Defying Gravity Audition Information

This free-structured look at the 1986 Challenger disaster places the teacher who died with six others as they hurtled into space at the center of an exploration of our need to reach beyond ourselves and dare the universe. Defying Gravity artfully interweaves the past with the present and the lives of participants and bystanders, drawing parallels among painter Claude Monet's artistic quest, the zest of the teacher selected to the first civilian astronaut, the perspectives of her grieving daughter, the aspirations of elderly tourists who drive their Winnebago to Florida to watch the space shot and dream of hotels in space, the guilt felt by a NASA mechanic, and his girlfriend's fear of heights.

In person audition- Sign up for an audition time here: https://koalendar.com/e/DefyingGravity-auditions

After selecting a time, you will be automatically directed to fill out an audition form. Please do not skip this step.

Put all conflicts on the audition form that would occur during the following times: 

• Rehearsals: May 11-21, 2026 (6pm-9:00pm) Monday-Friday
• Performances May 22st & 23rd at 7:30pm 
  • This includes—recurring conflicts such as classes and lessons, other rehearsals, and appointments
  • Please also list all single conflict dates such as, special events, school concerts, weddings, appointments, and celebrations.

Roles Available:
ELIZABETH – A 5-year-old, played by an adult
TEACHER – Her mother
MONET – The painter
C.B. – A mechanic on the NASA ground crew
DONNA – A bartender in a Cocoa Beach hangout, African American
BETTY & ED – A retired couple in their 60s
NARRATOR – Will be responsible for reading any applicable stage directions and/or describing scenes.
Please note that because this is a staged reading, any and all of these roles can be played by anyone regardless of age/gender presentation/race/etc.

Auditions will consist of reading scenes from the play, selections are available below to view. 
The director would like to hear any experience you have with learning about the Challenger disaster. This will occur in a group setting before the reading of scenes.

Please contact [email protected] with questions about auditions.

Unable to Attend in Person?

If you are unable to attend auditions in person, you will need to film yourself reading one of the provided sides on camera and have another person read the scene on or off camera with you. You do not be memorized

After filming your audition, email us your video or a link to your video to [email protected] by 5:00pm Monday, April 27th.