EMIR Productions LLC-NYC Campus are holding appointment only auditions for their Fall show of
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
By Stephen Adly Guirgis
Artistic Director/Producer: Jada Bennett
Director: Jenn Susi
Stage Manager: Phil Rossi
Auditions are:
August 22nd 1pm-5pm
August 23rd 5pm-9pm
Invited Callbacks on August 25th 7pm-9pm
Each appointment will be 10 minutes and sides will be provided once your audition appointment is confirmed.
Tentative dates of Performances: October 15th-17th and October 22nd-24th
Rehearsals start after Labor Day!
Synopsis: Jesus Hopped the A Train tells the story of several inmates of Rikers Prison who are awaiting charges for murder. Angel Cruz is a young Puerto Rican man incarcerated for shooting a cult leader after said person “stole” his best friend. When the cult leader dies during surgery, Angel suddenly finds himself facing murder charges. Added to the mix are Lucius Jenkins, a serial killer turned born-again Christian, and Valdez, a sadistic corrections officer. Jesus Hopped first opened off-Broadway in November of 2000. It was directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and ran until the end of December that same year. Two years later a similar production was mounted at London’s Donmar Warehouse. It was nominated for an Olivier Award in the UK in the category of Best New Play in 2003.
Character Breakdown:
Angel Cruz: Puerto Rican, raised in West Harlem; stubborn, hot-headed, emotional, straining under the weight of responsibility. At the opening of the play, he is in his second night of incarceration, awaiting trial for shooting the leader of that cult in the “ass.” He is on his knees, alone and terrified, trying to say a prayer he no longer remembers to a God he has all but forgotten.
Latino/Hispanic
Charlie D'Amico: A good-hearted, co-opted guard trying to get along with everybody. He is very sympathetic towards Lucius but he gets insulted and harassed by Valdez constantly. He has a soft spot for Lucius – and loses his job as a result, but he reappears towards the end of the play to describe Lucius’ fat.
Any Ethnicity
Lucius Jenkins: Lucius, a.k.a. “the Black Plague,” works out furiously in the cage next to Angel. A serial killer awaiting extradition to Florida where he’d face the death penalty, Lucius pauses from his workouts only to chain smoke and to “save” Angel. Lucius smugly spouts about God, forgiveness and taking responsibility for one’s crimes. Notorious for committing eight gruesome murders; charismatic with a near-manic upbeat energy; found God in prison and relentlessly speaks in the language of Christianity and positivity.
Black/African Descent
Mary Jane Hanrahan: Mary Jane is Angel’s lawyer who walks out on him during their first meeting. A crisis of conscience and an unresolved connection to her childhood brings her back, and Angel’s heartfelt, persuasive arguments against the cult leader persuade her to champion his cause. A lawyer good enough to get defendants off who she knows are guilty — only to be re-assigned to defend the same guys weeks later on new offenses. She becomes determined to find some way to ‘save’ Angel, even if that means risking her career by suborning perjury, since the only way for him to be acquitted is to lie. Half Irish, half Italian; grew up middle class in Queens; smart, passionate, tough, but with a soft spot for the righteous.
White / European Descent
Valdez: Valdez is a self-contained, brutally direct prison guard who believes in a world of black and white only. No gray areas permitted. He oversees Angel and Lucius and he makes sure both are “punished” for the pain they caused to others. He sees himself as God within Rikers.
Latino/Hispanic
Because of the nature of the show, we will be reviewing submissions before setting up appointments. So if you would like to submit for review, email us at
jhtat2021@gmail.com with a headshot and resume.
If you are unable to make it to an in person audition, please email us your headshot and resume and a small note so we can send you more information on what to prepare.
These roles are paid a stipend of $700 per actor after the last performance.
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