Announcing Auditions for Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York’s production of I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN, by Stephen Jeffreys, directed by Benita Zahn.
Auditions: Wednesday, July 30th and Friday, August 1st at 6:30 PM @ the First Congregational Church, 405 Quail St, Albany, NY 12208. You do not need to bring a prepared monologue; we will have selections from the script for you to read at auditions.
I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN, by Stephen Jeffreys, directed by Benita Zahn
Performances: October 30-November 9, 2025, at Capital Repertory Theatre, 251 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207.
Set in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, I Just Stopped By To See the Man is a passionate and political ode to the power and truth of the blues. It tells the story of Jesse Davidson, the greatest living bluesman, long believed dead, who is living out his simple life with his activist daughter in a bare shack. Legend surrounds Jesse—like the story about him selling his soul to the devil so that he could play guitar. But when Karl, a famous English rocker who has been making a fortune off the legend’s tunes, stumbles into their solitude and probes for the truth about Jesse, he triggers a confrontation of mythic proportions. https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/…/i-just-stopped-by…
Characters:
JESSE* – Black, male, 60s-70s, American. “The Man” – the last of the old-time Delta Blues singers, supposedly dead for 14 years but actually alive and in hidden retirement
DELLA – Black, female, 30s-40s, American. Jesse’s activist daughter and protector
KARL* – White, male, 20s-30s, English. A famous rock musician obsessed with finding Jesse
* Jesse sings and strums a chord but is not required to fully play guitar onstage. Karl sings and plays guitar onstage.
Rehearsals for I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN will begin in early September. There will be weekday evening and weekend daytime rehearsals. Please bring your calendars/conflicts to auditions.
If you have questions relating to the auditions and performances, or if you have a conflict with the audition dates but are still interested in being considered for a role, please email or call: BTTUNY518@gmail.com. 518-833-2621.