AUDITION NOTICE: The Birds and the Bees, January 24, 2026

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

The Birds and the Bees
Written by: Mark Crawford

Directed by: Barbara Kobolak

Production Dates:
May 6 – 23, 2026 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on May 10 & 17 at 2:30 pm (Sundays)
All actors must be available for all performances. 

Open Call Audition:
Auditions  will be held on:

Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to fill out your audition card – onstage readings will commence at 1:00pm sharp.  

Audition Location:
Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
(Please use 235 Besserer Street entrance.)

Backstage Orientation:
Simultaneously with the audition, A BACKSTAGE ORIENTATION and tour of the theatre will be offered by a member of the Volunteer Committee for anyone interested in working behind the scenes on any future production. Descriptions of each of the various Volunteer Positions can be found in the Volunteer section of this website.

Synopsis:
Pollination and insemination have never been funnier than in this rural comedy with a huge, honeyed heart. Beekeeper Gail’s husband ran off with the neighbour’s wife 20 years earlier, and now her turkey-farming daughter Sarah has left her husband and moved back home. Throw in a strapping young entomology student and let nature take its course! The two women must learn to deal with each other as they deal with their personal struggles around intimacy and relationships. A laugh-out-loud comedy, following these four characters as they navigate love, life, and a whole lot of…pollination.

Content Advisory
This play contains mature content and discussions of sex.

Character Descriptions 

Note: The stage ages are taken from the dialogue of the play, and are not meant to be the exact age of persons auditioning.

SARAH
Female (stage age 38 years old).  All ethnicities.
Sarah is Gail’s uptight daughter, a recently separated turkey farmer whose life has been turned upside-down (just broke up with her husband of 11 years, Darren).  She shows up the next morning on Gail’s doorstep, suitcase in hand, looking to crash for a few days. 

GAIL
Female (stage age 62 years old).  All ethnicities.
A prudish beekeeper who has been “stuck” since her divorce.  Twenty years ago, Gail’s husband, Frank, ran off with Earl’s wife, Sheila.  Gail’s worried about the declining populations in her beehives.  She is surprised to see Sarah on her doorstep, and isn’t as welcoming as you’d expect her to be.

EARL
Male (stage age 63 years old).  All ethnicities.
Gail’s neighbour.  A cash-crop farmer who also rents part of her land.  He’s done a lot of dating since his divorce from Sheila – regards himself akin to being God’s gift to women (though not to Gail).  Earl’s crusty on the outside, but he’s always there when you need him.

BEN
Male (stage age 23 years old).  All ethnicities.
An idealistic university entomology grad student who is studying the declining bee population.  An avid bicyclist, he is handsome,  energetic, innocent, and kind.

Audition Sides
Click the links below to download the scenes that will be used at the audition. Hard copies of these sides will be provided at the audition.