Confident. Guarded. Strong-willed. Polished, commanding, and deeply guarded. She is successful in her field as the owner of a thriving real estate company—financially secure, fashionable, and assured. Control is her armor. She is bitter toward her mother, viewing the birthday celebration as another performance. Melanie keeps her distance from family, offering support through action rather than relationship. She shows up when needed, but on her terms. Emotional closeness is avoided. Her relationship with Dianne is especially strained. Melanie’s words are sharp and often cutting. In her marriage, Melanie struggles with vulnerability. She loves her husband deeply, yet keeps him at arm’s length, unsure how to allow him into her broken places. This role includes a singing component. Gospel. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Strong. Loyal. Steady. Derrick is the kind of man people describe as a good man. He loves his wife deeply—ten years of marriage rooted in history, commitment, and genuine affection. His love is patient and consistent, even as the distance between them grows. Communication with Melanie has become difficult, yet Derrick continues to reach, searching for understanding and connection. He is frustrated and worn down, but still hopeful. Letting go is not easy for him. Divorce is the outcome he fears most, and the thought of facing it weighs heavily on him. Derrick is respected and loved by the family. Loyal, loving, and quietly exhausted, Derrick stands at a crossroads—trying to endure while not losing himself. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Nurturing. Devoted. Warm. Dianne is the emotional backbone of the family. As the eldest child and only parent among her siblings, she naturally takes on the role of caretaker. Patient and deeply giving, she consistently puts everyone else before herself—especially her two children, who are her heartbeat. After her divorce, Dianne moved across the state to care for her mother without hesitation. She has given her last—emotionally and financially—to support her family, including her brother Theo. Love, for Dianne, has always meant showing up. Her relationship with Melanie is strained and often fiery. Though she carries the weight of a failed marriage and battles moments of depression, Dianne continues to show up with grace. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Matriarch of the family. A survivor. Strong-willed. Strong, generous, & deeply protective, shaped by years of surviving an abusive marriage & an ongoing battle with cancer. Speaks openly about God and family, though her faith is complicated - belief present, intimacy distant. Hosting her 70th birthday with quiet urgency, Mama D hopes to gather her children together, especially Melanie. No one is ever left hungry or unsupported around her. But mention her son Theo and everything shifts; his name is not welcomed in her house. Stubborn and mouthy when confronted, Mama D can only be challenged by her sister Melby and her daughter Melanie. Her relationship with Melanie is deeply fractured, shaped by a difficult choice Mama D continues to justify as protection. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed. Required Skills: Singing: Gospel

Dynamic. Modest. A woman of prayer and faith. Melby is Mama D’s older sister and a strong spiritual authority within the family. She wears her faith openly and unapologetically. When Melby enters a room, order follows; even in chaos, the family instinctively straightens up. Melby is direct, bold, and unafraid of confrontation. Gentle correction is left to her husband, David. Their long, healthy marriage allows Melby to rest, feel covered, and walk fully in her strength. Melby speaks with authority and conviction. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed. Required Skills: Singing: Gospel

Warm. Steady. A man of faith and wisdom. David is Melby’s husband and Mama D’s brother-in-love. Their long history allows Mama D to be herself around him—no pretending, no performance. He carries a fatherly, big-brother presence, a man’s man who is secure in who he is and unshaken in character. As a pastor and counselor, David moves with calm authority. When Melby confronts, David is the gentle voice that helps redirect the room, often reminding her to soften without diminishing her strength. He is down-to-earth, approachable, and deeply grounded—someone whose presence alone brings a sense of safety. David represents steady love, healthy masculinity, and pastoral care. A devoted husband and proud girl dad, he is good company and a stabilizing force within the family. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Trendy. Youthful. Uncertain. Fashionable, adorable, and full of youthful energy. Her sense of style is expressive and confident, though she is still very much a teenager—exploring, experimenting, and trying to find herself. She loves her grandmother and is excited to bring her boyfriend home, believing she is stepping into something grown. Beneath the surface, however, Allison carries a quiet sense of confusion. She feels disconnected at times, unsure of where she belongs or what she wants, sensing that something within her is unclear but unable to name it. Allison respects and listens to her mother, Dianne, even when conflicted. She shares a close, protective bond with her brother, instinctively covering for one another. Sweet-natured and observant—hopeful, uncertain, and searching. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

“The future doctor of the family.” Polished. Pressured. Christopher is the pride of the family—smart, charming, and accomplished, with a full scholarship awaiting him for medical school. He brings laughter to Mama D and confidence to every room he enters. Beneath the polish, Christopher carries immense pressure. A devoted mama’s boy, he believes it is his responsibility to protect his mother and sister, especially after the divorce. Admired and trusted, he works hard to maintain the image everyone is proud of, hiding the cracks forming underneath. No one worries about Christopher—because no one thinks they need to. He is admired, trusted, and relied upon, even as he struggles to hold everything together. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Suave. Fashion Conscious. Trouble. Tevon is the kind of guy who naturally draws attention, especially from the women in the room. If you’re into the “bad boy” type, he fits the description. Stylish, confident, and smooth, he knows how to say just enough to keep things interesting—and get what he wants. He is Allison’s boyfriend—well, as much as he allows the title to be defined. Their relationship is playful on the surface, but his intentions don’t always align with hers. Tevon crosses boundaries, often masking it with charm. What feels exciting at first quickly reveals pressure beneath it. He is used to getting his way, and he doesn’t always hear “no.” This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Absent. Unstable. The unspoken son. Theo is Mama D’s middle child—the one whose name is not welcomed in her house. The rule is hers. His presence is uncomfortable, his existence treated as failure. Mention of Theo brings Mama D anger and shame, and she has drawn a hard line that keeps him at a distance. Dianne and Melanie, however, have not abandoned him. Both have given what they could—financially, emotionally, repeatedly—only to lose track of him when he disappears again. Loving Theo is exhausting, uncertain, and often unrewarded. He carries weight the family avoids naming, and it has shaped both his addiction and his isolation. When Theo appears, it is disruptive and necessary. He is not simply the problem—he is the evidence of what the family has buried. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Charming. Convenient. Questionable. Reggie is Mama D’s much younger boyfriend—easygoing, familiar, and largely unbothered. He is company, and a sense of presence, but very little weight. Their relationship is practical more than romantic, rooted in convenience and companionship. A truck driver by trade, Reggie is often gone for long stretches of time. When he is around, he helps where needed and stays out of the way. He is harmless enough, agreeable, and comfortable. He knows how to receive care and enjoys the benefits of being looked after. The family sees the imbalance immediately and disapproves openly. Reggie is aware of it and unaffected. His role in Mama D’s life raises questions, but he offers no clear answers. Reggie exists on the margins—easy to laugh at, easy to question. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.

Charming. Dependable. Well put together. Bryan is Mama D’s next-door neighbor and an orthopedic surgeon. He is the kind of man who shows up—helpful, respectful, and steady. Attractive without trying, Bryan carries an ease that makes people feel comfortable around him. He has been a consistent help to Mama D, offering support in ways that feel natural, not forced. Around the family, he is quickly noticed and quietly appreciated. There is something grounded about him—safe, dependable, and present. Mama D sees more than just a good neighbor in Bryan and subtly entertains the idea of him being more connected to the family. Whether Bryan sees it the same way, or is open to it, remains unspoken. This is an understudy position for the October Production, with consideration for future performances. The selected actor will train with the current cast and be prepared to step into role if needed.