The next script for the At The Table Read Series is Invasion of the Housewives by Zach Lorkiewicz and produced by Grace Hahn. The read will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025, with a rehearsal on Thursday, May 29, at 5:30 pm. If you are available on both dates and interested in auditioning, please see the breakdown below. Audio or video auditions may be submitted. Deadline for submissions is May 5, 2025 at 5 p.m.
At the Table is a volunteer program that SAG-AFTRA Chicago partners with IFA Chicago in an effort to introduce SAG-AFTRA members to up and coming filmmakers through the reading of their "soon-to-be" produced feature films.
Email Kathy.Byrne@sagaftra.org to request sides and submission details. Please include the name of the character you would like sides for in the subject line of the email.
Summary: Invasion of the Housewives follows a group of suburban women trapped at a girls’ night during a supposed alien invasion. As inexplicable events unfold and conflicting news divides the group, the women begin to turn on one another.
Character Breakdown:
GENEVIEVE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Genevieve is a mysterious and ethereal woman; she is the unspoken matriarch of this group, but in recent years has become increasingly absent. What is going on in Genevieve’s life? Is her marriage okay? Is she depressed? Sad her kids are away? Her friends gossip, but few really know. That’s why when Gen decides to throw a girls’ night (the first in years) – everyone is caught off guard. And to boot, Genevieve invites Mary, the social pariah of the group.
MARY (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Mary, Mary, Mary. There’s something about Mary. Mary is, has been, and will forever be a hot mess. Her life is constantly on the brink of collapse, largely fueled by her extravagant and drug-fueled lifestyle. She has always battled with addiction, and after the death of her teenage son, she stopped trying. By this point, Mary has been cut out of all her friends’ lives –and with good reason. That’s why for Mary, an invite to girls’ night is a second chance.
NADINE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Nadine has always wanted a Sunday kind of love; the kind of love you always hear about in classic songs, the kind that makes your stomach drop and takes your breath away. And Nadine has found it...several times. But time and time again, that love has proven to be nothing but an illusion. Nadine has a tendency to fall fast and ignore her responsibilities – even her children – in pursuit of this love she knows is out there. Nadine cannot seem to stop; even when she becomes involved with a married man. She is also furious that Genevieve invited Mary. The two have not spoken in years and she had no plans on changing that.
KAREN (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Karen is the group gossip. She somehow knows everyone's business all the time but maybe it's just a distraction. She is known to have *nonstop* anxiety - Karen overly fixates on the news and thinks the world is out to get her. She also notices every ache in her body, no matter how many times the doctor tells her it's nothing. Karen is constantly on edge and drives her husband absolutely crazy, but she is undeniably the life of the party.
LAURIE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Laurie has not been seen in months, but, unlike Genevieve, everyone knows why. On good weeks, you can see Laurie smoking pot in her backyard. She might wave to you. On bad weeks, you might catch her staring out the window at the moon. Years ago, Laurie was the life of the party: stylish, cool, a punk-rocker. That all ended when her husband, the love of her life, lost his battle against cancer. At that moment, a part of Laurie died.
ALAINA (female, 30’s or 40’s) - Alaina is new to the neighborhood… actually, when did she move here again? She seems to do her own thing. No kids, no husband. And what about that weird flower shop she opened up downtown? Nobody is quite sure... Nadine befriended her when she first moved, but mainly because Alaina constantly has pot. Nadine also convinced her to come out to girls' night tonight for the first time. Should be interesting!
ADAM BUCKINGHAM / RADIO VOICE / HAIR STYLIST (male, 30’s or 40’s) - charismatic
BRANDON / GEORGE (male, 50’s or 60’s) - calm, warm
SECRETARY / SUSAN / CUSTOMER / NURSE / WOMAN (female, 30’s or 40’s) - sassy, cynical
NARRATOR (male or female) - soothing
Production Team bios:
Zach Lorkiewicz is a gay writer/director based in Los Angeles. He started directing horror movies when he was a teenager with friends, inspired by filmmakers such as Dario Argento and George Romero. His work has been written about by Rue-Morgue, Dread Central, and Bloody-Disgusting, and distributed by companies such as Crypt TV and Tubi. His latest film, Loveless, is currently making its rounds on the festival circuit, and he will be premiering his first anthology feature – Tales From Middleton High –
this June. Additionally, Zach runs his own YouTube channel under the production name Count the Clock. There he posts his independent films, music videos, and fashion films – several of which have gone viral. He frequently works with musicians and fashion influencers. Grace Hahn is a Chicago-based producer whose most recent projects include writer/director Haroula Rose’s feature-length novel adaptation Once Upon A River [available via Film Movement] and the coming-of-age feature Princes Cyd from director Stephen Cone [currently available for streaming on Hulu & Amazon Prime and highlighted on Criterion Channel’s Three by Stephen Cone series]. Grace is a committed advocate for uplifting leadership, equity amongst cast/crew, and discovering & promoting environmentally sustainable production methods. She is a member of the inaugural class of the Chicago Independent Producers Lab through the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, the Chicago Film Office, and Full Spectrum Features.
We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to disability, race, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law, unless otherwise specifically indicated.
This table read is an unpaid stage performance presented to a live audience.This email is not intended to serve as an endorsement of any party or project referenced herein.
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