Asteroid City Monologues & Audition Scenes

Characters: General Gibson

General Gibson delivers a structured, eccentric keynote speech to a group of young stargazers, reflecting on the harsh realities of his past and the rapid, cold progression of science. He challenges the next generation to face an uncertain future with the understanding that the world is no longer a quiet or peaceful place.

Characters: Midge, Augie

Midge Campbell, a famous actress, rehearses a dramatic monologue for an upcoming role while interacting with Augie, a photographer, through their adjacent motel windows. The scene explores Midge's vulnerability and her desire to be truly seen as she performs a piece about a woman losing her sense of self, culminating in a moment of raw exposure.

Characters: Midge, Augie

Two emotionally detached individuals, Midge and Augie, converse through their adjacent motel windows about their shared inability to feel guilt or prioritize their families over their work. Midge confesses her shortcomings as a mother while Augie reflects on his obsession with war photography, leading them to realize their bond is rooted in their mutual suppression of deep-seated pain.

Characters: Polly, Director

Polly visits her estranged husband, Schubert, at his makeshift living quarters inside a theater proscenium. As they discuss their son's grades and the finality of their separation, they share a moment of creative collaboration and mutual respect before saying a final goodbye.

Characters: Woodrow, Midge

A young understudy tracks down a famous actress on a train to deliver a series of messages from their director following a heated argument. The scene explores the volatile relationship between a director and his muse through a series of insults and a final, heartfelt plea for her return to the production.

Characters: Dr. Hickenlooper

Dr. Hickenlooper enthusiastically explains the rare phenomenon of an Astronomical Ellipses to a gathered crowd. She balances scientific jargon with personal anecdotes, revealing her own permanent retinal damage from a childhood observation that sparked her career in astronomy.

Characters: Augie

Augie reflects on his late wife's vibrant personality and scientific curiosity while speaking to his son, Woodrow. He struggles to articulate the depth of his grief and the surreal feeling of still sensing her presence in the quiet moments of the night.

Characters: Stanley, Pandora, Cassiopeia, Andromeda

Three young sisters perform a makeshift occult burial for their mother's remains in a motel alleyway using a Tupperware bowl. Their estranged grandfather interrupts the ceremony, leading to a tense but poignant negotiation regarding the proper resting place for his daughter and the girls' future.

Characters: J.J., Motel Manager, Clifford

A father and son navigate a bizarre real estate transaction in the middle of the desert while grappling with their emotional disconnect. As J.J. questions the validity of his 'investment,' Clifford reveals the existential fear driving his constant need for attention and dangerous dares.

Characters: Playwright, Actor/Augie

A playwright is surprised by an aspiring actor who has hitch-hiked to his home to audition for the role of Augie Steenbeck. The two share a carton of ice cream and discuss the character's motivations, leading to an immediate creative connection as the actor begins to transform into the role.