AVAILABLE ROLES

This list includes the doubling for the show. Each of the barnyard characters represents the real-world influences in Fern Arable’s life. These people take on the lives of these animals, and the animals take on the lives of these people. Fern Arable’s story is told as much in the courtroom as in the barnyard. Roles will be cast based on how closely actors can match the physical characteristics and body movement of the barnyard characters that they double for. Creativity and risk-taking will be highly encouraged at this audition. Rehearsals will be a collaborative process as actors work to define their animal instincts as well as their human characters.

• Fern Arable Bonner. Fern is a woman on trial for the murder of her two-year-old child, Cole.  She is described as “always being a dreamer,” believes in angels and goodness, and talks to animals. She appears emotionally unequipped to weather the pressures of the court case and has a hard time staying tethered to reality.

• Will Barnett. The defense attorney for Fern Arable, Will has never taken on a case with this degree of attention from the press and the media. He is in over his head and not sure what to believe. Will also plays The Pig.

• FJ Templeton. Prosecutor for the State of Iowa, FJ is smooth, concise, fast-talking and biting in his retorts. While he follows the rules, he knows how to manipulate the legal system to get what he wants. FJ also plays The Rat.

• Judge Charlotte Clark. The presiding judge over the State of Iowa vs. Fern Bonner case, Judge Charlotte Clark is rather petite and very fair. She’s almost motionless in her compassion. She also plays The Spider.

• June Arable. Mother of Fern Arable, she is harsh and direct. She went through a difficult marriage and always looked out for her girls, Fern and Avery. June also plays The Sheep.

• Avery Arable. Avery is a butch lesbian living on the East Coast, sister to Fern and seen as a very active tomboy in flashbacks—climbing on everything, collecting frogs and generally being a terror child. Avery also plays The Frog.

• Dr. Dorian. The state psychologist, Dr. Dorian has been called by the State of Iowa and the prosecution many times before to determine whether or not a defendant is equipped to stand trial. Dr. Dorian also plays The Ram.

• Karen Anderson. Karen is Fern’s best friend. While a little controlling, she has always wanted Fern to leave the barnyard games behind and grow up, live in the real world, start dating boys and hanging out at the brand-new mall. While mostly seen in flashbacks, this character pivots between being a wild teenager in the 1980s and a more calmed, sensible mother in the present day.

• Janine Hart. Janine is the camera-ready reporter breaking into the national spotlight as the Arable Bonner case has risen to national attention. She is the voice of this case. Janine also plays The Goose.

• Henry Fussy. One of the officers on the scene the night of Cole Bonner’s death, Henry grew up with Fern and always follows the limits of the law. He and Fern used to be involved romantically way back—he’s still a little heartbroken over it. Henry also plays The Gander.

• Homer Zuckerman. Homer is Fern’s uncle, a womanizer and a businessman. This character brings a lot of fun, physicality and quarterback energy into the ensemble of actors. Homer also plays The Rooster.

• The Bailiff/Wallace Arable/Lurvy. A jack-of-all-trades role, the Bailiff is fairly strong and unmoving in the courtroom, and Fern imagines him to be a representative of her father. He shows kindness and warmth, but he has a very dark and disturbing side as the alternative character of Lurvy the Farmhand.