World Stage is looking for a seasoned ensemble of actors to bring this classic to life!
When: Monday, July 20th, 2026
Where: World Stage Studio – 1130 S. Harvard, Tulsa OK 74136
What Time: 6:30pm
Show Dates: September 18-27, 2026 – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
WHAT TO PREPARE:
Please prepare a short, one-to-two-minute monologue from a published play. We are especially interested in monologues that showcase strong emotional range and character depth. Auditions may also include cold readings from the script.
WHAT TO BRING:
Your headshot and resume, if you have one. Auditions will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis as time allows.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive rehearsal environment where everyone feels safe and respected. If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact Dionne at dionne@okworldstage.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
Character Descriptions
CHIEF BROMDEN:
A towering Native American patient who has convinced everyone he is deaf and mute. Quietly observant, Chief sees everything happening around him while remaining nearly invisible to the staff. He serves as the emotional heart of the story, carrying profound wisdom beneath years of trauma and institutionalization.
A towering Native American patient who has convinced everyone he is deaf and mute. Quietly observant, Chief sees everything happening around him while remaining nearly invisible to the staff. He serves as the emotional heart of the story, carrying profound wisdom beneath years of trauma and institutionalization.
DALE HARDING:
Intelligent, articulate, and often sarcastic, Harding is one of the ward’s more educated patients. Though outwardly confident, he struggles deeply with insecurity, identity, and self-worth. Often serves as the group’s unofficial spokesperson.
Intelligent, articulate, and often sarcastic, Harding is one of the ward’s more educated patients. Though outwardly confident, he struggles deeply with insecurity, identity, and self-worth. Often serves as the group’s unofficial spokesperson.
BILLY BIBBITT:
A shy, vulnerable young man with a pronounced stutter and overwhelming anxiety. Billy longs for acceptance and confidence but remains trapped by fear, shame, and his mother’s influence.
A shy, vulnerable young man with a pronounced stutter and overwhelming anxiety. Billy longs for acceptance and confidence but remains trapped by fear, shame, and his mother’s influence.
SCANLON:
A quiet patient with an active imagination and a fascination with explosions and destruction. Though he often appears detached, Scanlon contributes moments of humor while revealing the different ways people cope with institutional life.
A quiet patient with an active imagination and a fascination with explosions and destruction. Though he often appears detached, Scanlon contributes moments of humor while revealing the different ways people cope with institutional life.
CHESWICK:
Passionate, emotional, and impulsive, Cheswick frequently voices frustrations that others are afraid to express. He desperately wants fairness and belonging but struggles to maintain emotional control.
Passionate, emotional, and impulsive, Cheswick frequently voices frustrations that others are afraid to express. He desperately wants fairness and belonging but struggles to maintain emotional control.
MARTINI:
A gentle, eccentric patient whose imagination frequently blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Childlike and endearing, Martini provides much of the play’s humor while reminding audiences of the humanity behind mental illness.
A gentle, eccentric patient whose imagination frequently blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Childlike and endearing, Martini provides much of the play’s humor while reminding audiences of the humanity behind mental illness.
RUCKLEY:
A long-term patient who has endured years of institutional abuse, leaving him largely unable to communicate. Though he speaks very little, his physical presence powerfully represents the lasting effects of dehumanization.
A long-term patient who has endured years of institutional abuse, leaving him largely unable to communicate. Though he speaks very little, his physical presence powerfully represents the lasting effects of dehumanization.
RANDLE P. MCMURPHY:
A charismatic gambler and lifelong rule-breaker who arrives at the hospital believing he can outsmart the system. Funny, bold, and irresistibly magnetic, McMurphy inspires the other patients to rediscover courage, joy, and their own humanity—even as his rebellion comes at tremendous cost.
A charismatic gambler and lifelong rule-breaker who arrives at the hospital believing he can outsmart the system. Funny, bold, and irresistibly magnetic, McMurphy inspires the other patients to rediscover courage, joy, and their own humanity—even as his rebellion comes at tremendous cost.
AIDE WARREN:
One of the ward attendants. Physically imposing and accustomed to enforcing order through intimidation and control. Represents the institution’s reliance on obedience and power.
One of the ward attendants. Physically imposing and accustomed to enforcing order through intimidation and control. Represents the institution’s reliance on obedience and power.
AIDE WILLIAMS:
A ward attendant who follows Nurse Ratched’s leadership without question. Efficient, intimidating, and emotionally detached, Williams helps maintain the rigid structure of the hospital.
A ward attendant who follows Nurse Ratched’s leadership without question. Efficient, intimidating, and emotionally detached, Williams helps maintain the rigid structure of the hospital.
DR. SPIVEY:
The hospital psychiatrist. Kind-hearted but indecisive, Dr. Spivey often allows stronger personalities to influence his decisions. He genuinely wants to help his patients but struggles to challenge the system around him.
The hospital psychiatrist. Kind-hearted but indecisive, Dr. Spivey often allows stronger personalities to influence his decisions. He genuinely wants to help his patients but struggles to challenge the system around him.
NURSE RATCHED:
The head nurse of the psychiatric ward. Calm, composed, and meticulously controlled, she governs through psychological manipulation rather than overt aggression. Whether viewed as protector or oppressor, Nurse Ratched believes order is essential—even when maintaining it requires devastating consequences.
The head nurse of the psychiatric ward. Calm, composed, and meticulously controlled, she governs through psychological manipulation rather than overt aggression. Whether viewed as protector or oppressor, Nurse Ratched believes order is essential—even when maintaining it requires devastating consequences.
NURSE FLINN:
A younger nurse who works under Nurse Ratched. Professional and compassionate, she often finds herself caught between empathy for the patients and loyalty to the institution.
A younger nurse who works under Nurse Ratched. Professional and compassionate, she often finds herself caught between empathy for the patients and loyalty to the institution.
AIDE TURKLE:
The elderly overnight attendant. More relaxed and approachable than the daytime staff, Turkle brings warmth and humor to the ward while providing one of the few glimpses of genuine human connection within the institution.
The elderly overnight attendant. More relaxed and approachable than the daytime staff, Turkle brings warmth and humor to the ward while providing one of the few glimpses of genuine human connection within the institution.
CANDY STARR
A free-spirited, warm-hearted woman and friend of McMurphy’s. Though often underestimated because of her profession, Candy treats the patients with kindness, dignity, and acceptance, offering them a rare experience of unconditional human connection.
A free-spirited, warm-hearted woman and friend of McMurphy’s. Though often underestimated because of her profession, Candy treats the patients with kindness, dignity, and acceptance, offering them a rare experience of unconditional human connection.
SANDRA:
Candy’s friend. Confident, playful, and full of life, Sandra helps bring laughter and normalcy into the otherwise restrictive world of the hospital, reminding the patients what freedom feels like.
Candy’s friend. Confident, playful, and full of life, Sandra helps bring laughter and normalcy into the otherwise restrictive world of the hospital, reminding the patients what freedom feels like.
Please Note: While many characters have traditionally been portrayed by particular genders and ethnic identities, World Stage welcomes performers of all identities and experiences to audition. We are committed to casting the strongest ensemble of storytellers to bring this powerful play to life.