Call for Performers

(Submission button towards end of page)

EVENT DATE: Monday, June 8th, 2026 

CALL TIME: 5:50pm for 6pm EDT tech check-in

EVENT TIME: Reading: 7pm-8:30pm EDT

Social: 8:30-10pm EDT

LOCATION: 21 College Street, Suite 610 (Théâtre français de Toronto rehearsal studio in College Park)

Looking for:

• Performers of all ages, diversities and abilities, who self-identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
• We encourage 2SLGBTQIA+ performers to submit for ALL roles, including those labelled as straight/cis.
• Performers must be ACTRA Toronto members in good standing (Full, Apprentice, or AABP).

Goals: 

• Giving 2SLGBTQIA+ performers a forum to perform roles they may have less opportunity to play in the industry, and to be seen and heard by industry members.

What to Expect:

• A live scene reading event streamed over Zoom that is open to members of the industry, including writers, performers, and industry partners.
• 5 scripts read by ACTRA Toronto members, selected by members of the outACTRAto committee.
• Performers may submit for specific roles and may also be asked to perform roles they did not submit for if the casting team feels it is a good fit.
• There will be a Q&A for the writers after each script. Performers are welcome to participate if asked questions.
• At this time, we are not able to provide an honorarium. This is a volunteer opportunity that will allow performers to showcase their talent and personality to a wider audience that may include casting directors, producers, and showrunners.

Who We Are Looking For:

• Q & A Moderator(s) (Any Pronouns, Any Age, Any Ethnicity): We are looking for engaged speakers who can facilitate a question and answer period following the reading of a scene.
• Event Host (Any Pronouns, Any Age, Any Ethnicity): We are looking for an experienced host who can introduce the event and each scene.
• Digital Stage Manager: We are looking for someone experienced with running Zoom webinars. Experience with hybrid events preferred but not required.

‘Carpe Noctem’ by Calyx Passailaigue

Wealthy aristocrat Lee owns a popular nightclub. But behind the glitz and glamour, she hides a terrible secret. Tonight, the air in the club is electric as Lee and her assistant Candy hunt for their next human sacrifice! 

• LEE (50-70, Caucasian, Cisgender, she/her, Bisexual)

A wealthy aristocrat and nightclub owner with a dark secret. Witty, intelligent and devious.

• CANDY (25-35, Open Ethnicity, Cisgender, she/her, Heterosexual)

Lee’s dutiful assistant.

• MIRA (20-30, Open Ethnicity, Cisgender, she/her, Bisexual)

A mysterious stranger from out of town. 

• NARRATOR (Any Age, Any Ethnicity, Any Pronouns)

To read scene descriptions and actions. Member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

‘Cruisers’ by Darius Zee

On a typical day trip to Hanlan’s Point Beach, an HIV-positive young man in therapy unexpectedly bumps into the man who gave him the virus ten years ago. Trapped on the island high on pot, and unable to distance himself from the man both physically and emotionally, he is forced to finally confront his decade-long trauma. 

• DAVID LI (30s, Asian, cisgender male, he/him, gay)

An accountant by profession, David has proven himself over the years in the tough corporate world as an efficient worker. Yet, as an HIV-positive young man, he has yet to overcome the emotional trauma of contracting the virus ten years ago through his ex-boyfriend, and has been undergoing therapy over the past years.

• NIGEL DUBOIS (30s, Mixed ethnicity, transgender male, he/him, gay)

David’s friend. Sassy and unbothered with a strong belief to live out life the best way he can, he is the yin to David’s yang, often providing an alternative perspective and solution to David’s problems in life.

• KELLY CAPLAN (30s, White, non-binary, they/them, asexual/pansexual)

David’s friend. Unlike Nigel and David who seem to understand things or life situations without much difficulty, they seem to always have trouble reading the room. Short-haired and fiercely tattooed across their body, Kelly is the true definition of pure brawn – and no brain.

• SIGMUND JACKSON (50s, Black, cisgender male, he/him, heterosexual)

David’s therapist. Caring and supportive, he is the personification of a safe space and refuge David has been able to find solace in over the years.

• JOHN PETERSON (30s, White, cisgender male, he/him, gay/bisexual)

David’s ex-boyfriend. A fair-skinned, tall and burly redhead with some chest hair, it is tough not to fall in love with this head-turner – David included, until he was made HIV-positive via John’s non-disclosure of the virus.

