Auditions

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The production team for The Shark is Broken is committed to celebrating individuals’ talents and consciously creating equal and inclusive opportunities for performers. As such, performers of any and all races, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, body types, religious affiliations, and performers with mental or physical disabilities are strongly encouraged to audition. If you are in need of special accommodations to support your audition and/or involvement in the production, please email the stage manager Shawn Lockaton at renthedd525@aol.com before your audition so we can arrange for those accommodations to be met.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Fade in: the open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed… again. The lead actors – theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider – are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic… if it doesn’t sink them all. Step aboard the Orca and into a profound dive behind the scenes of the making of Jaws.

AUDITION DATES / TIMES:

Monday, April 6, 2026 6:00 – 9:00pm
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 6:00 – 9:00pm

Potential Callbacks Scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026 6:00 – 9:00pm

All Auditions and Callbacks will take place in the Moyer Room of The Youngstown Playhouse (600 Playhouse Lane Youngstown, OH 44511). To navigate to the Moyer Room, enter the Youngstown Playhouse from the Main Entrance and continue passed the stairs to the right and continue to the back of the building. The Moyer Room is right next to the Concession Stand.

REHEARSALS

First Rehearsal – Sunday, April 19th – Time TBD
First Tech Rehearsal – Sunday, June 14, 2026 Time: TBD

PERFORMANCES

All performances of The Shark is Broken will take place at The Playhouse Downtown on the third floor of the historic Morley building above the Ballet Western Reserve studios. (220 W. Boardman Street Youngstown, OH 44503):

Performances:
Friday, June 19, 2026 – 7:30pm
Saturday, June 20, 2026 – 7:30pm
Sunday, June 21, 2026 – 2:30pm
Friday, June 26, 2026 – 7:30pm
Saturday, June 27, 2026 – 7:30pm
Sunday, June 28, 2026 – 2:30pm

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Actors should be prepared to read scenes from the show with other actors.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

ROBERT SHAW – English actor and writer. Brilliant, mercurial, and self-destructive. Sharp wit, with a rough edge. Known for his gravitas and volatile presence. In the film Jaws, he portrayed Quint, a shark hunter and captain of the Orca.
RICHARD DREYFUSS – A young American actor. Young, neurotic, ambitious, and insecure. Brimming with nervous energy and quick retorts. In the film Jaws, he portrayed Matt Hooper, a marine biologist hired by Martin Brody.
ROY SCHEIDER – An American actor. Grounded, pragmatic, and even-tempered. The peacemaker between Shaw and Dreyfuss. Dry humor with understated charm. In the film Jaws, he portrayed police chief Martin Brody.

AUDITION SIGN UPS:

Please Click Here to sign up for an audition appointment.