The Actors Guild, the intimate Kaka'ako theater, will hold a mass tryout from 6:30 to 9 p.m. May 20-21 for all seven plays of the 2008-09 season.

A total of 45 roles, including one British drama requiring a 12-member cast, need to be cast. Auditions will be at the Yellow Brick Studio at 625 Keawe St.

At least six of the seven directors will be present to see the talent pool.

Those auditioning should prepare two monologues, one serious and one comic, not exceeding 30 seconds up to a minute in length. The prepared pieces need not be from the list of upcoming plays. Range and breadth of the actors will be instrumental.

One play calls for an all-Asian cast; two works require African American actors.

Playdates have not been announced, but the talent call is for these plays:

• "Inside Out," by Richard Tillotson, directed by Eden-Lee Murray; roles needed: four men, two women.

• "Ring of Fire," a play by Nancy Moss; director to be named; roles needed: three women, two men.

• "Miso," by Susan Shirwen, directed by Clare Davidson; roles needed: one young boy, one young man, one young girl, two men, one woman, one grandmother, all of Asian ethnicity.

• "The History Boys," by Alan Bennett, directed by Brad Powell; roles needed: eight young men, three men, one woman.

• "The Clean House," by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jacin Harter; roles needed: four women, one man.

• "A Lesson Before Dying," by Romulus Linney, directed by Savada Gilmore; roles needed: four African American men, one white man, two African American women.

• "Blue/Orange," by Joe Penhall, directed by David Farmer; roles needed: one young African American man, two men.

Additionally, tryouts for TAG's next production, comprised of two one-acts — "Reunion," by David Mamet, and"A Kind of Alaska," by Harold Pinter — will be held from noon to 2 p.m. May 3 and 4 at the theater.

Details: Brad Powell, at 373-4472 or e-mail tvnut@hawaii.rr.com.

For information on the new season plays and character needs, go to http://www.taghawaii.net/Auditions.html.