New Two-Hander Play 'The Mouse & the Mustache' Explores Disney and Dalí at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach

Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida is moving forward with a world that feels tailor-made for the stage: a two-hander play imagining the real-life creative friendship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí. Titled 'The Mouse & the Mustache,' the production is currently in pre-production and actively casting, with rehearsals set to begin January 5, 2027, and opening night scheduled for February 2. The run closes February 21, giving the production a tight, focused seven-week engagement. For actors, directors' assistants, stage managers, and theater technicians in the Florida region, this one is worth tracking right now.

The play is written by Anthony Dodge and directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, a creative partnership that shares more than a last name. Marcia Milgrom Dodge is a respected figure in regional and musical theater, perhaps best known for her acclaimed direction and choreography on productions including 'Ragtime' and work across major regional houses throughout the country. Her background in character-driven, text-forward staging makes her a natural fit for an intimate two-hander built entirely on the dynamic between two of the twentieth century's most singular personalities. Anthony Dodge's script centers on the documented real-world relationship between Disney and Dalí, who collaborated in the 1940s on the short animated film 'Destino,' a project that was shelved for decades before finally being completed and released in 2003. That history gives the play a rich factual spine while leaving room for theatrical invention.

Casting is being handled by the Wojcik Casting Team, a well-regarded theatrical casting office with deep roots in the industry. Their involvement signals a serious, professionally run audition process. Actors and their representatives should be reaching out now, as a two-hander format means the entire production rests on the chemistry and caliber of just two performers. These roles, one imagines the larger-than-life Dalí and the quietly controlled Disney, require actors with significant range, physical presence, and the ability to hold a stage without a supporting ensemble around them. This is the kind of opportunity that defines careers.

The production is presented by Riverside Theatre, one of Florida's most established and respected regional theater companies, based in Vero Beach on the state's Treasure Coast. Riverside has a long track record of producing ambitious work with professional casts and crews, and the theater operates under Actors' Equity Association agreements, meaning this is a union production. Executive Producer Jon Moses oversees the project on the institutional side. For out-of-town talent, Vero Beach is approximately 90 minutes north of Miami and about two hours southeast of Orlando, accessible but decidedly its own community. The Treasure Coast does not have the deep local theatrical crew pool of a major metro, so some department heads and specialized staff may be sourced regionally or from the broader Florida theater circuit.

The format here is straightforward but demanding. A two-hander play with no intermission pressure, a biographical subject, and a literary bent will require a strong scenic and lighting design to carry the visual storytelling weight that the text demands. The worlds of mid-century Hollywood and Surrealist Europe will need to coexist on a single stage, which makes the scenic designer and costume designer roles particularly consequential hires. Sound design will also carry significant atmospheric responsibility. Stage management, props, and wardrobe positions round out the core crew needs for a production of this intimate scale.

With rehearsals kicking off in early January 2027, the production timeline means the serious hiring window for cast and crew is well underway in terms of planning, even if contracts are not yet being signed. Regional theater of this caliber typically locks its two leads several months in advance of rehearsals, and Wojcik Casting being already attached suggests auditions are either imminent or already in conversation. Designers and stage management are likely being approached in parallel. If you are a theater professional in Florida or willing to travel for a focused seven-week engagement, this is the moment to make contact.

The full production listing for 'The Mouse & the Mustache' is available now on ProductionList.com, where you can find production office contact information, the complete crew roster as it develops, and scheduling updates as the January start approaches. Bookmark it, check back regularly, and reach out through the listing to put yourself in front of the right people before the roles are filled.

Click here for production info or to contact producers