• NARRATOR (Any Age, Any Ethnicity, Any Pronouns)

To read scene descriptions and actions. Member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

‘He Looked At Me Like That’ by Jordan Samuel

After his father’s death, a young man meets his late father’s friend and discovers a past that was never acknowledged.

• BONNIE (60s, open ethnicity, cisgender woman, she/her, lesbian)

Bonnie is a 62 year old lesbian woman with a strong sense of self. She is exactly who she is and does not try to be anyone else. Bonnie is kind, warm, eclectic, blunt and is full of lived experience. Growing up queer during the AIDS crisis, she has experienced deep loss, though she rarely speaks of it directly. She leads with love, empathy and holds a deep understanding of what it’s like to be different. Beneath her confidence is a quiet grief and guilt that she has learned to live beside rather than resolve.

• CHRISTOPHER (20s, open ethnicity, cisgender man, he/him, gay)

Christopher is a 22-year-old man who recently came out as gay. He is in the process of undoing years of masking that once kept him safe. Sensitive, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent, Christopher often over-explains to ease tension and make himself likable. He deeply wants to be seen, though he is still figuring out who he is without having to perform. Beneath his warmth is a quiet loneliness and grief for the version of himself he never got to fully be.

• NARRATOR (Any Age, Any Ethnicity, Any Pronouns)

To read scene descriptions and actions. Member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

‘PUMP’ by Riley Reign

Drag King Archie Glad travels Canada in search of Testosterone. 

• ARCHIE (25-35, open ethnicity, Trans masc, queer)

Archie is navigating the stage of medical transition where they are so androgynous that everyone assumes a different gender for them. Archie is scared but moving forward anyway. He is passionate about art and queer and trans spaces. He is popular in the drag scene but struggles to maintain close relationships.

• NADIA (25-35, open ethnicity, Trans femme, any ethnicity, queer) 

Nadia has an alternative style and puts a lot of effort into her aesthetic. She is a visual artist, working in a variety of mediums. She has to travel to Montreal for a post op check up.

• STORE OWNER (35-45, West Asian, Cis man, straight or bi/pan)

Friendly and charming. Runs a great shop with a positive vibe and is proud of his work.

• GIRLFRIEND (30-40, open ethnicity, Cis woman, straight or bi/pan.)

Friendly and upbeat. 

• NARRATOR (Any Age, Any Ethnicity, Any Pronouns)

To read scene descriptions and actions. Member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

‘Unwell’ by Serena Lam

When former patient, Terra, joins the psychiatric emergency team as a social worker, she takes up the mantle of patient advocate while confronting her troubled past with an old flame.

• AYANNA (18-24, Asian, she/her, queer)

Adult performer to play 15, depressed soccer prodigy.

• EMALINE (18-24, BIPOC, she/they, queer)

Adult performer to play 15, devious, plays tough.

• TERRA (late 20s/early 30s, Asian, they/she, lesbian/queer)

29, crisis intervention worker, self-assured but cold.

• IRIS (late 20s/early 30s, BIPOC, she/her, bisexual/queer)

30, nurse, kind and earnest but kinda incompetent.

• NARRATOR (Any Age, Any Ethnicity, Any Pronouns)

To read scene descriptions and actions. Member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Submissions

(PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT MATERIALS VIA CASTING WORKBOOK. IT IS FOR OUTREACH PURPOSES ONLY.)

Performers must self-submit at the link above ONLY.)For questions or assistance: lgbtq@actratoronto.com, wtsr@actratoronto.com

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT

About outACTRAto

The outACTRAto Committee is dedicated to raising awareness about queer performers, our stories and our place in the industry and society. We value diversity and equality and we aim to be recognized, supported and valued as queer performers. We aspire to educate and inform our industry about realistic queer representation on screen as we seek a more accurate and balanced reflection of our rich and multifaceted community. We denounce and will work to end harassment and stereotyping of any kind. We will work to achieve true-to-life queer onscreen visibility of our culture and our stories, and to realize change in our industry.

For more information visit the outACTRAto page on the ACTRA Toronto website.

About Working the Scene in Rainbow

Working the Scene in Rainbow builds on the work of writer/artists Jessica Meya and Louis Taylor, and their original project Working the Scene in Colour, a platform for BIPOC writers and performers. Thank you to Louis, Jessica, and to the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for sharing the Working the Scene in Colour template, and their valuable work and time with us.