from his family and struggling to find his identity within the online community. While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role.

CHUTES&LADDERS (50 - 59) 50s, African-American, his real name is Clayton “Buddy” Wilkie, lives in San Diego. A long-time member of Odessa’s chat room and recovering addict, he keeps his life simple, so as not to fall back into destructive patterns. Frequently busts other people’s chops but means well. A strong sense of comedic timing is a plus. While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role. 

 

ORANGUTAN - (25-35) Asian-American, specifically Japanese. Late 20s early 30s., a recent community college graduate, adopted at birth, her real name is Madeleine Mays. She recently moved from Maine to her birth country, Japan, to teach English and search for her birth parents. She is independent, strong, and pragmatic. 
While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role

A GHOST - (20-30)  Middle Eastern or North African Heritage. He also plays PROFESSOR AMAN, an Arabic professor at Swarthmore; also plays A POLICEMAN in Japan. While the characters in this play are written on the gender binary and will be played as such, actors of all identities will be considered for any role.