A Recipe for Disaster

Production Company
Playstorm Festival
Director(s)
Lauren Clift
Casting Director(s): 
Lauren Clift
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Theatre / Live Performance
Student Production
No
Compensation Details

This is a volunteer Project

Audition Date(s)
April 28th & 29th 6:30-10:00pm
Audition Location
Xtreme Talent, Abbotsford (April 28th), Little Langley Theatre (April 29th)
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
4-5 performances between July 13th-26th, 2026
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Little Langley Theatre
Submission Deadline
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Submission Instructions

To be considered for an audition, please read through the information guide and fill out the submission form at this link: https://forms.gle/vRQ3yuQMomqVcB2q7

If you have any issues with the form, or further questions please email laurenclift.production@gmail.com

Project Synopsis
The Schiefer family is gathering for a dinner to celebrate grandmother’s birthday. Despite all being adults, the Schiefer kids are feeling the pressure that they experience at every dinner to be perfect for their mom and grandma. But perfection is hard to emulate when you’re hiding a divorce, unemployment, your sexuality, your fake boyfriend, or the fact that you are devastatingly high so, the obvious solution is: lie! Throughout the evening, each of the family members’ secrets start to reveal themselves in a series of miscommunications that ends in a chaos, hilarity and some heartwarming family moments, as well as Grandma accidentally ingesting a plate of weed brownies… and the oven catching fire… and maybe drinking one or two (or six) glasses of wine… You know, normal family dinner activities… A Recipe for Disaster is a one-act comedy play capturing all the hilarious and heartwarming moments of a particularly chaotic family dinner.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Actors of any gender identity or age are encouraged to apply for any role regardless of specified character age/genders.

Character 1
Ben
Age
30s
Gender
Male
Description
The oldest son, a hard worker with high standards for himself and even more so, for others. Stubborn, takes himself very seriously, secretly very caring but would never admit that. He has the typical oldest-son-attitude. Physical requirements: Light intimacy (Hand holding, hugging), fight choreography
Character 2
Kate
Age
20s-30s
Gender
Female
Description
The second oldest, always trying to exceed others’ expectations. Proud, hot-tempered, and prides herself on seeming put together. Often finds herself taking the brunt of the familiar pressure. Physical requirements: Light intimacy (Hand holding, hugging)
Character 3
Nat (Natalie)
Age
20s-30s
Gender
Female
Description
Third oldest sibling. Branded the “wild child,” Nat is actually just independent and uninterested in living up to the family’s expectations. Dry, sarcastic, and emotionally guarded, she deflects with humor. Has been dating a woman for almost a year but has yet to come out to her family. Physical requirements: Intimacy (hand holding, hugging, kissing), fight choreography
Character 4
Olly (Oliver)
Age
20s
Gender
Male
Description
The youngest sibling. Easygoing, unbothered, and perpetually underestimated. Total stoner, but only for the most exquisite weed. Just here for good vibes and family time. Lives in his grandmother’s basement, mostly just to hang out with her on a Friday night. Physical requirements: Fight choreography
Character 5
Hailey
Age
20s-30s
Gender
Female
Description
Wife/high school sweetheart of Ben. Confident, grounded, kind, and effortlessly likable. Often the voice of reason in the chaos. Hailey fits comfortably into the Schiefer family. Physical requirements: Light intimacy (hand holding, hugging)
Additional Characters

Jo – mid/late 20s/early 30s, female
Nat’s girlfriend. Anxious, oversharing, and overthinking when in social situations, but quietly confident when
comfortable. Deeply eager to make a good impression with Nat’s family. Lovable, high-strung, and painfully
transparent at times.
Physical requirements: Intimacy (hand holding, hugging, kissing)

Stu – mid/late 20s/early 30s, male
A dorky bartender posing as Kate’s fake boyfriend. Quiet, awkward, and unintentionally hilarious. Always seems to
be in the exact right place to accidentally witness the family’s secrets unravelling but has no idea what to do with
that information. Becomes fast friends and stoner-buddies with Olly but will drop everything if given the
opportunity to flirt with Kate.
Physical requirements: Light intimacy (hand holding, hugging, flirting), fight choreography

Susan Schiefer – late 40s-60s, female
Mother of Ben, Kate, Nat and Olly. Intense, controlling, and deeply invested in appearances. A perfectionist shaped
by her own upbringing. Somewhat behind the times when it comes to gender roles/expectations. Determined to host
the perfect family dinner to impress her elderly mother, she fails to see the pressure she places on her children.
*The actor cast as Susan will also play Grandma Schiefer. Age is not a limiting factor for Grandma
Schiefer as it will be exaggerated with costumes and wig and staging.
Physical Requirements: Fight choreography