LGA Audition Notice: Flyin' West by Pearl Cleage
Company: Lumpy Grits: A Literary and Lyrical Mix
Production: Flyin' West
Director: Cherie Gray-Young, M.A
Performance Dates: Spring March 2027
Audition Dates: November 21-22, 2026
Location: Critter's Corral. 408 Cotton Street Suite B. Shreveport Louisiana 71107
Contact Lumpy Grits Artistry
Email-Lumpygritsartistry@gmail.com
Phone 318-426-3459
Production Overview
Set in 1898, Flyin' West tells the powerful story of a close-knit group of African American women who take advantage of the Homestead Act to settle in the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas. Together, they face the harsh realities of the frontier, racial exclusion, and domestic conflicts while fiercely defending their freedom, their land, and each other.
Character Breakdown
Sophie Washington (Female, 30s): The fierce, protective leader of the household. She is deeply invested in the land, hard-working, and carries a shotgun to defend her freedom.
Fannie Dove (Female, 20s–30s): Sophie’s sister. She is gentle, poetic, and romantic, acting as the peacemaker of the family while managing the household business.
Leah Dove (Female, 70s): The elder matriarch. A former slave who survived the Trail of Tears, she offers deep wisdom, humor, and a sharp memory of the past.
Minnie Dove Charles (Female, early 20s): The youngest sister. Swept away by European culture, she is fragile, sheltered, and trapped in an abusive marriage.
Frank Charles (Male, 30s): Minnie’s husband. A biracial man who passes for white in his professional life. He is bitter, arrogant, abusive, and despises his own heritage.
Wil Parish (Male, 40s): A kind, dependable neighbor and former slave. He is deeply in love with Fannie and represents true partnership and community support.