Close Ties
By Elizabeth Diggs
Directed by Vanessa Markowitz
Sunday, October 19, starting at 6:00 PM
Monday, October 20, starting at 7:00 PM
There are potential callbacks on Thursday, October 23
East Rockville Historic Pump House
401 S Horners Ln, Rockville, MD 20850
We’re thrilled you’re considering auditioning for Close Ties by Elizabeth Diggs, a deeply dark comedy about family, aging, relationships, and gardening. The production team is committed to inclusive casting and welcomes all auditioners.
Auditions will consist of cold readings of sides from the script with some potential adjustments given by the director.
Please sign up for a single audition slot.
Performances:
January 30 – February 8, 2026
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater
603 Edmonston Dr,
Rockville, MD 20851
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm.
Six (6) shows total during a two-week run.
What to Prepare
Please email your Audition Form and Conflict Calendar, as well as a headshot and resume (if available) to: closeties@rlt-online.org
Characters
Josephine Whitaker: Female, 70s-80s, a formidable matriarch whose stubborn charm masks her creeping dementia. Her fading mental clarity forces her middle-aged children to confront the painful question of her care.
Bess Whitaker Frye: Female, 50s, Josephine’s daughter and mother of 4. Bess inherited the family house and the burden of managing her mother’s decline. Torn between obligation and self-preservation, she works to keep her fracturing family together.
Watson (Watt) Frye: Male, 50s, A pragmatic senior law partner and Bess’s husband, torn between sympathy for his mother-in-law and the stress she brings into his home life. He is supportive yet increasingly frustrated by Josephine’s presence.
Anna: Female, Late 20s-early 30s, The eldest Frye daughter, who steps into adulthood feeling trapped in domestic ennui. She starts to question her own life choices against the backdrop of family chaos.
Evelyn: Female, Mid-late 20s, The middle Frye daughter, a graduate student in her late 20s, divorced, emotionally guarded and fiercely independent. She initially resists vulnerability and responsibility but gradually softens.
Connie: Female, Early-mid 20s, The youngest Frye daughter, warm-hearted nursing student often dismissed by her siblings. Despite her quiet demeanor, she courageously confronts family tensions and speaks truths the others can’t.
Thayer: Male, Late Teens, The Frye family teenage son—light-hearted, energetic, and mostly observing the adult drama with bemusement. He subtly highlights generational differences and injects moments of levity.
Ira Bienstock: Male, Late 20s – Early 30s, A physics grad-student and Evelyn’s situationship. He offers a fresh, compassionate lens. His presence stirs emotional reactions and acts as a catalyst for connection.
Questions?
Please email: closeties@rlt-online.org