LOU WANDA BAILESS (70s, any race)

A sharp, funny, unapologetically flawed Southern matriarch who has made more than her share of bad decisions, and knows it. She masks fear, regret, and loneliness with humor, storytelling, and deflection. Beneath the bravado is a woman desperate not to be discarded in the final chapter of her life. Her relationship with her son is deeply complicated, she often ceded responsibility to him, and now finds herself both needing him and resenting that dynamic.

Casting: A commanding actor with expert comedic timing and the ability to drop into emotional truth on a dime. Must balance outrageous humor with grounded vulnerability.

JOAH BAILESS (mid-30s, any race)

Lou Wanda’s son; attractive, successful, and emotionally conflicted. He has spent much of his life functioning as the parent in his relationship with Lou Wanda, managing her chaos, finances, and consequences. That role has shaped him, and in many ways exhausted him. His decision to leave his husband is driven by a need to feel seen and alive again, but it comes at a cost. He avoids hard emotional accountability until forced into it.

Casting: Charismatic and layered. Obviously works out a lot. The actor must convey both strength and avoidance; someone who can make the audience understand his choices without excusing them. The dynamic with Lou Wanda is key, history, frustration, love, and buried resentment.

OONA LA VECK (40s, any race)

A bold, theatrical, no-filter professor with a fierce intellect and a big personality. She is Rick’s best friend and longtime confidante, their relationship is deep, loyal, and earned over years. She protects him, challenges him, and occasionally oversteps in the name of love. Quick with humor, quicker with judgment, but ultimately grounded in truth and care.

Casting: A strong presence actor with sharp comedic instincts and emotional intelligence. Must handle heightened language while staying rooted in authenticity. The role lives in the balance of humor, loyalty, and confrontation.