Call for Performers: Postal Prophets
Playwright/Composer/Producer D’orjay Jackson and Director Sue Goberdhan are excited to announce auditions for a concert presentation/staged reading of work in process afro-futuristic dystopian musical, Postal Prophets
DEADLINE 9pm MST MAY 1, 2026: If you have any questions or are interested in booking a 15 min audition slot, please send a headshot, resume and which character(s) you are interested in auditioning for to D’orjay Jackson info@dorjay.ca and Sue Goberdhan gsgoberdhan@gmail.com
ABOUT THE SHOW
Our journey begins far into a dystopian future on planet Ared’baan. Solar system and gravitational anomalies have destroyed over 70% of Ared’baan’s ecosystems and the planet’s rotation has slowed and shifted on its axis. The people of Nation Firstile eventually become the last population on liveable land. To ensure survival in such precarious times, a human made artificial intelligence governing system ‘PSI” was put into place to bring order and sustainability for the good of the Nation. As PSI came into power, word also came that a child was born with a blue birthmark and a voice that could turn the lights on and turn minds off. One thousands years later through brutal experimentation and dispossession, the Nation has been able to craft a society of perfect checks and balances, obedience, apathy and segregation. PSI’s strict governance of Naturals is enforced by a legion of Blues through the Communications & Postal Consortium who control every aspect of information and resource exchange.
Postal Prophets is a musical play that follows O’ludree, an indentured vocal labourer who works under the Nations oppressive governing system PSI. O’ludree dreams of a different path and world shown to them in both sleeping and waking states. Are these visions a path to O’s own freedom or a prophecy of a grander cosmic plan? Which destiny will O’ludree fulfill; the revolutionary voice of of a clandestine resistance or the subservient agent of order? Postal Prophets explores the power of both agency and passivity while embarking on a daring quest of liberation from the nation!
CHARACTERS
O’LUDREE/PRESAGE 6173963: (Non- Binary/Gender Non Conforming/Trans, Female or Male Identifying/AFAB/AMFAB).
O’ludree is a dream walker, stoic and deeply introspective. In the society of Nation Firstile they are considered born Blue, one who is able to conjure electric energy that both powers the Nation and control the minds and actions of non-Blue people or Naturals through propagandization. They dream differently than other Blues and even now at 28 years old don’t truly understand what the dreams mean or who is trying to communicate to them. Even though they are a top vocal laborer with a powerful voice, O’ludree fails to become a coveted Principal messenger during the Nations Ranking Day and has been designated to the lowly station of foot route mail carrier also known as a Presage. Destiny has a different fate in mind and O’ludree will be called to bravely walk roads never travelled before. Their dreams and voice are the key for a centuries long underground labour resistance/rebellion to finally break both Blues and Naturals free from the systems controlling them.
VELLA/PINNACLE: (Female identifying, AFAB, or Non-binary)
Pinnacle is the first Blue ever born. Vella is over 1000 years old and is one of the only natural born Blues. Marked by a large blue birthmark it was discovered in her youth that her voice could produce electrical energy, a resource that had become virtually extinct. Taken from her family as a child by the Nation’s newly formed governing system PSI for experimentation, it was also discovered that her vocal current produced a hypnotizing effect over other humans. She was the blueprint for all vocal labourers who have come after while being the last living human connection to the ways of the ancestors’ ancestors before those traditions were eradicated in favour of humanity’s preservation.Vella is one of the original members of the secret labour resistance/rebellion as well as the highest ranking vocal labourer.
ELYAS/PRESAGE 6173964: (Non- Binary/Gender Non Conforming/Trans, Female or Male Identifying/AFAB/AMFAB)
O’ludree’s bunk mate and best friend Elyas is bright eyed, optimistic and often being scolded by either O or their trainer PD4 for being silly or breaking the rules. She/He/They have a knack for comforting O’ludree as they navigate intense and sometimes upsetting dreams. Elyas has been training to become a Partisan of the Nation, a type of performer who presents creative and entertaining propaganda to the Naturals but instead has been ranked to the lowly station of foot route mail carrier also known as a Presage in the very dangerous East Sector B.
ALCEN/BLUE 6173962: (Male identifying, AMAB, or Non-binary) Alcen was born Blue and raised in North Sector A of the Nation, under the watchful eye of Pinnacle. Because of his unique upbringing away from the other young Blues, he is not well liked by his peers. Alcen’s arrogance is a front for his insecurities as his voice does not conjure the power/wattage of high ranking vocal labourers even with intensive training from Pinnacle. Somehow he ranks Principal over O’ludree and this decision sets him on a divergent path that could very well undo and destroy all of the rebellion’s plans in the final hour.
HOWIE/PEDANTIC D4: (Non- Binary/Gender Non Conforming/Trans, Female or Male Identifying/AFAB/AMFAB)
Pedantic/Mid Level Ranking in 350 year old Vocal Labourer and Trainer/Teacher to both Elyas & O’Ludree in West Sector D of the Nation. PD4 feels especially protective of O’ludree and Elyas and being a long-time comrade of the underground rebellion, he has become skeptical of the rebellion’s tactics and the dangers that his young Blues will face. He is serious by nature and presentation but kind and fair.
LUNETH: (Non- Binary/Gender Non Conforming/Trans, Female or Male Identifying/AFAB/AMFAB)
Luneth is an ancient hybrid humanoid with psychic abilities and the last of their kind. They are the keeper of all historical records of Planet A’redbann and have been waiting in the shadows far beyond the Nations walls in the deep west living in the forbidden forest of twisted trees. Luneth is a visionary/advisor of the rebellion and has been waiting in the woods for an eternity for the dream walker to be brought to them to mentor and train for what is to come.
Trigger Warnings:
This show mentions/has themes of indentured servitude and segregation based on physical traits. Feel free to email D’orjay at info@dorjay.ca if you have any questions about the content of this show.
ABOUT THE AUDITION
Auditions will be held in 15-minute increments on Wednesday May 5th 5pm-9pm. If you are interested in auditioning but are unable to make these dates, let us know, and we will try to accommodate you. Location TBD but will be central Edmonton
Please a song that can show your vocal range and that you have an emotional connection to. Please bring a backtrack either saved on your phone or USB.
You will be asked to read sides from the script.
17 Degrees and D’orjay are committed to bringing equity to the stage. This presentation seeks to centre and cast Black performers while also strongly encouraging submissions from all performers who self-identify as members of Indigenous, Asian and Latino backgrounds.
Rehearsals:Rehearsals will be Wed May 13th – Fri May 15th and Tues May 19th – Sat May 23rd. Rehearsal days will run 6-8 hours and time of day is TBD based on availability of cast.
Tech Days are Tues May 26th (12pm-8pm), Wed May 27th (9am-5pm) & Friday May 29, (9am-5pm).
Performance: Postal Prophets will be presented as a staged concert reading including live performances of songs from the musical at RISER New Works Festival 2026, Sat May 30th (evening) & Sunday May 31st (matinee) at Backstage Theatre.
Compensation: Actors will be paid $1800 for 13 days total.
– eight 6-8 hr rehearsals
– up to three 8 hour tech days
– two performances.
There will also be some funds available to help with snacks, transportation, child and personal care for collaborators.
Contact: If you have any questions or are interested in booking a 15 min audition slot, please send a headshot, resume and which character(s) you are interested in auditioning for to D’orjay Jackson info@dorjay.ca and Sue Goberdhan gsgoberdhan@gmail.com
If you cannot audition on May 5th, please reach out and we are happy to arrange alternate arrangements.
Deadline to respond is 9 PM on May 1, 2026.