Paper Flowers
Theatre
No Union Affiliation
Set in 1970 Chicago, as both the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement rage on, an over-controlling mother relives her memories of Japanese incarceration after a racial slur targeting her teenage daughter is burned onto her front lawn.
Roles For This Project
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, 18-20s to play 16, white or mixed white) A childhood friend of Arnold’s. His brother was recently killed in the Vietnam War.
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, 18+ to play 16, Male, white) A Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen poet wannabe musician. Fun-loving and goofy. The first to crack a joke. He never takes anything too seriously besides his love for Keiko. The thoughts about being drafted do lean on him, but he hasn’t really thought about... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, 50s - 60s, white) A city worker. He’s like that loud, weird uncle at holiday dinner. Very opinionated. Everyone puts up with him because he’s lived there for decades. He supports the war in Vietnam.
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, 30s - 40s, Female, white) Vapid and a bit full of herself. She’s a performative white woman who likes helping people “worse off” than her, because it makes her feel good.
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LEAD, 18+ to play 16, Female, Japanese-American,/Japanese) KEIKO: An all-American, stubborn, fashion and music-obsessed teen of the 70s. Has a respectful, loving relationship with Nanami but doesn’t understand her mother's “fear” of the world. Is in love with her best friend, Arnold, and just wants... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LEAD, 30’s - 40’s, Female, Japanese-American/Japanese) Strong, clever, and loving in her own distant way, though she can be controlling. Will put everyone before herself and never ask for help. Everything she’s ever loved has claw marks on it because so much of her life has been ripped away from he... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, 40’s- 50s to play a man in his 60’s in the present day, but also 40’s in the flashback, Male, Japanese-American/Japanese) A family man who will do anything for his family. His past traumas have deeply scarred him, making him closed off to his deeper emotions and unwilling to talk ... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, late 20- mid 30s, Female, Black) A bright, joyful young woman who loves to chat and help those around her. She has been active in the activism scene in and around Chicago.
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
SUPPORTING, 20s - 30s, white, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, European) A young, pregnant European immigrant who works as a maid. Sarcastic. Special skills: Can speak conversationally in another European language or can do an accent. If able to speak another language will be asked to speak a little... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, late 30s-40s, Male, white) A used car salesman and owner of the boarding house. He probably had dreams once they are long gone. He’s married to a vapid wife and is worried about his son being drafted to war. He’s often spineless. The only person he respects in the house is the Iyoko’s.
More Roles For This Project
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, 18-20s to play 16, white or mixed white) A childhood friend of Arnold’s. His brother was recently killed in the Vietnam War.
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, 18+ to play 16, Male, white) A Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen poet wannabe musician. Fun-loving and goofy. The first to crack a joke. He never takes anything too seriously besides his love for Keiko. The thoughts about being drafted do lean on him, but he hasn’t really thought about... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, 30s - 40s, Female, white) Vapid and a bit full of herself. She’s a performative white woman who likes helping people “worse off” than her, because it makes her feel good.
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LEAD, 18+ to play 16, Female, Japanese-American,/Japanese) KEIKO: An all-American, stubborn, fashion and music-obsessed teen of the 70s. Has a respectful, loving relationship with Nanami but doesn’t understand her mother's “fear” of the world. Is in love with her best friend, Arnold, and just wants... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LEAD, 30’s - 40’s, Female, Japanese-American/Japanese) Strong, clever, and loving in her own distant way, though she can be controlling. Will put everyone before herself and never ask for help. Everything she’s ever loved has claw marks on it because so much of her life has been ripped away from he... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, 40’s- 50s to play a man in his 60’s in the present day, but also 40’s in the flashback, Male, Japanese-American/Japanese) A family man who will do anything for his family. His past traumas have deeply scarred him, making him closed off to his deeper emotions and unwilling to talk ... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(LARGE SUPPORTING, late 20- mid 30s, Female, Black) A bright, joyful young woman who loves to chat and help those around her. She has been active in the activism scene in and around Chicago.
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
SUPPORTING, 20s - 30s, white, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, European) A young, pregnant European immigrant who works as a maid. Sarcastic. Special skills: Can speak conversationally in another European language or can do an accent. If able to speak another language will be asked to speak a little... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
03/18/2026
(SUPPORTING, late 30s-40s, Male, white) A used car salesman and owner of the boarding house. He probably had dreams once they are long gone. He’s married to a vapid wife and is worried about his son being drafted to war. He’s often spineless. The only person he respects in the house is the Iyoko’s.
