The Art of Acting (Animated Sitcom)
Project Overview
The Art of Acting is a sitcom following the many shenanigans of the fictional Lincoln High Drama Club! Follow the main characters Ava Garcia, Penelope Allster, Spencer Strider, and Liam Campbell as they attempt to survive the highs and lows of high school drama, and high school Drama! Wordplay!
This is a casting call only for Season 1, as each season will have a slightly different cast of characters, considering people move or graduate every year in high school.
Requirements:
- Have a Discord!
- Have a pretty good mic.
- Just be cool, man.
Join the Discord server! Please! I need validation! (And if you get cast, it will be required to join.) https://discord.gg/dmcsRJD7dq
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AVA GARCIA, 14 years old, Freshman.
Ava is an eccentric. This is obvious from the red cape she wears proudly at all times. She's very oblivious to pop culture references or anything worldly, since she's been incredibly sheltered her whole life. She's autistic, and can sometimes be really blunt or rude without trying to be. At her best, she is eccentric, jovial, caring, and optimistic. At her worst, she's socially oblivious, blunt, and immature.
Her character arc in Season 1 is all about learning how the world works. Her father is abusive and neglectful, and her mother is dead, so she doesn't understand other people (or anything, for that matter) very well. Interacting with the students in the Drama Club and slowly understanding the world and other people is what she learns this season. Halfway through the season, she even learns what a lesbian is, and that she IS one! Her and Penelope end up getting together.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
PENELOPE: [The science fair] is a way for you to practice the scientific method. You create a hypothesis, run an experiment, share the results. Pretty simple stuff.
AVA: That sounds really boring. Science is lame. (She realizes that was mean) But it's great that you like it!
PENELOPE: [My sister] is perfect. I thought maybe solving this stupid case would help me towards being perfect, too.
AVA: Well...for what it's worth, Penelope, I think you're way smarter and more driven than anyone I know. You're fun to talk to, we make a good team, and you're super talented. I think that's enough. Maybe striving for perfection isn't what we're meant for. If everyone were perfect, no one would be unique.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
SPENCER STRIDER, 15, Sophomore.
Spencer is not the brightest bulb in the shed. While he doesn't do well in school, something he is knowledgeable about is pop culture. He and his family are massive nerds, and he is an encyclopedia when it comes to that. He references them whenever he sees a real life equivalent (which confuses Ava constantly). He is also very caring, and is the one who is always standing up for people when they need it. At his best, he is courageous, caring and loyal to a fault. At his worst, he is reckless, clueless, and unintelligent.
His arc in Season 1 is not as significant as the other 3 main characters, but he does start to ground himself a little bit as time goes on, and appreciates his friends a lot more than he already does when the Seniors graduate.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
SPENCER: I've always dreamed of being a world record holder since I was a kid, but my mom kept making me clip my fingernails.
LIAM: Tragic.
SPENCER: This might be the next best thing.
(Spencer is playing with his food. He's holding a french fry in either hand and doing voices for them.)
SPENCER: (As male french fry) We can't...our love...it's forbidden... (As female french fry) Please, Bartholomew...I love you! (As male french fry) Oh, I just can't hide it anymore! Come here, you!
(He mashes the fries together and makes kissy noises.)
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
PENELOPE ALLSTER, 15, Sophomore.
Penelope is a scholar. The valedictorian of the Sophomore class, learning is her favorite activity, which can make her come off as anal-retentive. She is exceptionally personable and charming, despite the fact that she has zero patience for stupid people, and she can become standoffish or sarcastic when someone says something dumb, but in her mind, it's always meant to be helpful. She loves her friends and would do anything for them, but unlike Spencer, she wouldn't do something like that for a stranger. At her best, she is charming, scholarly, and driven. At her worst, she is competitive, anal-retentive, and set-in-her-ways.
Penelope's arc in Season 1 is about overcoming religious trauma. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (more simply put, she's a Mormon), and she realizes she has a crush on Ava. Not wanting to have a crush on a girl, she tries to keep it down the entire season, until gradually, she leaves the church and gives into her feelings. Her and Ava get together at the end of Season 1.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
LIAM: I'm about to make everything right in the world, kiddo. I wanted you to be here to witness it.
