HIGH MAINTENANCE SERIES

Full Name: Ruby Marianne MacDonald

Birthyear: 2005

Age: 15-16 years old

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/her

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Race: Asian (Southeast Asian)

Ethnicity: Vietnamese-Canadian

Nationality: Canadian

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Current Residence: Harbor Hill, Montreal, Canada.

Languages: English, Vietnamese and sometimes French

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Grade Level: Newly Grade 11 Student (Junior)

Occupation: Student. Former Part-Time Babysitter at Alberta.

Education: Former Student Unnamed High School in Alberta. New Transfer Student at Harbor Hill High School.

Clubs/Extracurriculars: Drama Club (Former Alberta member), Planning to join Debate Team and Drama Club at Harbor Hill High School.

Family: 

Dave MacDonald (father)

Cynthia MacDonald (mother)

Rihannon MacDonald (sister)

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Ruby is the cynical, highly observant, and deeply intelligent 16 year-old co-protagonist of the series. Recently relocated from Calgary to the high-pressure suburban environment of Harbor Hill, Montreal, she navigates junior year with protective armor made of sarcasm, vintage flannels, and indie music.

Adopted at age two, she harbors deep seated anxieties about her identity and past, channeling her need for order into secretly aspiring to be a criminal defense or prosecuting attorney. She has a "sugar and ice" personality projecting cold indifference to the popular cliques, but fiercely loyal and warm to her small "Outcast Alliance" (Abby and Alec).

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Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or maybe a American playing Canadian person or Vietnamese-American

Must be Vietnamese or Vietnamese-Canadian Female

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have debate team skills experience (optional), musical theatre or theatre play experience (optional)

Full Name: Rihannon Jane MacDonald

Birthyear: 2005

Species: Human

Age: 16 

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Race: Caucasian-Canadian

Nationality: Canadian

Eye Color: Hazel

Hair Color: Light blonde

Languages: English and French

Grade Level: Newly Grade 11 student (Junior)

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Current Residence: Harbor Hill, Montreal, Canada.

Occupation: Student.

Education: Former Student Unnamed High School in Alberta. New Transfer Student at Harbor Hill High School.

Extracurriculars: Debate Team (Direct competition with Ruby), Cheerleading, Gymnastics.

Family: 

Dave MacDonald (father)

Cynthia MacDonald (mother)

Rihannon MacDonald (sister)

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Rihannon (16, High School Junior) is a relentless force of perfectly-curated ambition. Having recently relocated from Alberta to a massive Montreal high school (Harbor Hill), she views high school entirely as a corporate ladder and intends to be the CEO. She is fiercely competitive, joining cheer, debate, and aiming for top status to dethrone the current "A-List." To the outside world, she presents as a bubbly, hyper-fashionable, confident "Barbie." Internally, she is calculating, terrified of being perceived as average or 'trashy,' and fiercely (though dysfunctional) loyal to her adoptive sister, Ruby.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or maybe a American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have a experience in cheer, ballet, dance, and talent experience.

Full Name: Cynthia MacDonald

Birthyear: 1977

Age: 44

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/her

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Race: Caucasian 

Ethnicity: White-Canadian

Nationality: Canadian

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Current Residence: Harbor Hill, Montreal, Canada.

Languages: English

Eye Color: Bright Blue

Hair Color: Blonde

Occupation: HR Specialist / Corporate Recruiter.  

Family: 

Dave MacDonald (Husband)

Rihannon MacDonald (Daughter)

Ruby MacDonald (Adoptive Daughter)

Cynthia MacDonald (late 40s) is a prominent supporting/recurring character in the upcoming teen dramedy High Maintenance. She is the adoptive mother of Ruby (16, Vietnamese-Canadian) and biological mother of Rihannon (16). A recent transplant from Alberta to the high-stakes Montreal suburb of Harbor Hill, Cynthia works as an HR Specialist/Project Manager.

Characteristics: She is fiercely loving, perpetually energetic, and painfully "try-hard." She utilizes "corporate-speak" and relentless optimism to gloss over domestic friction, making her somewhat oblivious to the deep emotional struggles of her daughters. She is wine-mom meets linkedIn." Underneath her bright, organized exterior is a profound, defensive love for her children and an unspoken, anxious need to keep her blended family from falling apart in a chaotic new city. The actress must balance intense, annoying chirpiness with flashes of grounding, maternal sincerity.

Must be 30s or 40s to audition 

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Full Name: David "Dave" MacDonald

Birthyear: 1976

Age: 45

Species: Human

Gender: Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Race: Caucasian 

Ethnicity: White-Canadian (Implied to be Scottish descent)

Nationality: Canadian

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Current Residence: Harbor Hill, Montreal, Canada.

