Open auditions for the 2025 revival of ‘Forgotten’ will take place on July 11 and 12 at St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward Ave. (between Holbrook and King Streets), Detroit:
Friday, July 11, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, July 12, 12 noon-5 p.m.
(Enter the church parking lot from King Street, just east of Woodward and one block south of Holbrook. Enter church through the right- hand door adjacent to the parking lot; press bell to gain entrance.)
“Forgotten: The Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant” is a 90-minute musical in a jazz/bluesy genre set in the 1930s as workers were battling hunger and homelessness while organizing unions.
Scenes depict the Ford Hunger March, the Flint sit-down strike, the Battle of the Overpass and more.
The show is written for nine leads (three women, six men) and nine-plus chorus members. Historical characters include Rev. Lewis and Ella Bradford, in their mid-40s; Henry and Clara Ford, in their mid-70s, Fr. Charles Coughlin and Harry Bennett, in their mid-40s, and Ford hunger marchers and workers of various ages. The lead, Lewis Bradford, a part-time pastor at Detroit’s Central United
Methodist Church, hosts “The Forgotten Man’s Radio Hour” where jobless workers can tell their story, He also works at Ford’s River Rouge plant where he advocates for workers’ rights. He is found dead in 1937 on the plant floor leading to an investigation where many years later his death is called a likely homicide.
You can hear some of the 22 songs and see photos from a previous production of “’Forgotten” on YouTube at Bill Meyer Music Forgotten. Five songs will display (“Ford Hunger March,” “We Remember You,” “When We Organize,” I Cannot Be Silent,” and “Keep the Wheels Rolling On”). Bill Meyer is music director of the show.
You may bring music to the audition. A pianist will be present. No auditions with a recording. If you’re not picked for a lead, you may be considered for the chorus. One song, one short acting scene.
The show will be presented October 10-12 at Marygrove Theater in Detroit. Rehearsals will begin September 3 and will be scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays with final rehearsals at the theater the week of October 6. All cast members will be compensated.
For further information, contact Director Elise Bryant at ealbertabryant@gmail.com or Assistant Director Lynn Marie Smith at lynnmariesmith@gmail.com or Music Director Bill Meyer at bill@billmeyermusic.com
for ticket info: MichiganLaborHistorySociety.com/Forgotten (on sale in June)