Hovey Players has been producing provocative and timely theater since 1936. Located near the historic Moody Street in Waltham, MA in the Abbott Memorial Theater, Hovey is among the most intimate performance spaces in New England. Neon lights guide the patrons downstairs and into our 50 seat blackbox; reminiscent of a 1920’s speakeasy.
AUDITIONS FOR ISAAC'S EYE
Auditions Dates: July 26 & 27th
Possible Callbacks: July 29th
Audition Location: Hovey Players, 9 Spring Street, Waltham
Performance Location/Dates:
Hovey Players, 9 Spring Street, Waltham
November 6 - November 21, 2026
**First read-thru will take place at the end of August with rehearsals starting in September.
***Non-Union/Possible small travel stipend
In-Person Audition Information:
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Please prepare all sides (link below) of the character(s) you’re interested in. Sides do not need to be memorized. All actors will be considered for all roles. Please fill out the audition/conflict form (link below) and bring a copy of your headshot and resume.
Video Submission Audition Information:
Please submit by July 25th with subject line SELF TAPE FOR ISAAC’S EYE. Please prepare a monologue (link below) of the character for whom you wish to be considered. All actors will be considered for all roles. Please include a PDF of your headshot, resume and a completed audition form along with conflicts. Send videos in any format to charlottesnow1789@gmail.com and copy producer sarabishopjones2020@gmail.com
Audition Slot, In-Person Audition Sides, Video Submission Monologues and The Script can all be found via the following link:
https://linktr.ee/HoveyPlayers
Show Synopsis:
To understand light and optics better, young Isaac Newton inserted a long needle “between my eye and the bone, as near to the backside of my eye as I could.” Why take such a risk? Lucas Hnath reimagines the contentious, plague-ravaged world Newton inhabited in ISAAC'S EYE, exploring the dreams and longings that drove the rural farm boy to become one of the greatest thinkers in modern science.
Character Descriptions:
Hovey Players is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive community: on our stage, through our creative and technical teams, and in our house. Below are brief descriptions of the characters as. Actors of all genders, races, ages, and/or ethnic backgrounds are welcome to audition for any role that they are interested in portraying.
ISAAC NEWTON
In his 20s. He is constantly on the precipice of his greatness, just a few years away from his “Miracle Year” when the apple fell on his head. A young ambitious upstart who is as genius as he is neurotic. He is an unstoppable force that will break through any limitation, ethical, moral, or physical, to reach true greatness and be remembered.
ROBERT HOOKE
In his 40s. He is at the zenith of his professional career and scientific prowess. He wields his charm as a weapon. He is not afraid to utilize his high status to cover up his wrongdoings and secrets. There is a deep well of pain, self-hatred, and anguish that always threatens to arise, especially when he feels threatened. He represents the vanguard, but is loath to pass the torch.
CATHERINE
In her 30s. An apothecary’s daughter. She craves and pushes for the stability of married life, as the bubonic rages on. Though she craves a traditional lifestyle, is unafraid to push back and break social barriers to achieve them. There’s an unexpected darkness to her that occasionally rises to the surface. She is loyal to a fault but will not suffer foolishness or impracticality.
ACTOR
Any age will do (but at least older than Isaac.) To say that he’s a “narrator” would be a disservice. He is an active storyteller in the world of the play and bridge for the audience. Actor is the arbiter of truth and, more often than not, is responsible for writing what is true in the play on the set. He often weaves in and out of the action, sometimes as a benevolent force and sometimes as an opposing one.
DYING MAN NAMED SAM
Any age will do (but at least older than Isaac.) The definition of wrong place, wrong time. He’s barely surviving through the Bubonic plague and has been left on the side of the road. He is filled with a dry observational wit and a surprising wisdom. He’s a simple man with simple needs but with complex thoughts. He starts as a footnote of a character, but leaves a lasting impact.