PLAY SYNOPSIS
Three couples reunite for their beloved annual beach trip to scatter the ashes of Joy, the friend who held them together for 40 years. But Jack, her widower, throws a delightful wrench into the weekend by bringing along Evelyn, a widow who just gets his grief in a way no one else can.
Suddenly the group’s plans for a solemn, sandy goodbye turn into something messier and much more alive; old friends bicker and struggle to understand, their loyalty to Joy making it hard to see Jack’s happiness as anything but a betrayal. But even amid the tension, there’s no shortage of old jokes, easy laughter, and the kind of love only decades of friendship can hold, all the while wrestling with one nagging question: how long is long enough to grieve before you’re allowed to laugh again?
Spreading Joy is a warm, funny look at what it means to hold onto old friendships while making room for new love. Full of humor and heart, it’s a celebration of the bonds that carry us through loss, and proof that even after saying goodbye, there’s still joy to be found again.
September 4 – 20, 2026
By Cricket Daniel
Co-directed by Richard Choate and Whitney Garner.
Age Rating: TBA
The link to buy tickets will be available soon.
AUDITIONS
Upcoming auditions for our next season’s production Spreading Joy by Cricket Daniel! Co-directed by Richard Choate and Whitney Garner.
Auditions are July 6th and 7th from 6-9pm at Cascades Theatrical Company. There are 6 roles, 3 men and 3 women. More info TBA.
Three couples gather for their annual beach trip to scatter the ashes of Joy, the friend who held them together for 40 years. But Jack, her widower, shocks everyone by inviting Evelyn—a widow who understands his grief—to join them. What should be a healing reunion fractures as the group grapples with an impossible question: How long should you mourn before you’re allowed to live again? Spreading Joy explores love, loss, and the courage to open your heart when those closest to you think it’s too soon.
CHARACTERS
JACK (50s-60s)
Joy’s widower. A former district attorney and the emotional center of the group. Intelligent, steady, and deeply compassionate, Jack spent over a year caring for his wife through Alzheimer’s disease before losing her. While still grieving, he is quietly determined to rediscover joy and connection. Requires an actor capable of warmth, emotional depth, humor, and vulnerability.
PENNY (50s-60s)
Quick-witted, outspoken, and fiercely loyal. Penny is the group’s firecracker and unofficial comedian, using humor to navigate grief, fear, and uncertainty. She loves hard, fights hard, and says exactly what everyone else is thinking. Beneath her confidence lies a deep fear of loss and change. Strong comic timing required, along with the ability to access genuine emotional depth.
BUTCH (50s-60s)
Penny’s easy going husband. Funny, lovable, and occasionally clueless, Butch uses humor to defuse tension and avoid difficult emotions. While often the source of comic relief, his devotion to Penny and his friends runs deep. Looking for an actor with strong comedic instincts and natural warmth.
ROBERT (50s-60s)
Thoughtful, pragmatic, and dependable. Robert is the group’s voice of reason and serves as a stabilizing influence during emotionally charged moments. A retired educator with a dry wit and gentle demeanor, he values friendship and family above all else. Requires an actor capable of understated humor and quiet emotional strength.
TIGG (50s-60s)
The caretaker of the group. Creative, nurturing, and deeply empathetic, Tigg expresses love through acts of service—feeding people, organizing gatherings, and making sure everyone feels included. Joy’s death has shaken her more deeply than she wants others to see. Looking for an actor who can balance warmth, humor, anxiety, and heartfelt emotion.
EVELYN (50s-60s)
A professor and widow who unexpectedly enters the group’s long-established dynamic. Intelligent, self-assured, compassionate, and emotionally mature, Evelyn understands grief firsthand and refuses to apologize for continuing to live after loss. She possesses both grace and quiet strength. Seeking an actor with warmth, intelligence, confidence, and emotional authenticity.
SIDES
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