Directed by Rick Flynn Produced by Deirdre Root Thomas Hanratty, lifelong resident of Hell's Kitchen and once the most dangerous white cab driver in New York, was blinded eight years ago in a drunken accident and is fading into a routine of self pity and alcohol. His bartender and only friend is moving to Vermont with his girlfriend, but finds it difficult to abandon Tom. He recruits a slightly handicapped volunteer reader who battles her way through Tom's shell.

The Cast of Light Sensitive
CHARACTER		ACTOR
Tom Hanratty		Frank Maranje
Lou D'Marco		Jim Hagan
Edna Miles		Kerry Simpson

Directed by Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard Produced by Rhea Smith Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son. She finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life, and dealing with all of life's realities. Mary Jane is Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog's remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. It ran on Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club during the 2023/2024 season.

Click here for Mary Jane audition information

the rest of THE DAYTON THEATRE GUILD 2025/2026 SEASON: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE Book/Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham Music by Joshua Salzman Production dates: Mar 27‐Apr 12, 2026 Audition dates*: Feb 2 & 3, 2026 Directed by Kim Warrick Produced by Rhea Smith & Heather Atkinson This musical from the mid-2000's is a twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. A young, uptight greeting card writer's life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other, not despite their faults, but because of them. THE BEACON by Nancy Harris Production dates: May 22‐Jun 7, 2026 Audition dates*: Mar 30 & 31, 2026 Directed by Debra Kent Produced by K.L.Storer Beiv, a renowned artist, has left her suburban Dublin home for a secluded cottage on a rugged island off the coast of West Cork, Ireland. Here, there is no escaping the rumors of her shadowy past, and Beiv lets everyone see right in because she's having an extension made to the home, and many of the walls are missing. She and her visiting son have a chilly relationship at best ‐‐ and there is also the question of whether Beiv really did kill her husband. This play ran Off-Broadway with a limited run, and closed in November, 2024. = = = = = = = = *audition dates may be subject to change = = = = = = = = First Weekend: Friday 8pm, Saturday 8pm, Sunday 3pm Second & Third Weekend: Friday 8pm, Saturday 5pm, Sunday 3pm *Children under seven will not be admitted - - - TICKETS, INCLUDING SEASON TICKETS, ON SALE NOW: Season Ticket Package: $85.00 / $99.00 with Season Extra - https://daytontheatreguild.org// click on "Tickets" link - or call 937-278-5993 - *25/26 Season tickets may be purchased in person during the performancxes of Between Riverside and Crazy Individual show tickets:      Adult: $25      Senior (60 or older): $23      Student: $18      Student rush: $11      Special pricing for groups of 10 or more, call the Box Office at 937-278-5993 for pricing - https://daytontheatreguild.org// click on "Tickets" link - or call 937-278-5993 - or at the box office day of the show * All individual tickets purchased in advance via our on-line ticket system or by telephone will also include a $1 convenience fee. www.daytontheatreguild.org

MARY JANE

Audition Dates: Mon & Tue, Dec 8 & 9, 2025*, starting at 7:00 pm both nights.
We may hold callbacks on Wed, Dec 10.
Production Dates: Jan 30‐Feb 15, 2026

The Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape
430 Wayne Ave, Dayton OH, 45410
937-278-5993
www.daytontheatreguild.org

Directed by Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard
Produced by Rhea Smith

Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son. She finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life, and dealing with all of life's realities. Mary Jane is Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog's remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. It ran on Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club during the 2023/2024 season.

(5 women - 4 in duel roles)

Casting Requirements:

• Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
• A résumé and headshot are not required but are encouraged.
• Please provide a list of all known conflicts between Dec 10, 2025 & Feb 15, 2026.
• Note: We may hold callbacks on Wed, Dec 10.