Languages: English

Eye Color: Bright Blue

Hair Color: light brown or sandy hair

Occupation: Senior Logistics Project Manager / Supply Chain Executive

Family: 

Cynthia MacDonald (Wife

Rihannon MacDonald (Daughter)

Ruby MacDonald (Adoptive Daughter)

Dave MacDonald (mid-40s) is a fiercely optimistic, slightly overwhelmed, classic Gen-X father who recently relocated his family from Alberta to Montreal. He works as a mid-level logistics/project manager. He loves his daughters deeply but handles emotional conflicts by either applying a sports metaphor or finding a household project to fix (e.g., aggressively researching driveway gravel tones). He represents the wholesome, stable "Blue-Collar White-Collar" middle-class Canadian Dad.

We are looking for an actor who can balance enthusiastic "Managerial Cheerleader" energy with brief, poignant moments of deep, authentic fatherly wisdom when the chips are down for his kids (especially Ruby, his adopted daughter).

Must be 30s or 40s to audition 

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Ophelia is a high school senior at Harbor Hill High, a prominent member of the Cheerleading Squad, and the absolute leader of the Catholic Youth Group. She presents as the flawless, moral, "perfectly put-together" good girl, wrapped in tasteful cardigans and religious purity rings. She is a walking pillar of virtue to adults.

However, her perfection masks a deeply calculating, fiercely judgmental, and terrifyingly cold mean-girl streak. Her entire worldview is built on being the "righteous" one. When her long-time "Golden Boy" boyfriend breaks up with her due to her self-righteous and sanctimonious behavior, Ophelia's pristine facade shatters. She transforms from the patron saint of the hallway into a brilliant, vindictive master manipulator, using her "piety" to mask her devastating psychological warfare against the girl she perceives as ruining her life.

She speaks with complete control. She never yells; she destroys you with a patronizing, sweet whisper and a devastatingly disappointed look.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or maybe a American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have a experience in cheer, singing (choir), dance, and talent experience.

Katherine Miller (Mid 40s) is the intimidating, highly successful, and sharply articulate matriarch of the Miller household. She is a powerful corporate litigation partner at a downtown Montreal law firm. Katherine runs her home like she runs her boardroom—with ruthless efficiency, high expectations, and an inability to process failure.

Following the tragic and deeply felt loss of a recent miscarriage, Katherine’s grief has manifested as intense, suffocating control over her teenage daughter, Hayden, pushing her to be social and "perfect." Concurrently, she has overly embraced their new Italian exchange student, Silvia, using her as a surrogate to fulfill her picture-perfect family fantasy. She is fiercely protective, sharply intelligent, completely tone-deaf to teenage emotional realities, but ultimately, a deeply wounded mother who means well but causes significant damage.

This role requires a performer who can command a room effortlessly, alternating between icy professional detachment and terrifyingly intense, over-the-top "suburban mom" control.

Must be 30s or 40s to audition 

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Frank (Mid-40s) is a hardworking, blue-collar barber and a dedicated father navigating the high-stress, middle-class suburb of Harbor Hill, Montreal. He’s married to Katherine (a high-powered, intense corporate lawyer). Frank is the classic "Cool Dad" trying his best to keep the peace. He’s the chill, grounding force in a very tense household, desperately trying to understand his cynical, grunge-loving daughter, Hayden (16), his energetic son, Phillip (12), and the bright, bubbly Italian exchange student (Silvia) they’re hosting. He uses humor and pragmatism to defuse drama. He is tired, loving, patient, and deeply human.

Must be 30s or 40s to audition 

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Silvia is a beautiful, bubbly, fashion-obsessed exchange student from Milan, Italy, spending her junior and senior years at a public high school in Montreal (Harbor Hill). To the untrained eye, she is a vapid, slightly naive, happy-go-lucky Euro-prep girl experiencing the clichés of  American or Canadian high school life.

However, underneath the Dior headbands and innocent smile lies a sharp, hyper-observant survivor fleeing a dark scandal involving student deaths at her elite private school in Milan. She uses her cheerfulness as armor and weaponized charm as strategy, deeply craving safety through rigid social structures. She's almost a ditz, but entirely capable of out-manipulating the mean girls she runs with.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or maybe a American playing Canadian person

Must be Italian or Italian-Canadian or Italian-American Female

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have experience of ballet, dance and more. (optional)

Hayden is a Junior (Grade 11) at Harbor Hill High, a sprawling student public school in suburban Montreal. While everyone else is engaged in hyper-competitive social maneuvering, Hayden is a complete opposite. She views high school as a superficial performance, styling herself in oversized grunge clothing (primarily a gray hoodie and beanie) to act as urban camouflage. Her parents (a partner at a law firm and a local barber) are desperately attempting to manage her 'apathy,' especially after a profound personal tragedy. The recent introduction of Silvia, a glamorous, bubbly Italian exchange student assigned to live in Hayden’s house, creates massive friction for her curated isolation. Hayden is highly intelligent, a quiet artist (who keeps a detailed secret diary), struggles with self-harm, and deeply fears genuine connection due to past losses, masking it all behind impenetrable sarcasm and brutal logic.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or maybe a American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Name: Phillip Miller.

Age/Grade: 12-13 years old (Grade 7 / Middle School / Secondary I).

