Seven Actresses Sought for 'eLLe'

Seven actresses aged 20s-60s of various backgrounds are needed for Face Off Theatre Company and Queer Theatre Kalamazoo's upcoming production of Shawntai Brown's eLLe (scroll down for synopsis). Auditions planned 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 at the Black Arts & Cultural Center located in the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, in downtown Kalamazoo.

Here's the character breakdown:

• Naya Henderson - A queer black marketing graduate in her 20s. She has been a student most of her life, and is prone to dreaming but has not finalized a career plan. She has a high turnover rate in her dating life and believes in relationship anarchy. She has a sexual history with Lane. Devon is her closest friend.
• Lane - A lesbian Mexican and European-American in her 30s to 40s who works as an assistant coordinator of diversity programming for an elementary-middle school. She is direct, romantic, and sensual. She is friends with Mia, has a long dating history within the queer community, including with Naya, and, currently, with Izabel.
• Izabel Martin - A lesbian in her 30s. She is somewhat new to the queer community. She is in a relationship with Lane, and technically lives with Mia, who also formerly owns the shop where Izabel worked as a barista. She is divorced, going to school, but unsure of what to do with her major yet.
• Devon Black - A queer lyrical Black artist in her 30s-40s who teaches art and performs spoken word. She is expressive with friends, wistful about her previous relationship with Jess Lynn, and adamant in her professional life.
• Carrie Griffin - A lesbian in her 50s-60s who has worked as a school guidance counselor for several decades. She is recently divorced, sister to Lane, and owns the home she shared with her wife of 30 years. She is usually poised and calm, but is falling into a depression that's causing her to be fitful.
• Mia Longfellow - A queer coffee shop owner in her late 20s to early 30s. She is usually talkative, expressive, swift, and sullen when stressed. She is pessimistic but cordial with nearly everyone in the community. Her friendship with Izabel is bitterly honest, smothering at times and dependable.
•  Danniqua Thomas - A black woman in her mid to late 30s who works as a hiring manager and supervisor for a small grocery chain in Kalamazoo.

Synopsis:
​The lives of queer Kalamazoo women intertwine when Izabel and Naya, sworn enemies competing for Lane's attention, begin working at the same grocery store. Their competition turns outward when their friends start carting their issues of loneliness through the aisles. Devon and Mia are searching for intimate connections while Carrie and lane are determined to remain solitary.