Seeking talent from Louisiana and United States (Nationwide)
About the project
Set in the 1930s Deep South, NORMA follows a once-revered blues singer fighting to reclaim her voice and identity. In a world that tries to slience her, she rises once more to reclaim her legacy.
Project description
Casting principal, supporting, and minor roles for Norma, a feature film exploring ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing success within the world of Southern Black music.
Submission Instructions
To be considered for a role in Norma, please submit:
• Headshot
• Resume
• Demo Reel (if available)
• Self-tape using the provided sides
or a contemporary monologue
Audition sides are available within each character’s description below.
Please send all materials to normamovie@gmail.com with the subject line: NORMA CASTING – [ROLE] – [ACTOR NAME]
Roles Available
RAY Lead. Black. Male. 40s-50s Norma's devoted manager and closest ally, Ray, is a natural diplomat who can code-switch between worlds. He is dependable but stretched thin between providing for his family and his loyalty to Norma. Ray believes in her talent, but he also recognizes the industry’s changing tides and tries to push her toward compromise. His conflict is torn between survival, loyalty, and the uncomfortable truth that Norma may never return to her former glory.
EUGENE Lead. Black Male. Early 20s A passionate songwriter overflowing with raw talent and unrecognized potential. He was raised on Norma's music by his late mother, who was Norma's biggest fan. Eugene carries a quiet determination to make his own mark and represents the next generation of musical talent, bridging traditional blues with contemporary swing. Nervousness dissolves when he's at the piano - that's when his confidence and artistry shine. His hero worship of Norma is grounded in genuine musical understanding, not just fandom.
CONCERT PROMOTER Lead. White Male. 60s Old-school entertainment industry businessman who sees performers as assets, not artists. Not actively malicious, but operates within racist systems without question. He views Norma as a former commodity whose value has expired. His genuine concerns about his theater's survival and industry execs approval fulls his decision making. He represents the institutional barriers that Norma must overcome - he's the system, not the villain.
NIPPY Supporting. Female. 40s Nippy Russell is Ray’s unwavering wife, a steady, nurturing presence who keeps her family afloat as Ray pours everything into Norma’s comeback. She loves Norma, but she’s unafraid to name the sacrifices being made behind the scenes. Nippy brings emotional clarity to the story, reminding everyone what’s truly at stake.
CAROL Supporting. Female. 40s-50s Carol is a sassy, warm, seamstress who’s known Norma since they were girls. She runs her shop with quick wit and quicker hands, offering Norma equal parts gossip, honesty, and unfiltered affection. Carol brings levity and grounding to the story — a reminder of home, history, and the people who love Norma beyond the spotlight.
ESSIE MAE Supporting. Black (Light-skinned). Female. Early 20s Essie Mae is a young, light-skinned singer with a bright smile and a bubbly charm that instantly fills a room. Beneath her sweetness is a fierce ambition—eager, hopeful, and unaware of the shadow her rise casts over Norma’s fading spotlight. She’s innocence and opportunity wrapped into one, a reminder of the new world forming around Norma and the shifting tides of who gets to shine.
CLUB OWNER Minor. Black Male. 30s-40s The Club Owner runs his place with a slick smile and a hustler’s mindset. He likes Norma and remembers her glory days, but he’s blunt about the reality: she no longer draws a crowd. he represents the small-time venues struggling to survive—and the people who decide an artist’s worth the moment the money dries up.
HOTEL MANAGER Minor. White. Male. 30s-50s The Hotel Manager is a polished, warm-smiling professional whose charm masks a cold, calculated pragmatism. Always courteous on the surface, he hides behind politeness to deliver decisions that cut deep. In his world, business comes before loyalty, and he can dismiss Norma with a smile that never falters. He represents the polite face of prejudice—cheery, composed, and quietly ruthless.
STAGE MANAGER Minor. White. Male. 30s The Stage Manager is efficient, focused, and always in motion—moving performers into place, tracking cues, and keeping the show stitched together behind the curtain. He’s polite but firm, a quiet problem-solver managing chaos. Even when the Promoter is spiraling, the Stage Manager stays steady, doing whatever it takes to keep the show running.
LEVI Minor. Black. Male. 60s-70s Levi, Mr. Thomas’s brother, is a loud, lovable regular with a big personality and an even bigger laugh. He talks trash, slams dominoes, and punctuates Eugene’s music with soulful call-outs. He’s pure juke-joint energy—a reminder of the joy, rhythm, and lived experience that fuel the blues.
LEOLA Minor. Black. Female. 60s-70s Leola is Mr. Thomas’s warm-hearted wife, always sweeping the bar floor while keeping the men in check.