Casting Kool-Aid Drinking Age or (Stop Exciting Your Children), An off-off-broadway black comedy In-Yer-Face Theatre inspired play following the children of cultists who are suddenly left to their own devices after their parents drink the Kool-Aid and ascend. The casual cruelty of adolescence and the primal need to be correct take over as the kids argue over the fate of their parents, resulting in grave consequences.
Note: Content includes strong language and simulated death.
Kool-Aid Drinking Age or (Stop Exciting Your Children) is being presented as part of The Chain Theatre's One Act Festival.
Please send your headshot, resume, and any reels to productionstorrance@gmail.com
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Sawyer: 15, Seeking Actors of All Genders
Sawyer is a self-proclaimed staunch realist who is stubborn to a fault. They have a guttural urge to prove themself as the smartest kid in the room despite their lack of life experience at 15 years of age. They are definitely the type of kid who told others on the playground that Santa isn't real, in pursuit of spreading the truth underscored with a malicious glee of debunking their peers' false belief. As friendly as they are with the other kids, they ultimately see no fault in sacrificing another to prove their point as the situation escalates.
Riley, 15 Seeking Actors of All Genders
Riley is a bright-eyed believer who does not find blind belief in the cult's proposed afterlife to be dubious, in fact, they strongly contend it. Riley was the type of kid to believe that the tooth fairy was real for way too long because of the dollar they'd find under their pillow and their parent's reassurance. Being told something is the end all be all by a trusted authoritative figure is as good as gold to them as they don't see that they are in a position to question it. The other kids tolerate Riley while Riley views themself as the unofficial leader of the bunch, leading them to butt heads with Sawyer.
Dorian, 15 Seeking Actors of All Genders
Dorian is Sawyer's closest friend out of the bunch and is in quiet agreement with the latter's statements but wouldn't audibly voice them. They have the strong ability to keep their wits about them but lack the skill to do so for the rest of the group. They would like to believe that they are able to function as a voice of reason, but at the unfelicitous age of 15 they are unable to fill this role adequately and fail to commit to it. Dorian quietly believes that they exist on a moral high ground to Sawyer and Riley for not plainly stating an opinion for or against anyone's belief but fails to stop the situation from escalating.
Wyatt, 15 Seeking Actors of All Genders
Wyatt is the quietest kid of the bunch, most likely due to being a recent addition to the church. They haven't had as much time to get to know the other kids and as a result, don't feel confident chiming into the conversations. They're the type of person who needs to muster up all their strength to speak in class without being called on despite having a lot to say. Wyatt is very troubled when it comes to the question of the afterlife, agreeing to join the church in order to belong to some faith but yet when the day comes to ascend they still haven't figured out what they believe in. When given the opportunity to answer the group's questions Wyatt jumps on it, both to quench their own curiosity and to prove themself.
The High Dianeticist, 18-30s
The High Dianeticist is the leader of the Church of Lagomorph Dianetics (in other words, the cult leader). Charming in an innately sleazy way, they lead the cult in their final moments before succumbing to their own Kool-Aid, revealing how small they really are compared to their large persona.
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