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OPEN CALL FOR VOICE ACTORS! 

 

WELCOME TO HOPE SPRINGS  

Home to everyday wonders and eternal mysteries 

 

PRODUCTION TYPE Audio Drama Series 

PRODUCTION COMPANY Augustine Institute Studios 

RECORDING LOCATION St. Louis, MO 

RECORDING DATES Spring 2025 

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Season 2 | 10 Episodes  

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Welcome to Hope Springs is a brand-new family audio drama series being produced by Augustine Institute Studios. After a successful recording of season 1 in St. Louis, we are BACK for another season! We are seeking talented actors with strong storytelling abilities and enthusiasm for family-friendly content!  

 

Any non-union actors with a background in voice acting, film, theatre, audiobook narration, or radio theatre/audio drama would be welcome to submit. We are seeking both adult and child actors to fill a recurring cast of characters. 

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Welcome To Hope Springs is a family audio drama series that follows the experiences and adventures of a group of 10–12-year-old kids in the small Colorado town of Hope Springs. Centered around a renovated train depot in the heart of the town, kids face both everyday and extraordinary situations that are ultimately seen through a Catholic lens. Our faith-affirming stories explore choices and consequences, relationships, and the spiritual journey we all must take (whether we realize it or not). This show is created for kids but great for the whole family! 

 

GENRE/STYLE: This project is written by writer and dramatist Paul McCusker who is best known for his work in the Christian fiction genre, particularly for his contributions to the Adventures in Odyssey radio theatre series, as well as his historical fiction and other radio dramas. Paul is known for writing relatable characters, witty, thoughtful, and humorous dialogue, and his high adventure/action-packed plots! 
 

PRODUCERS: Justin Leddick, Madison McAllister Van Frank  

 

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Paul McCusker 

 

CASTING DIRECTOR: Madison McAllister Van Frank 

 

RATE OF PAY: SUPPORTING 250/DAY, & BIT PARTS $100/DAY + agency fee (rate depends on size of role offered, see character breakdown below)  

 

***we are only looking for supporting and bit parts right now, all leads have been filled*** 

 

UNION STATUS: Non-union 

 

USAGE: This is an audio drama series that will be recorded and released on our streaming platform called Formed https://watch.formed.org//browse. Formed is our mission-based, exclusive Catholic distribution platform. As a multi-season series, we plan to continue recording and producing this series with the same players for years to come, featuring new episodes yearly.  

 

LOCATION: Shock City Studios; St. Louis, MO 

2200 Gravois Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 

***Actors must be willing to work as local hires. As a non-profit organization, we are unable to cover travel or housing costs at this time.*** 

 

RECORDING DATES: Outside dates March 31st-April12th, 2025. Exact recording schedule to be determined in collaboration with agents, talent, and/or parents of youth talent. Not all the actors will be needed for all dates. Each actor will have a unique schedule depending on the number of scenes their character has in the script.  

 

POLICIES FOR MINORS: No mature content. It is kid/family friendly. A Parent or Guardian be allowed within sight and sound of the Minor at all times while they are working. We will have plenty of adult supervision, but no on-set tutors. This production is in compliance with all State/Provincial Child Entertainment Laws. All minors will need to obtain a Missouri Work Permit. 

 

WHAT RECORDING IS LIKE: Actors are in the studio together in person. A scene at a time is recorded. Each actor is set up in front of their own mic, but they are all in the same room together. The number of actors in the tracking room depends on the number of characters in the scene. The actors are expected to play off each other. All actors will be expected to be present for recording IN PERSON at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, MO. Production scheduling will be approached like a feature film - actors will be scheduled so they can perform together, not in isolation. 

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: Dynamic performers with unique voices and a natural storytelling ability. Performers of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities are encouraged to submit. For kid roles, we are primarily seeking kids ages 10-13 to sound 11 years old, but we will also consider adults who can authentically voice kid roles with grounded (not cartoon-ish) performances. (Character breakdown included below) 

 

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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS, DUE SUNDAY MARCH 2, 2025

• An Audition - Perform a Short Comedic Monologue from tv, theatre, or film showcasing your acting abilities and your natural voice as an .MP3 or .WAV audio file.  Labelled as FirstnameLastname_Monologue. We are seeking naturalistic and not overly cartoonish performances. You will be asked to paste a shareable link to your audition if you submit via the bitly link below. 

