ACTORS RENAISSANCE THEATRE
Artist Training. Renaissance for New Works. Theatre for the Community
NEXT ON THE STAGE
South Memphis got HEAT, and it anit in the Kitchen -Set in the heart of South Memphis, The Heat of Southside is a fiery urban stage play about family, betrayal, love, and ambition. After spending twelve years helping build her sister Luna’s bakery, Chloe opens a bakery of her own called The Heat of Southside, sparking a bitter feud between the sisters over business, loyalty, and old wounds.
As their controlling mother Darlene pushes youngest daughter Kaylee into a marriage with the wealthy Prince Rashad, Kaylee secretly longs for the man she truly loves. Meanwhile, smooth-talking con artist Eddie Earl arrives posing as a food critic while secretly planning to rob the bakery — but instead becomes tangled in the family’s dangerous secrets and emotional chaos.
Filled with comedy, romance, shocking twists, and explosive drama, The Heat of Southside reveals that in this family, the real heat isn’t in the kitchen — it’s at home.
CHARACTERS
Females
Chole Talley-Heat - (30-40) She’s confident, grounded, and carries a quiet fire that rises when challenged. Married to Jayden.
Luna Robinson Heat- Luna – (35-40)- Sharp-tongued, polished, and fiercely controlling, Luna is the co-owner of Golden Hart Pastries. Beneath her confidence lies deep insecurity and fear of losing control. Married to Trent Robinson.
Kaylee Heat- (25-30)- Chloe and Luna little sister. A little Promiscuous. Engage to Prince Rashad,
Darlene- (55-75)- Mother of Chloe, Luna and Kaylee. She is a outspoken, loud, strong‑willed woman. She’s driven by a deep need for financial stability for her daughters....and herself.
Madison Wheeler -(25-35) Madison is a warm, protective and grounded employee who works at Chloe’s bakery. She is a woman with deep dreams, a tender heart, and a history of being overlooked.
Torre- (30 plus)- