House of Stairs: The Audio Drama

House of Stairs: The Audio Drama

Project Overview

One by one, five sixteen-year-old orphans are brought to a strange building. It is not a prison, not a hospital; it has no walls, no ceiling, no floor. Nothing but endless flights of stairs leading nowhere--except back to a strange red machine. The five must learn to love the machine and let it rule their lives. But will they let it kill their souls?  

NOT ACTUALLY CLOSED, WE'RE EXPANDING THE TEAM!!

An abridged adaptation of William Sleator's House of Stairs. This is a 1990's dystopian novel for young adults that is about 180 pages in length, and I think it'd be a perfectly fun setting for a quick audio drama! This is totally for fun, I just thought it'd be an exciting and interesting way to practice sound mixing and have some fun with some emotional, gritty and realistic voice acting, and I'd love to find some equally passionate people to work with!

The current plan is five episodes with an additional epilogue. I hope to host this on Youtube, and maybe even other areas, too. We'll see!

While the cast is in their teens, this is an 18+ only production. Dark themes include kidnapping, forced capitivty, starvation and psychological torment. Please note that there will be a lot of screaming, crying, panting and all other kinds of strange and awkward noises you'll have to make into the mic. While I don't need the most professional quality, please no background noises and no phone microphones. This will be a lengthy venture, so please be aware that every character will easily have over a hundred lines. I am currently in the process of seeking out the official copyright; if so, I'll be able to see whether monetary compensation is legally possible.

If doing multiple takes, please do them in ABCABC format. Please do not slate and please include a little clip of you crying or shouting if it isn't already included in your assigned lines. Auditions that don't follow these requests will be politely dismissed.

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Latest Updates

  • CASTING NOW

    Please note that the project listing will remain up with its deadline extended as there are still some positions I'm searching for.

    This decision was SO HARD, you are all so amazing and talented. Even if you aren't a part of the main cast, please consider joining the ensemble so I can continue to work with you in the future.

    PRODUCTION SERVER:
    https://discord.gg/CWHNtJP6

    This is a server dedicated to ALL current and future productions. Hope to see you there and thank you all so much!

  • CASTING SOON!

    Hi guys! Full disclosure, I will be ending casting early. So many of you have absolutely slayed your auditions and having to choose is already going to be a struggle, so I'd rather keep the roster to a talented few rather than get swarmed with even more top picks. This doesn't mean auditions have to stop, though!

    I've decided to leave roles open until I finish the rough draft of the script. I just drafted up episode 4, I've been finishing an episode a day, so I should be done by the weekend. While I'm already shortlisting people, leaving the final decision until the end will give me a good estimate of how many people to write into the script. I really do want to work with as many of you as I can, so I've been creating more small roles just to fit more of you in.

    Everyone will also have an understudy, just in case, as the total script just flew past 60 pages, so this is a major venture and a huge commitment... one I'd understand people not having the time for! But here's to hoping we all see this through :D More updates soon, thank you to everyone who auditioned!

Project Roles: Peter Blossom Pilkington Abigail Oliver The Doctor The Ensemble Co-Audio Engineer Composer Script Editor
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Peter
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: SkullWorm_

Lead role. Peter is a frail, sickly and passive boy, and the first to find himself alone within the house. He suffers from maladaptive dreaming episodes to cope with stress, and will frequently fall into trances to avoid dealing with their traumatic circumstances. He is incredibly codependent, though throughout the course of the story, he finally finds the strength to support himself and the people he cares about.


Peter's ostracization and inner turmoil stems from the fact that he is a closeted gay boy who had been punished in the past for being caught with another boy at his old orphanage. Ideally, he has a soft, effeminate (but not flamboyant) voice, as most characters comment on his lack of masculinity, especially in comparison to Oliver. He also stammers and frequently talks softly enough for other characters to struggle to hear him. 


This role will involve some physicality, as Peter does get beaten and tortured with starvation during the second act. There will also be some screaming and a whole lot of crying, as he's a very emotionally sensitive and vulnerable person.


PS, CCC only lets me add three lines but I'd like a fourth, for when Peter finds his independence again: 

No. Lola, don't give up now. Think of the machine, what it did to them. What it will do to you. 

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • male teen
  • all accents
  • all american accents
  • Shy
  • stuttering
  • quiet
  • androgynous
  • all english accents
  • male young adult
Other info:
  • screaming
  • crying
  • horror acting
  • emotional

  • [Mumbling, explaining what he last remembers before his capture] So today they just called me to the office and blindfolded me, and told me to go with the person who was there. And they tied my hands- [Here, he gets snapped at to talk louder, but it's a struggle to stay that way] --and took me in this car, and brought me here, and took the blindfold off... and that's all.

  • No! I never did anything they didn't like! That's why I can't understand why... why they did this to me...

