Staged Reading of ASCO (disgust)

Set in contemporary Cuba, “ASCO (Disgust)” is a powerful memory play that explores the emotional and psychological aftermath of personal and collective trauma. At its heart is Nara, a woman grappling with grief, guilt, and societal expectations after the tragic loss of her children. The story unravels in nonlinear waves, moving through scenes of family conflict, social decay, and moral ambiguity, exposing the toxic effects of machismo, economic hardship, and generational silence. Through intimate moments, confrontations, and deeply human interactions, the play examines how individuals internalize and survive oppression in a system that offers them little relief. “ASCO” is a tragic, emotionally raw, and poetic meditation on gender, memory, and resilience, offering a deeply Cuban perspective that speaks to universal struggles.

Content Warning: This play contains mature and potentially distressing material, including themes of sexual violence, child loss, and trauma. It also includes adult themes, sexual references, and sexually suggestive stage directions. While there is no nudity or physical staging of sexual acts, characters refer to sexual situations, and some actions are described in the stage directions.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Submission Deadline: 08/08/2025.

Please send your headshot, resume, and any reels or existing audition material that align with the character you'd like to be considered for.

Selected actors will be asked to submit self-taped auditions with sides from the play.

[NARA] Woman /30 - 40/ Hispanic. A mother haunted by trauma and grief. She moves between defiance, numbness, tenderness, and rage. Scenes involve intense emotional vulnerability, references to sexual assault, and the loss of children. Performer must be comfortable with emotionally intense material and implied psychological trauma.

[MARIO] Man /30 - 40/ Hispanic. A father and doctor struggling to reconcile duty with profound personal loss. Earnest and conflicted, he appears both caring and emotionally unavailable. Appears in intimate domestic conflict and scenes exploring regret and emotional breakdown.

[OMAR] Man /18 - 25/ Hispanic. Sexually manipulative, emotionally hungry, and explosively reactive. His scenes require a performer comfortable with sensitive and controversial material. Must portray both swagger and vulnerability. Actor must be 18+ due to mature content.

[ANGEL] Man /50 - 70/ Hispanic. A bitter, authoritarian patriarch. Militaristic, judgmental, and emotionally repressed. Scenes involve aggressive language, references to infidelity and paternal abandonment.

[CARMEN] Woman /50 - 70/ Hispanic. A woman marked by resignation and hidden strength. Supportive but worn down by a difficult marriage. Appears in scenes with confrontational dialogue, reflective monologues, and emotional volatility.

[PROSTITUTE] Woman /20 - 30/ Hispanic. Direct, pragmatic, and emotionally intuitive. A survivor with her own moral boundaries. Appears in sexually suggestive scenes and emotional confessions. No nudity required. Some physical intimacy suggested.

[MORTICIAN] Man /50 - 80/ Hispanic. Detached, philosophical, and unnerving. Actor must be comfortable with dark humor and existential themes.