PENELOPE: Liam, I don't think I could care less about this situation if I tried. But I will try, just to prove how much I don't care. (A pause. Then:) Nope. Can't do it.
(Penelope is incredibly smug here. Liam's plan failed, and she was right about it.)
PENELOPE: You know what? I changed my mind. I'm glad you called me here.
LIAM: Shut up.
PENELOPE: How does it feel to do good for once, Mr. Hero?
LIAM: I don't know. How does it feel to eat shit, shit eater?
PENELOPE: Feels great.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
LIAM CAMPBELL, 17, Junior.
Simply put, Liam is an asshole. He's a debater at heart, and will sometimes say things to provoke an argument with someone just to prove how smart he is, and to his credit, he is incredibly intelligent. However, because of his intellect, he truly believes he is better than other people, which can put people off to him. He is the least emotional or spiritual person you'll ever meet, and thinks lesser of people who are. At his best, he is intelligent, well-spoken, and rational. At his worst, he is argumentative, tactless, and rude.
Liam's arc in Season 1 is about accepting and warming up to people, even if he thinks they're lesser than him. He grows out of that, and learns to appreciate others for more than just their minds. He doesn't warm up to Ava and Spencer at all until the end of the season, and is a crucial element in Penelope working through her arc.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
LIAM: I see a lot of myself in you, you know. We're both smart, we're both driven. I'm a ten and you're an eight, but you could get there. You know, maybe the fact that I'm being rewarded for bad behavior is enough to scratch an itch up there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to start a food fight in the cafeteria.
LIAM: Hey, kiddo. Did you think about what I said the other day?
PENELOPE: No, Liam, I did not think about you suggesting I'm something that goes against my core values.
LIAM: You're a Mormon, what core values could you possibly have? The value of getting your own planet? My values, on the other hand, are about acceptance, rationality, love, and...(He spots a pedestrian.) Ooh, gimme a second, I'm gonna see if I can hit this guy.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
ERNIE FORREST, 17, Junior.
Ernie is an asshole. The de facto leader of the Drama Club's greatest rivals, the band kids, Ernie is always trying to find ways to bring them down, while also trying to get a date from Ava, who wants nothing to do with him. He is a misogynist, a general asshole, and acts like a fascist dictator to the band kids. He's an acne-ridden, entitled, selfish little weasel.
He is not as charming or handsome as he thinks he is, and an important thing to note is that he poses no actual threat to the Drama Club, and none of them ever willingly participates in his antics.
TL;DR This guy fucking sucks.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
ERNIE: Greetings, thespians. I couldn't help but overhear your incessant whining.
SCOTT: What do you want, Ernie?
ERNIE: Relax, I come in peace. Enrollment has been low for band, too, so we have a common goal.
ERNIE: One of the many things I love most about you is how you can control your libido around me. I know it's tough.
AVA: What are you even doing here?
ERNIE: I am simply here to add one more skill to my list of many.
ERNIE: What's in the package?
SPENCER: None of your business. I bought it online.
ERNIE: Ah! A fellow connoisseur of online shopping, I see. Do you know about the websites where you can buy human organs?
SPENCER: What?
ERNIE: You never know when you need a spare. I keep 3 kidneys in my freezer at all times.
THEODORE PIAN, 45 years old, Drama Club director.
Mr. Theodore Pian is the drama club director. While he deeply cares about the art of theatre, he is very laissez-faire when it comes to most things. He barely teaches, he's extremely wishy-washy, and steps away from problems at the first sign of trouble. He's learned in his long life to take things as they come, and if they're too hard, move on to something else. At his core, though, he really does love theatre, and cares about the kids.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER.
PIAN: It sucks, guys, but people just aren't interested in Theatre anymore. They'd rather be doing...whatever it is kids do. (To Veronica) What's the name of that app you guys are using now?
VERONICA: TikTok?
PIAN: Yeah. Kids wanna do TikTok instead of Theatre.
PIAN: Exactly. So, we need to get at least one person to join the program if we have any hope of performing this year. Does anyone have a plan? (Lily raises her hand.) Does anyone have a plan that doesn't involve slam poetry? (Lily lowers her hand.)
PIAN: Okay, guys, I did some digging in my closet and found some DVDs. We can take a vote to watch either...Kung Fu Panda, or...Kung Fu Panda 3.