  • [Mumbling his way into a grand confession, admitting something incredibly vulnerable for the first time in his life] I... it's like I'm back there again, except this time it's different, better... well, kind of magical... And there's this boy... he was my friend, he... we were always together... Jasper, his name was Jasper, he looked kind of like Oliver and he was in the dream, in the magic room, taking care of me... [In tears.] He always took care of me... taking care of me and, and... and loving me...

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 6 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Blossom Pilkington
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Vanity Suitsandboots

Lead antagonist. Blossom is a cruel, selfish and manipulative young girl. While she was raised privileged and rich, she was recently orphaned by a tragic car accident that killed both of her parents. She is intelligent and cunning, having learned from the politicians she grew up surrounded with how to rally people in her favor and turn them against the people she hates. She spends the entire story vying for the leadership position against her self-proclaimed nemesis, Lola, and leads the kids into Lord of the Flies-esque chaos. 


A very Veruca Salt-esque character, she hardly hesitates to betray and abuse the people around her. She's very two-faced and fake and can speak sweetly and candidly one second, only to scream everyone's secrets out the next. As she's very volatile and tends to switch mood on a dime, I'd love a voice that can reflect that. She's described as high-pitched and almost babyish at times when she's trying to seem cute and friendly, though her voice sharpens and lowers when her true self shows. 


This is a role with a lot of screaming, shouting and physicality, as she beats and torments the other characters. Her character devolves into a sadistic mastermind by the end of the series. 

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • female teen
  • all american accents
  • all english accents
  • all accents
  • female young adult
Other info:
  • emotional
  • metal screaming/singing
  • crying
  • horror acting

  • [Sweet and pitiable - or trying very hard to seem that way] Well, as a matter of fact, I don't have parents. My mother and father... about a month ago, they died in a car crash. And since then, I've been at a weird place, this real high-security place, and they kept giving me these... these tests. It was horrible! Then today they brought me here.

  • [Sudden explosive, sobbing tantrum] Oh, shut up! Ever since you came along you've been saying mean things and bossing me around and acting like I'm pitiful and- It isn't just what you said, it was the way you acted! You think I'm not as good as you, but you'll see, you'll see who wins in the end! I hate you!!

  • [Gloating] We got this from the machine! It works without you now, just like I said it would. We don't need you anymore. Go ahead and starve! [Quieter, taunting in villainous triumph] You were right, Lola. You were right about what it wants us to do, you knew all along. It won't do any good to starve yourselves, it won't make any difference now. All it means is you'll be hungrier and weaker when we come. And we'll be coming. Very soon...

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 8 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Abigail
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Sam

Naive and passive, Abigail is a beautiful and docile girl who can't help but care about what everyone thinks of her. She follows the crowd and doesn't like to stand out, trying her best to stay as submissive and polite as young women in a 'civilized society' are taught to be. While she does seem to have a moral compass, she also prefers to stay on the side that will benefit her, desperate to survive. 


She is the one who keeps her conscience as long as possible before getting swept up into the anarchy of the house. Despite her attempts at kindness, she becomes just as cruel and twisted as the others. 


Her voice is described as gentle and almost musical at times. She is incredibly emotionally repressed without meaning to be, always seeming calm to the others despite the intense fear and anxiety she feels. At least, until the chaos starts, and her true emotions begin to show more and more. As her personality dissolves, she becomes split perfectly between victim and villain, tortured by her allies even as she aids in tormenting their enemies. 


This is a role that will include a lot of screaming and wailing and physicality. She has a romantic subplot with Oliver that never goes beyond kissing, and that quickly becomes toxic and uncomfortable for the two of them. 

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • female teen
  • all american accents
  • all english accents
  • all accents
  • female young adult
Other info:
  • crying
  • emotional
  • screaming
  • horror acting

  • It couldn't be a mistake, it's all too crazy and coincidental. Don't you think so? I'm really kind of scared. It's so... uncomfortable here, and who knows what will happen next? What... what do you think?

  • But... but I thought you wanted to. You started it. They always said boys wouldn't respect girls who... did that, but I thought it would be different in here. Oh, Oliver, please tell me what's wrong!

  • Do you think they'll starve to death? [Nervous giggling, approaching a breakdown that never comes] M-maybe it isn't fair. They seemed so weak, and they... they don't understand, they don't know how to protect themselves, they're not in it the way we are-

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 10 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Oliver
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Jack Kerrigan

Supporting antagonist. Popular, athletic, handsome and funny, Oliver is used to getting everything he wants. Girls and boys alike tend to fall into line when he's near, so imagine his surprise when he finds himself captured and his whole world falls apart. While Oliver starts off cheerful and sweet, he quickly finds himself feeling emasculated by his circumstances and desperate for power and control. He attempts to manipulate Abigail and Peter to make himself feel like he's still at the top of the food chain and is the first to succumb to the machine's goal at officially turning them all against each other. 


Like Blossom, he has a one-sided rivalry with Lola, feeling intimidated by her independence and leadership skills. He is quick to grow defensive when challenged, and covers his vulnerability and discomfort with sharp jabs. 


Oliver will also share a small role with Jasper, Peter's ex-best friend who he shares a similarity with. 


