Casting Call

TITLE: Now I See

PRODUCT: Audio Drama, approximately 40 minutes

CREATED BY: Micah Touchet

WRITTEN BY: Tracy Van Dolder

SUMMARY: For as long as he can remember, Eliav has lived in the shadows of walls he cannot see — the stone walls of Jerusalem where he sleeps, the great gates of the Temple where he begs but is never allowed to enter, and the unseen wall he believes separates him from Yahweh Himself — a barrier the God of Israel must have built long before he was born. Then one voice breaks through the darkness. One touch changes everything. This is the story of a man born blind who is seen — truly seen — for the first time. Set in first-century Jerusalem, this powerful short-form audio drama explores shame, faith, and the light that reveals more than we expect.

ACCENT NOTE: It’s no secret that the popular series The Chosen has reawakened interest in well-told stories from Scripture. While Now I See is not affiliated with or based on that series, we are aiming for a similar level of authenticity and naturalism in the performances — particularly in accent and tone. We’re looking for subtle Middle Eastern-inspired accents that feel lived-in, grounded, and accessible to a modern audience, without drifting into parody or heavy dialect.

RECORDING SESSION: Remote, date TBD

NON UNION

USE: Buyout – Global, in perpetuity

CASTING DIRECTOR: Micah Touchet

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please send us your audio audition on mp3. One role per audio file.
2. Read only for the indicated role (although you’re welcome to have someone read with you).
3. Name the file like this: Character Name – YOUR NAME IN ALL CAPS.
4. Email to [email protected]

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

ELIAV | Download sides
Male, early 20s.
Born blind; intelligent, guarded, quick-witted. Carries deep resentment toward God and religious authority, masking hurt with sarcasm. After the healing, shifts from sensory overload to bold clarity and hard-won peace.
Voice/energy: Starts wary and tense; becomes breathless with wonder at Siloam; later steady, courageous in the Temple. Able to deliver “I was blind and now I see” with conviction rather than melodrama. Chemistry with Abner is key (affection wrapped in barbs).

ABNER | Download sides
Male, early 70s.
Elderly, one leg paralyzed since childhood. Practical, funny, devout without preaching. Acts as Eliav’s anchor—gentle teasing, tough love, and quiet wisdom. Chooses faith daily and is content even without his own healing.
Voice/energy: Warm, grounded, dry humor; never self-pitying. Physicality in breath/effort (crutch, stumbles) without overplaying. Able to pivot from banter to tenderness in a heartbeat.

JESUS | Download sides
Male, early 30s.
Calm authority; intimate presence. Speaks few words, each measured and compassionate. His “Neither…” should feel like the first act of healing; his “light of the world” line is confident but unforced.
Voice/energy: Gentle but unmistakably authoritative. No preacher cadence; natural, compassionate, clear.

PHARISEES (PHARISEE #1–#4) | Download sides
Male, 50s–70s.
Temple authorities—confident, status-conscious, and threatened. #1 is the primary voice: sharp, interrogative, controlling. #2 is reactive, scornful. #3 allows a flicker of doubt/reason. #4 appears at the end for the “Are we blind too?” exchange.
Voice/energy: Educated, clipped diction; escalating frustration. Avoid villain caricature—let certainty, fear of loss, and institutional pride drive them.

JUDAS | Download sides
Male, mid–late 20s.
Practical, a bit fussy; loyal yet slightly anxious about logistics (coin purse, timing). Light comic color without slapstick.
Voice/energy: Quick, slightly defensive when teased; respectful toward Jesus.

JAMES | Download sides
Male, late 20s–early 30s.
Good-natured, brotherly ribbing; observant. Keeps the camaraderie alive among disciples.
Voice/energy: Warm, teasing; can shift to earnest curiosity (“The works of God?”).

PETER | Download sides
Male, early–mid 30s.
Forward, eager; assumes teachable moments. Quick to speak, quick to adjust.
Voice/energy: Confident, impulsive; soften when confused by Jesus’s answers.

MEN (street debaters) | Download sides
Males, 60s–70s.
Three elders discussing the Messiah—warrior-king vs. miracle-worker. They externalize public expectation.
Voice/energy: Brisk, opinionated, friendly argument; a lived-in theology of the marketplace.

NEIGHBORS (1–5; mixed) | Download sides
Male/Female, 40s–50s (some older).
Curious, skeptical, excited; they knew Eliav as a boy. Drive the mob energy to the Temple, then peel back to awe.
Voice/energy: Real community voices—overlapping chatter that can turn into a chant. Avoid cartoon pitch; keep it human.

JOSIAH (Eliav’s father) | Download sides
Male, ~50.
Stonemason. Earnest but fearful of the Pharisees; loves his son yet conditioned by shame culture. Chooses safety in the Temple scene.
Voice/energy: Controlled, respectful, nervous under scrutiny. Emotional undercurrent kept tight.

RACHEL (Eliav’s mother) | Download sides
Female, ~45.
Tender, watchful; torn between wonder and fear of repercussions. Emotion shows in breath more than words.
Voice/energy: Teary warmth held back by social fear; few lines but each matters.