First-generation American, South Asian, Muslim, Hijabi with a dancer physique, challenges cultural and religious ideologies. Living under her grandmother, Zuli’s outdated rules, Safa struggles with finding her voice. When she enlists the help of her mother after secretly entering a dance competition, she pushes boundaries in pursuit of her dreams but fears being judged by her community. Although stubborn at times, Safa is determined, loyal and almost always uses her heart to guide in the right direction.Ultimately, her love for her family and best friend Ilias is what gives her the courage to believe in herself.

Zuli, mid 60s, South Asian, embodies the typical South Asian Matriarch, who stubbornly holds onto her cultural ideologies, even if they don’t fit into the world she currently lives in. Her need to control her family keeps her at arm’s length from truly understanding who they really are. Picking up the pieces of her late husband’s gambling addiction, she’s determined to make sure Safa walks the straight and narrow path. Unable to accept her granddaughter’s dream to dance, she finds ways to thwart Safa’s plans and hinder her ability to be the person she was always meant to be.

Muslim, American, South Asian, Sanam is a loving Mother and devoted wife who chooses to prioritize family over her personal desires. Despite battling an aggressive form of cancer, she is determined to help Safa achieve her dream to dance by enlisting as her trainer for a dance competition. Sanam uses the skills she’s learned from her background as a dancer, to help her daughter triumph as an aspiring dancer. Holding onto her traditions but embracing new ones, she’s ahead of her time and wishes to break the generational trauma by showing her girls what it means to live a life with truth and love. Juggling both her life at home with her family and managing her illness presents its challenges, but her strong-willed attitude should not be underestimated. Her spirit for all things magical is at the heart of who she is.

First-generation American, Muslim, Pakistani, best friend, and confidant to Safa, is an aspiring filmmaker. Heart throb for many, he only has eyes for since Safa since childhood. Close friends with her family, he watches Safa chase her dreams which in some ways is the catalyst for him to follow his own. His love and loyalty to Safa is apparent. His witty charm and forward-thinking attitude are what sets him apart from the rest of his community. PERFORMER WILL BE REQUIRED TO READ FOR AN ADDITIONAL ROLE (CHOTO) CHOTO, 7-10 years old child. First-generation American, Muslim, South Asian, is younger sister to Safa and daughter to Sanam and Bilal. She symbolizes light, hope and new beginnings. Her witty sense of humour and immense love for her family is what holds the family together during turbulent times. At seven, she’s smarter than the average and helps Safa with her secret plan to dance in the competition.

Joey presents as a 17 – 18 year old white male. Submit minimum 18 years (as of Sept. 1, 2024) to play 17. Joey is severely physically disabled, particularly in his hands which are thick and gnarled with very limited movement, uses a wheelchair full-time. He struggles to speak. Needs to use a portable sling to move to the shower. Joey has been cared, for by his dad, his whole life after his mother died. Jake has a great relationship with his friend Rowdy and although Joey loves his Dad, he also wants his independence; something Rowdy can offer. Upper body and rear nudity required. Please submit actors who use a wheelchair or who are physically disabled.

Garçon ou fille de 15-16 ans. Type “teen-next-door” donc pas trop badboy/badgirl ni trop juvénile.

Homme ou femme de 40-55 ans. Doit avoir l’air d’un parent ferme, mais aimable et attachant.

Joey presents as a 17 – 18 year old white male. Submit minimum 18 years (as of Sept. 1, 2024) to play 17. Joey is severely physically disabled, particularly in his hands which are thick and gnarled with very limited movement, uses a wheelchair full-time. He struggles to speak. Needs to use a portable sling to move to the shower. Joey has been cared, for by his dad, his whole life after his mother died. Jake has a great relationship with his friend Rowdy and although Joey loves his Dad, he also wants his independence; something Rowdy can offer. Upper body and rear nudity required.

Please submit actors who use a wheelchair or are physically disabled.

LEAD - GRANT, 18-29 Jennifer’s kind and wealthy boyfriend who is unaware of her infidelity and apologetic about mistaking her for her mother. He plans on taking their relationship to the next level this weekend. Reference: Adam brody (Seth from the OC)

LEAD - MRS. ADAMS, 45-65 Kind hearted and trustworthy, she’s been married to Mr. Adams for 30 years, despite them never reaching financial freedom. Mrs. Adams is disappointed when she learns of her daughter's infidelity and her money-hungry ways and works to talk some sense into her. Reference: Susan Sarandon

LEAD - JENNIFER, 18-29 Feisty and a tad bit scary, in a smiling cheerleader kind of way. Extremely materialist and willing to use people to get what she wants. When Mrs. Adams finds Jennifer making out with her fitness instructor and cheating on her boyfriend, Jennifer threatens to expose her moms innocent hot tub incident as an act of infidelity against her father. Reference: Regina George

LEAD - MR. ADAMS, 45-65 An honest, working man who has been in love with and committed to his wife for 30 years. He wants the best for Jennifer and Grant and carries guilt with him that he has not been able to provide his wife with all of the finer things in life. Reference: Tom Hanks

SUPPORTING - FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, ANY The fitness instructor is caught making out with Jennifer in his car. He drives off as soon as they are caught. Reference: Fitness influencer

Elane, the Woman at Table 2, is Kenneth’s mother and Avery’s grandmother. She enjoyed a very happy life in her small town with her husband and 2 kids. She slowly started developing Alzheimer’s in her late 60s, which was accelerated by her husband‘s recent passing. She is a very loving and sweet woman with a positive outlook on life.

Avery is an 11 year old girl. She enjoys spending time with her uncle Kenneth although she doesn’t get to see him too much. She is an only child and lives with her mom and grandmother. She is smart, kind, and observant. Avery developed an ear disease when she was very young and became deaf in both ears. She mainly communicates through sign language and is very good at lip reading. ** Deaf, Hearing Impaired, and/or Sign Language Ability would be a strong asset ** ** ALL lines for this character will be in Sign Language **

Tess is a 27 year old part time waitress and artist. She went to the same high school as Kenneth, only a year below him. She always wanted to be an artist and has had some exhibitions around town. She never left her small town and likes living a slow life. Tess always had a small crush on Kenneth, the kind of crush that makes you smile when you remember.

A likeable and fun-loving young man that has always struggled with finding his place in the world. Hoping to start this new chapter at university with optimism, John hosts a farewell party for himself, but the celebration quickly turns into a harrowing confrontation. Being faced with his own mortality, John is terrified of being forgotten; igniting a desperate need to cling on to life. Not allergic to grass.

Doesn’t speak, instead exuding a profound depth of presence and an eerie stillness demanding fear and intrigue equally. The pale man exists as a silent threat in moments and the sole source of salvation in others. Whether he is warning John, helping him or the one causing John’s death; only one thing is clear… When John is confronted with the lonely isolation of death, The Pale Man is who he must turn to.

Her life has been filled with diligence and high academic achievement; as a result, she finds herself somewhat detached from her old life and friends John and Drew. Still, believing it’s the right thing to do, Sarah goes home just for John’s party. As the night goes on, however, Sarah quickly realizes something is off, and while trying to remain polite, desperately tries to escape the party.

An eccentric goofball and the life of the party. Despite his large personality, Drew is sharp, observant and, most of all, a loyal friend. Drew is the first one to pick up on something being off with John, a testament to his emotional intelligence; but as the night progresses, Drew’s concern is overtaken by self-preservation as he realizes he needs to leave.