SCOTT HOWELL, 18 years old, Senior
Scott is the most down-to-Earth member of the department, and the president of it, but that's really just a title more than anything. He's genuinely just a nice, normal guy, who really wants to see everyone else succeed.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
SCOTT: (Confused) Conrad, this isn't really what I meant by "snacks".
CONRAD: What do you mean?
SCOTT: Well, I said "bring snacks to our meeting," and you brought four mason jars full of olives.
CONRAD: And?
SCOTT: Hey, what if we doubled up, and made this Halloween party a birthday party for Ava?
LILY: But we're almost done planning-
SCOTT: (Erasing the board) We might have to change a few things on here.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
CONRAD MURRAY, 17 years old, Senior.
Conrad is just really dumb. That's his whole character.
Look, the Seniors don't talk a lot. They can't all be winners.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
VERONICA: Penelope! That was really uncharacteristic of you, are you okay?
CONRAD: Yeah, I'd expect something like that from Liam, but not you! (To Liam) No offense.
LIAM: None taken.
PIAN: I have good news, everyone!
CONRAD: We're finally getting that pet monkey I've been asking for?!
PIAN: What? No. It's not that. It's never that.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
LILY MCFADDEN, 17 years old, Senior
Lily is incredibly pretentious, always wearing a beret and turtleneck at all times. She's always talking about slam poetry and doing weird shit to prove her intelligence.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
PIAN: I just don't know what to do.
LILY: My slam poetry idea is still on the table.
SPENCER: So is my bounce house.
CONRAD: No one even likes that guy!
LILY: Or girl.
CONRAD: It's not a girl, Lily.
LILY: It could be a girl! I'm just saying we shouldn't be sexist about it. Check your privilege, Conrad.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
VERONICA SHEPARD, 18 years old, Senior.
Veronica is someone who is very stern and by-the-books. She wants things done, no bullshit, no lollygagging.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
(Scott has just called her extremely late at night about some bullshit. She was asleep seconds before this phone call.)
SCOTT: So, I'm trying to change the Halloween party to fit Ava's birthday as well, and I wanted your thoughts on-
VERONICA: Pause. Scott, you need to explain to me why this conversation couldn't have been a text or I'm hanging up.
VERONICA: Stop trying to be everyone's dad!
SCOTT: I'm not a dad!
VERONICA: Hey, Scott, if you have a flight to catch at noon, what time are you gonna get to the airport?
SCOTT: Five A.M. Don't wanna get caught in the lunch rush.
PICK ONE (OR BOTH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO):
Improvise something you think this character would say!
OR
Sing something! (These are Theatre kids after all, and will be performing a musical. Let's hear what you've got!)
HORACE HAYES, ??? years old, school principal
The principal of Lincoln High, Hayes is a brilliant and eccentric inventor. He has a bigger role in Season 2, but for now, he kind of fades into the background.
FOR YOUR AUDITION: ONLY READ THE LINES THAT ARE SAID BY THE CORRESPONDING CHARACTER
(Making an announcement on the PA system)
HAYES: Good morning, Lincoln High students! I am, of course, Principal Horace Hayes, welcoming all of you to another great year! I just know all of you are going to be fantastic students, and I can’t wait to see all of you shine. Oh, and let’s make our janitor’s jobs a little easier and poop INSIDE the toilets this year? If you are the menace known as the “Lincoln High Poop Bandit”, you will be found out, and there will be dire consequences for your actions.
PIAN: You guys know how we're only doing one show this year?
SCOTT: I assumed that was a budgeting issue.
HAYES: You're not far off, Mr. Howell. You see, you only had room in the budget to do one show because Theodore and I were too busy turning his old classroom he never uses into a Drama Club Rec Room!
Improvise something you think this character would say!
Other students, teachers, or random characters will need to be acted for, so if you wanna be a part of the show, but don't want the time commitment of being a named character, just join our Discord (linked in Project Details) and let me know you're interested!
Join
the
Discord!
I've been writing this myself for about 5 years now, but it's going slowly, and I could always use some help. Show me your work! I'd prefer comedic writers, but drama has it's merit in this show, too.
Say something you think would fit
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