HAND TO GOD

Written by Robert Askins

Directed by Troy Nickerson

Theater on the Verge will hold in-person auditions for HAND TO GOD, a dark comedy about faith, repression, and the ongoing battle between your good puppet and your bad puppet.

About the play

Set in a small-town Texas church basement, HAND TO GOD follows Jason, a shy teenager whose hand puppet—created in a Christian puppetry class—takes on a disturbingly independent (and profane) life of its own. What follows is hilarious, shocking, and unexpectedly human.

Characters

A note on casting: The teenage characters in HAND TO GOD are high school-aged, but we are seeking adult actors to portray them.

• JASON (teen; actor 18+): A socially withdrawn high school student struggling with grief, faith, and adolescence.

• JESSICA (teen; actor 18+): A high school girl—sharp, observant, and more emotionally aware than those around her.

• TIMOTHY (teen; actor 18+): Pastor Greg’s son. Awkward, angry, volatile, and deeply lonely.

• MARGERY (adult; late 30s–40s): Jason’s mother. Recently widowed, devout, anxious, and clinging desperately to structure and faith as her world frays.

• PASTOR GREG (adult; late 30s–50s): The church’s pastor. Charismatic, insecure, and ethically compromised. A man whose authority far exceeds his emotional maturity.

No roles are pre-cast. All roles are open.

Content warnings

This play includes:

• Strong and pervasive language

• Strong sexual content (both verbal and physical)

• Graphic violence (there will be blood!)

• Blasphemy and irreverent treatment of religion

• Themes of grief, repression, and emotional trauma

If that list makes you nervous, this may not be the show for you.
If it makes you curious… welcome.

Auditions

• Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026

• Time: 2:00 PM

• Doors open: 1:30 PM

• Location: The Listening Room at Hamilton Studio
  1427 W. Dean Ave., Spokane

• If you can’t make it, please send us a DM and we’ll do our best to make arrangements

Audition format:

• Auditions will consist of readings from the script

• Headshots and resumes are helpful but not required

• Actors of any experience level are welcome

Production details

• Run: May 21 – June 6, 2026
  (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM)

• Venue: The Listening Room at Hamilton Studio

• Tickets: theaterontheverge.ticketspice.com/hand-to-god