*There Will Be No Rehearsals DEC 24, 2025-JAN 2, 2026 Due to the HOLIDAYS

The directing team is looking for actors who can embrace the joy of this play and see it as a love letter to motherhood. For the four actors playing dual roles, we'd like to see a physical and vocal differentiation between the two roles you'd play. Most of all, we are looking for connection between the characters with actors listening and responding to each other. This is an ensemble piece.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS AND NOTES:

CHARACTER		NOTES
Mary Jane		late 20s to early 40s Mary Jane, a single mother, is the central figure. She is resilient, optimistic, and finds true joy in her son, Alex, despite the constant challenges of caregiving. She tries to maintain a sunny disposition, but the play explores the reality of her situation.
Ruthie / Tenkei		60s-80s Ruthie is the superintendent of Mary Jane's apartment building. She is a straight shooter. Tenkei is a Buddhist Nun that supports hospice care for families in the hospital. She has come to Buddhism late, after a lifetime as a Catholic. She is warm, flexible, and strong spiritually.
Sherry / Dr. Toros		Sherry is the night nurse that takes care of Alex. She is Mary Jane's and Alex's friend and genuinely loves them. Sherry has a knowledgeable command of her job and the system that allows her to ground her role as a caregiver in the humanity of Mary Jane and Alex. She doesn't see them as a charity case. Dr. Toros is good at her job: she is smart, experienced and self-aware. She understands when to turn down the "clinician" and when to tap into and share her own role as a mom.
Brianne / Chaya		35-early 40s - These two are the opposite sides of mothering a special needs child. Brianne the new mother of a special needs child who, through friends, connected with Mary Jane on Facebook to learn the ins and outs of caring for her child. On the other side, Chaya is a Hasidic woman who is the mother of seven children including seven-month-old twins at home. She has the life experience to share tough truths and to commiserate with Mary Jane.
Amelia / Kat		18-22 Amelia is a college student in town to visit her Aunt, Sherry, who is the night nurse for Alex. Kat is the music therapist at the hospital. Both are very compassionate women but they approach the world very differently. Where Amelia has a young spirit, she is somewhat closed off and a little skeptical while Kat is open, bright and dynamic. Both are full of love.
For more information please contact: Director Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard at melistima@gmail.com

Dayton Theatre Guild is a community theatre that values community representation, and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion on and off stage. People of all ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate and will be given full consideration in casting and all volunteer opportunities. Unless explicitly specified by the playwright in the text of the play, all roles will be open to all performers.

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE

Audition Dates: Mon & Tue, Feb 2 & 3, 2026 *, starting at 7:00 pm both nights.
Production Dates: Mar 27‐Apr 12, 2026

The Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape
430 Wayne Ave, Dayton OH, 45410
937-278-5993
www.daytontheatreguild.org

Directed by Kim Warrick
Produced by Rhea Smith & Heather Atkinson

This musical from the mid-2000's is a twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. A young, uptight greeting card writer's life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other, not despite their faults, but because of them.

(3 women, 3 men)

Casting Requirements:

• Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
• A résumé and headshot are not required but are encouraged.
• Please provide a list of all known conflicts between Feb 3 & Apr 12, 2026.

Character descriptions & notes, and audition music specs To Be Announced

Dayton Theatre Guild is a community theatre that values community representation, and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion on and off stage. People of all ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate and will be given full consideration in casting and all volunteer opportunities. Unless explicitly specified by the playwright in the text of the play, all roles will be open to all performers.

THE BEACON

Audition Dates: Mon & Tue, Mar 30 & 31, 2026*, starting at 7:00 pm both nights.
Production Dates: May 22‐Jun 7, 2026

The Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape
430 Wayne Ave, Dayton OH, 45410
937-278-5993
www.daytontheatreguild.org

Directed by Debra Keny
Produced by K.L.Storer

Beiv, a renowned artist, has left her suburban Dublin home for a secluded cottage on a rugged island off the coast of West Cork, Ireland. Here, there is no escaping the rumors of her shadowy past, and Beiv lets everyone see right in because she's having an extension made to the home, and many of the walls are missing. She and her visiting son have a chilly relationship at best ‐‐ and there is also the question of whether Beiv really did kill her husband. This play ran Off-Broadway with a limited run, and closed in November, 2024.

(2 women, 3 men)

Casting Requirements:

• Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
• A résumé and headshot are not required but are encouraged.
• Please provide a list of all known conflicts between Apr 1 & Jun 7.

Character descriptions and notes To Be Announced

Dayton Theatre Guild is a community theatre that values community representation, and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion on and off stage. People of all ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate and will be given full consideration in casting and all volunteer opportunities. Unless explicitly specified by the playwright in the text of the play, all roles will be open to all performers.