Work With Us

Ways and Means Theatre is a new company, which means every person who walks through our door right now is helping to build something from the ground up. We're looking for actors, directors, stage managers, designers, collaborators, and volunteers who share our commitment to courageous, language-rich theatre — and who want to be part of a founding story.

ACTORS

littlespace, or the daddy play by Marjorie Muller — A Read Through Series Audition

Ways & Means Theatre is casting a free public reading of littlespace, or the daddy play by Marjorie Muller, part of our Read Through series.
Directed by Leanna Gianoutsos Oliveira.

Reading: June 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM — The Fine Arts Building
Rehearsals: Week of June 7, 2026
Stipend: $75 per actor

Synopsis

On a scale of 1 to 10, Bea's pain is a 10 — but she'll tell you it's an 8. After putting plans of a family on hold indefinitely, Bea pushes her doctor to test for endometriosis. But normalcy fractures when her husband reveals he's been contacted by a daughter he didn't know he had. littlespace, or the daddy play exposes a system that discredits women's bodily knowledge — both in their pain and in owning their desires.

Content Warnings

Chronic illness, kink, pain bias / health inequity, infertility, discussion of miscarriage, and description of sexual encounters. By submitting audition materials, you are consenting to discussions of these topics in the rehearsal room.

Characters

BEA — femme, 30s A smart but somewhat lost woman, trying to find a semblance of reality through her chronic pain, which she believes is endometriosis. Struggling to find comfort with herself as she feels not quite right for everyone around her.

CARRIE ANN — femme, late 30s / early 40s Bea's sister-in-law and best friend. Assistant manager at Walgreens. Brash, single mother, trying to keep her shit together. Not afraid of hurting anyone's feelings for the truth.

JEANNE — femme, late teens Carrie Ann's daughter. Thinks she's ~edgy. The smartest one in the room.

WILL — masc, 30s Bea's husband, a professor of medieval history. Often says the wrong thing. Has been preparing the best dad jokes his whole life.

HUNTER — femme, 20s Will's daughter from a previous relationship. A student of gemology. Quietly powerful.

DR. RILEY — masc Bea's stoic OB/GYN. Has a "strong stomach, but a soft mind."

To Audition

  1. Record a self-tape of one of the sides for the character you're most interested in. Sides are available here.

  2. Submit your recording and details through our audition form.

Ways & Means Theatre is committed to casting that reflects the diversity of Chicago. Submissions are warmly welcomed from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Deaf and disabled, and historically excluded artists. Trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming performers are encouraged to submit for any role.

We cast on a show-by-show basis for both our Read Through Series (staged readings) and our mainstage productions. We are committed to inclusive casting that reflects the breadth of Chicago's communities.

To be considered for a mainstage production, please submit your headshot, resume, and a self-tape up to 60 seconds of a piece you feel passionately about to artistic@waysandmeanstheatre.org. We'll keep your materials on file and reach out when opportunities arise. Specific casting notices for upcoming readings and productions will be posted here and on Chicago Artists Resource sites.

All artists are compensated. Compensation is communicated with each casting notice.

DIRECTORS · DESIGNERS · STAGE MANAGERS

Every reading and production requires collaborators behind the table and behind the scenes. We're interested in hearing from directors, stage managers, dramaturgs, and designers (scenic, lighting, costume, sound) who are drawn to text-driven, language-first work.

Please send your resume and a brief note about your interest to artistic@waysandmeanstheatre.org.

PLAY SUBMISSIONS

Ways and Means Theatre is dedicated to producing both established dramatic literature and new work that aligns with our mission. We are particularly drawn to plays that are language-rich, intellectually ambitious, and unafraid of complexity.

We accept play submissions year-round from playwrights around the country. Please send a brief bio, a short statement about how your play connects to our mission, a synopsis, and ten pages of sample dialogue to artistic@waysandmeanstheatre.org.

Please familiarize yourself with our programming before submitting. We will respond to all submissions that meet the criteria above, though response times may vary.