• A Headshot/Resume attached and labelled as FirstnameLastname_HeadshotResume 

 

***** Submissions via Actors Access, Breakdown Express, Casting Networks, OR via this audition form: https://bit.ly/hopespringscasting *****

 

Selected actors may be asked to submit additional reads and/or schedule a virtual callback with our casting team.  

 

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ROLES AVAILABLE IN SEASON 2

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Lead roles have been cast. We are looking to fill several supporting and bit parts for season 2 

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AMBROSE (M, 15-early 20s) A mysterious figure at camp willikers. Kind, thoughtful, calming, and wise. A mature older-brother type figure who watches over the campers and seems to become their spiritual guide at the moment when they need him the most. (Voice should sound high school-aged, maybe early college-aged.) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

JEFF WEST (M, 30s-early 40s) Jay West’s Dad. Just a normal Catholic dad who loves his wife and his children. He’s easygoing, amiable, friendly, and a good listener. He’s reliable and always there for his son. Represents your average dad. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

ARIEL SYKES (F, 30s- early 40s, Black) Zach Sykes' mom. She’s a nurse, but she’s not that gentle. Her bedside manner is a bit more direct—she tells it like it is. She often must be firm with her troublemaker of a son, but don’t be mistaken—she loves him more than life itself. She means business and demands respect. You don’t want to cross her. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

AL THORPE (M, 30s- early 40s) Dakota Thorpe's dad. Eager to please. Affable, silly, goofy, and an embarrassing dad. He’s a bit theatrical and even compares himself to the character of Bottom from a Midsummer Night’s Dream, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. (Seeking a lower pitched voice, a thicker, affable sound. A John Goodman type.) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

AUDRA THORPE (F, 30s-early 40s) Al Thorpe’s wife and Dakota’s loving mother. Although her daughter wants to be in the spotlight, Audra is definitely not a stage mom, in fact—she's the opposite. She is more on the anxious side and gets very nervous for her daughter. When Dakota gets her big break, Audra becomes very anxious. She cares a lot about her daughter having good friends. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

VERONICA DELUTH (F, 40s-50s) a radio executive with Big Ears Radio. A smart, successful, and professional career woman, a pushy producer-type. Some might consider her a visionary; others would call her pushy. She’s blunt, direct, and superficial. She’s sharp, aggressive, and ambitious—she's willing to get ahead at other people's expense. She doesn’t care who gets in her way, even if it’s an 11-year-old kid, she’s going to get the job done. (There’s a vulnerability and nervousness in her voice) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

ERIN LANE (F, 30s-40s) Rooney Lane’s mom. A good Christian mother who loves her family and tries to instill good values in her daughter. She's nurturing, honest, kind, forgiving, and encouraging. She pushes her daughter to be the best version of herself. Represents your average mom. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

MONA NELSON/MOTHER NELSON VOICE (F, late 30s-40s) Isaac’s wife and Brace Nelson’s mom. She’s a career woman who works in consulting and travels a lot for her job. She’s almost never home. She and her husband have created a “house interface system” for her to speak to her son through. She’s parenting from a distance and entrusting the care of her son to a nanny. She has confidence and authority but isn’t necessarily heartless, although she may seem that way to her son. (Her voice should be confident, calm, and firm) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

ISAAC NELSON (M, 40s-early 50s) Mona’s husband and Brace Nelson’s dad. He is also a professional consultant in the tech industry. He’s never home and exclusively speaks to his son through the “house interface system”. He is a bit on the older side for someone with an 11-year-old son. He is impatient, cold, preoccupied, and distant towards his son. He’d never admit it, but he wasn’t looking to have a child while he was focused on his career. (His voice should have strength and maturity to it. Looking for a voice in the range of Jeremy Renner or Adrian Brody) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

DR. LESLIE CALHOUN (F, late 40s-50s) A friend of Professor Sheed’s from Denver. She is highly intelligent and well-respected in the fields of anthropology and archaeology. She has a special interest in ancient weapons, such as the one that has mysteriously wound up in Hope Springs. (Voice should sound believably professorial, but not too stuffy, she’s very friendly). SUPPORTING, $250/DAY 

