The Actor is a tall, strong Black man in his late 40s or early 50s. He is a classically trained Shakespearean performer who uses theatrical verse as an emotional outlet to survive in a society that frequently tone-polices Black men. Seeking a role in a new production, he brings decades of lived experience and intense textual study to his audition. He desires to portray Othello with humanity and depth rather than relying on historical stereotypes.

The Director, sometimes referred to as "Michael," is a white man in his late 20s or 30s overseeing the casting for *Othello*. Seated out of sight in the audience, he represents systemic inequality within the theater industry. He relies entirely on his fine arts education to assert authority over the production, instructing the Actor to perform with exaggerated, stereotypical emotion.