This is a role that will include a lot of screaming, shouting, crying, manic laughter and physicality. He is very sexist and swears the most in the cast. He has a romantic subplot with Abigail that never goes beyond kissing, and that quickly becomes toxic and uncomfortable for the two of them.

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • male young adult
  • all american accents
  • male teen
  • all english accents
  • all accents
Other info:
  • emotional
  • metal screaming/singing
  • crying
  • horror acting

  • [The class clown, trying to make everyone laugh and feel better] Well anyway, here we all are. We might as well enjoy ourselves while we're waiting. Who says they're trying to starve us forever, anyway? I think it's kind of fun here, like a dream... or a music video. We should probably all be dancing and singing. [Sings] Just singin' my cares away! On the happy little steppy steps, just singing 'til my heart goes-- [make a funny sound] Come on, you two! Let's give 'em a show!

  • [Announcing to the room] She'll believe anything I tell her. Whenever I want her, I just give her some romantic crap and she falls for it every time. [Directly to her, as cruel as can be] I always hate you after I've kissed you. All I want is to get away from you, because you fucking disgust me. And the only time I can stand you is when I want to do it all over again.

  • It's very simple. Lola was right, in her dumb, hysterical way. The machine does want us to hurt each other. It wants us to do that so much that it's even letting us get away with all the shit we want. Now we know what to do, and we don't have to worry about being hungry ever again.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 6 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
The Doctor
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Mr. IP

The Doctor serves as narrator for most of the series, briefly reporting their findings to the audience of scientists and shareholders listening in on their experiment. They are the mastermind behind the house, cold and cruel, valuing their intellectual goals over everything else.  


In the epilogue, they reveal that the entire incident was an experiment to learn how to program children into obedient and violent super-soldiers. However, the experiment is deemed a semi-failure, and the doctor is then forced to plead their case under the threat of losing their support from the government. 


Until they meet the doctor in person, their voice will be heavily modulated. While they present themselves as an emotionless person, their failure seems to shatter their confidence, threatening to make them lose their temper during one of the most important meetings of their life. This role was written for a man, but I'm opening it up to any gender. A minor part, compared to the rest of the cast, though with a heavy amount of exposition by the end. 

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • all accents
  • female adult
  • all english accents
  • Cold
  • male adult
  • female senior
  • male senior
  • all american accents
  • androgynous

  • [An emotionless report.] Conditioning is the means by which any organism learns how to interact with the world in the most effective way, most basically avoiding pain and approaching pleasure. The subjects learned quickly that then and only then would food be given, depending on how they behaved.

  • [Frustrated, pleading with the board to keep their funding.] It must be realized that such severe and undetected abnormalities in certain of the subjects chosen is not something that we or our techniques can be held responsible for--

  • I did not come up with five usable individuals, as I had hoped, but it cannot be held against me. This is the first experiment of its kind, after all; one hundred percent success on the first try is an unreasonable demand. You can see that two of the subjects were incorrigible—no one else, I can assure you, would have been able to deal with them any better than I. And the other three are exactly what we need. Three perfect specimen! And all five of them can be studied...

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 6 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
The Ensemble
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Aether Knight_Loft Sarah DoubleU Ruga1218 Suitsandboots bellad1243 Viro MintedWhispers Sooshinova zoie mackenzie

Scientists, shareholders, and curious voyeurs all observing the experiment and narrating their opinions and commentary for the audience at home. If you are cast as part of the Ensemble, you will also be an official understudy for the HoS cast, or someone I'd like to keep on my roster for future projects.

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 0 Submissions Apply / Audition
Audio Engineer
Audio Engineer
Co-Audio Engineer
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: chunhua min

While I'm hoping to do much of the sound mixing on my own, I'm a total novice hoping for someone with experience to assist and/or lead the audio editing part of the project. If not that, then at least someone in the mood to make a bunch of cool scifi sound effects!

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 2 Submissions Apply / Audition
Musician
Musician
Composer
open
Unpaid

The music in House of Stairs doesn't just exist as part of the soundscape; within the series, music is utilized as one of the many brainwashing techniques used to manipulate the minds of the cast. In every episode, they are forced into a ritualistic dance by the hypnotizing music that the machine plays them, undercut with mind-altering mantras that will eventually coax them into horrific acts of violence against each other. 


The ideal here would be to have a few 15-45 second song samples to loop throughout these scenes. I am happy to either have them composed for the series, or to utilize an existing part of your portfolio to showcase!


For inspiration and references, please click the following link. These are all samples that will be included in the show, and I am looking for anything with a horror sci-fi drama vibe, especially anything atmospheric, dark and droning. 

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 3 Submissions Apply / Audition
Writer
Writer
Script Editor
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

I need someone familiar with screenwriting and (preferably) unfamiliar with the novel to help make unbiased adjustments and keep every episode suitably tense. 

Language:
  • english

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 3 Submissions Apply / Audition
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From the Creator of CCC

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