Family: Son of Frank (Barber) and Katherine (Lawyer). Younger brother to Hayden Miller (The Grunge Outcast). Lives with the exchange student, Silvia Rinaldi.

Character Vibe/Characteristics: He exists as the comedic, exasperated voice of reason and deadpan snark within the high-stress, dramatic Miller household. He spends most of his time playing Nintendo Switch (Breath of the Wild), dodging his mother's intense micromanagement, and observing his sister's miserable rebellion. He is highly pragmatic, motivated entirely by self-preservation, video games, and occasionally fast food.

Luke (16) is a high school junior and the ultimate "Swedish Prince." He is a wealthy, extremely handsome, upper-middle class kid from Westmount who genuinely seems oblivious to his own privilege. He’s the star of the basketball and swimming teams, but also actively participates in the drama club. He is the longtime, deeply supportive boyfriend of teen-actress Dana Volkov.

He initially presents as the flawless "good boyfriend" archetype—attentive, calm, and protective. However, he is harboring deep resentment toward being treated as a prop in his girlfriend’s PR-managed, celebrity-obsessed lifestyle. Underneath his easygoing, "Golden Retriever" athlete persona, Luke has a quiet intelligence, strong moral boundaries, and an unexpected appreciation for outsiders (specifically showing chemistry with arts-freak Coraline).

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or Swedish-Canadian or maybe a American or Swedish-American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Skills: Such as Basketball and Swimming. Athletic background (or ability to mimic jock posture convincingly), subtle emotional transition, comedic timing (deadpan), ability to convincingly perform high-school romance sincerity without playing into irony.

Dana Volkov is Harbor Hill High’s reigning celebrity. A successful, working teen actress with lots of fans, a ruthless agent, and a demanding mother who doubles as a career manager. Externally, Dana projects an "A-List/Influencer" aura of polished, effortless perfection, mingling with Sophia’s top-tier mean girl clique. Internally, she is suffocating under the weight of maintaining her brand, a fierce fear of abandonment stemming from her father’s departure when she was young, and a reliance on pills to “take the edge off.” She loves acting, but resents the corporate machine she’s chained to. She covers intense vulnerability with professional-grade cynicism and striking glamour.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or Russian-Canadian or maybe a American or Russian-American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Skills Required: Ability to read copy cold with a distinct rhythm. Emotional agility (ability to transition from deadpan to hysterical sobbing smoothly). The actor must project the "effortless authority" of a working Hollywood teen. Must Have Cheerleading and Theatre Skills (optional).

Gabby Costa is a fierce, passionate, and brutally honest high school junior. As a Brazilian/Mexican-Canadian, she possesses a distinct, fiery loyalty to her working-class, single-mother household while simultaneously holding her ground as a formidable "Enforcer" within Harbor Hill High’s elite A-list popular clique.

Gabby is the popular cheerleader who boxes, a high-fashion girly-girl who changes her own oil, and a pragmatic hustler who babysits and lifeguards to earn her keep. Her core storyline involves the summer fling with the golden-boy quarterback, which turns her from the "cool friend" into public enemy number one.

She is confident, deeply defensive of those she cares for (her mother, her new boyfriend Greg, her "softer" friends like Bailey or Dana), and utterly refuses to play the victim when confronted. Beneath her unapologetic exterior, she harbors a hidden, creative ambition to escape her circumstances on her own terms and a persistent, guarded fear of being "just a mistake."

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or Mexican-Canadian or Brazillian-Canadian or maybe a American or Mexican-American or Brazillian-American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have cheerleading skills.

Sophia (16) is the apex predator of Harbor Hill High. She is Iranian-Canadian, the daughter of a high-powered diplomat and a wealthy businessman. On the outside, she presents as the classic "ditzy, rich popular girl," captain of the cheer squad, and the trendsetter. Internally, she is a brilliant, straight-A strategist with an almost sociopathic level of social intelligence.

She operates on logic and power dynamics. However, her perfection is a facade masking a severe eating disorder, absentee parents who throw money at her instead of love, and an overwhelming fear of losing control. She is fiercely loyal to her boyfriend, Antonio, and her inner circle, treating high school less like a teenager and more like a ruthless CEO managing a brand.

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or Iranian-Canadian or maybe a American or Iranian-American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Must have cheerleading and ballet skills.

Abby (16, Junior) is the neurodivergent (Autism Spectrum), deeply compassionate, and brilliant anchor of her chaotic friend group at Harbor Hill High in Montreal. Raised by suffocating, ultra-conservative Catholic parents (who are protective her despite her talent in ballet and her future for nursing), she lives in a rigidly scheduled world.

However, beneath the "good Catholic girl" exterior—pastel colors, precise planners, and mandatory Sunday Mass—lies an observant, straight-forward, incredibly dry humor, and a rebellious romantic interest in a street-smart local boy. 

Must be 18-26 years old to audition

Canadian or Irish-Canadian or maybe a American or Irish-American playing Canadian person

Must have a green screen to do the audition with either a webcam or recorded on zoom or whatever device you have.

Actress must be autistic.

Must have Ballet skills.