Director: Jeremy Rashad Brown
Stage Manager: Logan Holmes
Initial Auditions for The Georgetown Palace’s production of The Mountaintop will take place on Monday, December 1 with callbacks on Tuesday, December 2 on the Playhouse Stage.
The production is scheduled to open on Friday, February 6, 2026 and close on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Monday, December 29, 2025.
SYNOPSIS
“We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop… and I’ve seen the promised land… I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It’s April 3, 1968, the night before Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. Set at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, the play addresses the complex and common question of “what if?” A speculative, fictional drama, Katori Hall imaginatively explores what King experienced the night before he died.
While set in a single hotel room, the play takes audiences on a journey and delves deep into the mind of King. It examines both King’s dreams and nightmares, failures and achievements, strengths and weaknesses.
Bringing much more than a late night coffee and cigarette, a hotel maid visits King in his room. The beautiful woman, Camae, brings out an irreverent side of King, allowing audiences to view the leader of the civil rights movement as more than just a hero, but as a fallible human.
Discussing the slow-moving civil rights movement, King and Camae share their opinions with one another. Soon, Camae reveals she is not what she seems, as she warns King of his imminent death. Therefore, the leader must confront his mortality and confront various stages of grief, ultimately giving an incredible view of history.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We are looking for performers for all roles. We are looking for 2 actors aged 18 and up. In addition to the named roles, we are looking to cast 2 standby performers (formerly labeled understudies). To honor the authors’ vision and to clearly and appropriately tell this story, the roles will be cast accordingly. Company members should match the character definitions as written in the script.
The Georgetown Palace desires to be as inclusive as possible and we enthusiastically encourage gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and nonbinary actors to submit to audition for any roles listed. Our character descriptions on the following pages are gender binary and are written with he/him or she/her. While they are limited in their writing, we hope that anyone who identifies with any of the roles, will come out and audition.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
*Special note: Though the characters in the piece are cis-gender, non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming actors are encouraged to audition
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Black – male presenting – A brilliant and exhausted civil rights leader in his final hours. The play focuses on a more private and human side of him after he has delivered a powerful speech.
Camae: Black – female presenting – A mysterious, flirtatious, and surprisingly insightful maid at the Lorraine Motel. She is a crucial catalyst for King, as she offers a unique, clear-eyed perspective and has a secret that forces him to confront his fate.
AUDITIONS:
Initial auditions will take place on the Playhouse Stage on Monday, December 1 from 6:30-10:00 pm.
Please note that at any time, these auditions could be video recorded for casting purposes only.
Please prepare a monologue in the style of the character auditioning for. Preference for dramatic, contemporary monologues (30 – 60 seconds) that blend comedic timing and personal struggle vulnerability. Please, refrain from preparing any of Dr. King’s speeches.
Callbacks will consist of cold reads from the script. Sides will be posted with the callback list.
Audition sign ups can be found HERE
CALLBACKS:
Callbacks will take place on Tuesday, December 2 by invitation only from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm on the Playhouse Stage.
Callbacks will be posted on the Georgetown Palace website as soon as possible after initial auditions are completed, and an email will be sent to all audition participants at the time of posting. Specific sides will be provided for callbacks for all characters.
A link to the website that holds the sides will be provided in the email.
If none of the auditions times listed work for your schedule, please fill out the form and add yourself to the waitlist. Send productions@georgetownpalace.com an email, and we’ll see what next steps can be taken. If you are on the waitlist, please send an email explaining why – productions will no longer be reaching out to those on the waiting list.
When signing up for an audition slot, please note any conflicts during the rehearsal or performance dates. Please note: conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions. Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. Sunday rehearsals will only be planned for tech rehearsals immediately prior to opening, but please include Sunday afternoon conflicts for the rehearsal period so that in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts we will know whether a reschedule on Sunday is an option. Adding all of your conflicts after casting could result in your removal of the production.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals begin Monday, December 29, 2025. Scripts will be available at the first rehearsal, but those offered roles will receive a link to a digital copy. Rehearsals will typically be held Monday-Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Sunday afternoon will only be an option in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts.
PERFORMANCES:
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Sometimes ticket demand causes us to add Saturday Matinee performances at 2 pm.
CASTING:
Once casting is completed (typically 2-3 days after callbacks), emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email.
COMPENSATION:
All actors will receive 2 comp tickets for the production.
All actors who are offered a role in the show will be paid a non-union stipend.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
Everyone should stay home if they do not feel well. If you test positive for COVID 19, or suspect you have the flu, you should stay home and away from others until for 24 hours. Please monitor your symptoms for improvement and fever free (without meds). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
We still recommend wearing a mask in rehearsals the day after you return from travel.
GPT:
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin, or other factors. We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.
Please see our operating Standards at the following link:
Georgetown Palace Operating Standards
Everyone involved with the production must submit to a background check at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
If you have any questions, please email productions@georgetownpalace.com.