AUDITION DATES: Sunday, July 12, and Monday, July 13 2026 
AUDITION TIME:  7:00 pm
DIRECTOR: Matthew Golden
PERFORMANCE DATES: September 11-27, 2026

DIRECTOR'S NOTES:

• Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
• Age ranges given are playing ages. However, the actors need to visually portray the familial relationships in a convincing way.
• Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sizes, etc. are encouraged to audition.

CHARACTERS:

• Rhoda Penmark (female-presenting, pre-teen): a pretty little girl, outwardly perfect, morally blind, and a master of manipulation. Although the character is a child, the director will consider both child and young adult performers for the role.
• Col. Kenneth Penmark (male-presenting, 30s-40s): Rhoda’s father, a military officer, absent for most of the play, loves Rhoda and Christine.
• Christine Penmark (female-presenting, 30s-40s): Rhoda’s mother, deeply devoted to her family. She is driven by both a fear and a hunger for the truth, which are put in direct opposition with the revelation of Rhoda’s true nature.
• Mrs. Monica Breedlove (female-presenting, 50s-60s): landlady, a busy body know-it-all, but has layers of genuine care and warmth for others.
• Emory Wages (male-presenting, 40s-50s), Monica’s brother, good-natured and easy going, closeted, dominated by Monica.
• Leroy (male-presenting, 40s-50s): building handyman, a latent predator, cryptic and quiet in front of other adults, but sadistic towards Rhoda.
• Miss Fern (female-presenting, 40s-60s): a prim academic, kind but stern, suspects Rhoda’s crimes.
• Reginald Tasker (male-presenting, 30s-50s): mystery writer and an amateur criminologist. He is interested in the works of Christine’s father, Richard Bravo, and admires him greatly.
• Mrs. Daigle (female-presenting, 40s-50s): an alcoholic neighbor, erratic and mad with grief, drowns her sorrows in liquor.
• Mr. Daigle (male-presenting 40s): exhausted by his wife’s alcoholism and devastated by the loss of his son.
• Richard Bravo (male-presenting 60s-70s): Christine’s father, newspaper columnist, initially refuses to believe that the ‘bad seed’ gene can be passed on but becomes afraid of Rhoda.

“Bad Seed” is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

Content Advisory: Discussion and themes of death, murder, alcohol and drunkenness, and the loss of a child.