 

BRUNO (M, 30s-50s) The car driver for Brace's family. You don't want to mess with him. Should sound large and intimidating. (Looking for a voice in the range of Ving Rames, Brad Garrett, Sam Elliot, or other iconic deep male voices). BIT PART, $100/DAY  

 

MRS. LEVENGER (F, 50s-60s) Brace Nelson’s guardian. She looks after his wellbeing while his parents are away on business. She means well and she does her best to look after Brace, but she’s not too great at her job. Brace doesn’t quite trust her yet, and he spends all his time trying to figure out how to get away from her. She’s anxious and uptight, a nanny figure, but not as gentle or sweet like your typical nanny. She spends all her time in the garden. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

DORIS GOODWIN (F, 30s-40s) A court clerk. A no-nonsense, organized, and efficient professional. She’s fastidious, bureaucratic, and means business. She is orderly and has sharp attention to detail. She has a dry humor or sarcasm, which becomes apparent as she interacts with the silly kids as she tries to record their depositions following the events of season 1. BIT PART, $100/DAY 

 

COLONEL TITUS KILBY (M, 40s) an 1800s traveling showman who goes from town to town telling people about his “Traveling Curiosities.” A salesman, he tries to get people to buy his “elixir of life” which he claims can cure any ailments. He’s like a circus ringmaster, or the Wizard of Oz, or is in the same vein as Pirelli from Sweeney Todd. Greedy, dishonest, deceptive, shady, a fraud. (Looking for a voice/performance in the realm of the original Wizard of Oz character from the 1939 film, though we’re open to other interpretations) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

 

MAGGIE SLOANE (F, 30s - 40s) a camp counselor at Camp Willikers. She is gentle, nurturing, supportive, and compassionate. She is approachable, and kids instantly feel at ease in her company. She’s the type of counselor who takes the time to listen without rushing to fix things—whether it’s a troubled camper struggling with homesickness or one dealing with deeper personal issues. She patiently guides them through their emotions and encourages them. SUPPORTING, $250/DAY 

 

ELIJAH TANNER (M, 40S) An 1800s English Gentleman who came to Colorado to make his fortune in the mining business. He has fallen on hard times and has found himself under a mysterious curse. He’ll do anything to be set free. (Seeking a male voice who can do a convincing English accent). SUPPORTING, $250/DAY If you are called back for Elijah, please do one read of the side with an English accent and one in a mountain/country kind of accent 

 

NARRATOR (M, 30s-50s) a Documentary Style Narrator from a 1950s/1960s film. Seeking a baritone voice in the style of this Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Film. Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf_9YB_oX3I BIT PART, $100/DAY  

 

STORYTELLER (Male or Female) The narrator for the Small Wonders Puppet Theatre shows, which teaches parables through creative storytelling. The storyteller has a warm, engaging presence, and a voice that can capture the attention of the children who come to watch the puppet shows. (Seeking a pleasant, warm, sweet, inviting, and friendly voice.) SUPPORTING, $250/DAY  

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MOLLY EDWARDS (F, 30s-40s) The host of a locally produced TV program called “Strange but True” that was on in the early 1980s. Her hosting style should be that of an Unsolved Mysteries episode or Entertainment Tonight. BIT PART, $100/DAY 

 

 

A NOTE ABOUT OUR STUDIO & WHO WE ARE 

Augustine Institute Studios is a 25-time Telly Award Winning Filmmaking Studio. Formerly based in Denver, CO, we are packing up our cameras & microphones and bringing them with us to the Midwest! We are a team of creative storytellers who craft captivating cinematic and audio experiences (documentaries, educational video series, children’s animated shows, podcasts, audio dramas, and more). It’s our mission to share light and beauty with the world, and we seek to produce compelling and award-winning content in both the *Catholic world and beyond!  

 

*Though we are a Catholic studio, you do not have to be a Catholic to audition for us! We welcome the opportunity to work with actors of all backgrounds and many of our actors in previous projects have not been Catholic. This story is not just for Catholics! It's a wholesome, family-friendly show for everyone!*

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QUESTIONS? EMAIL CASTING@AUGUSTINEINSTITUTE.ORG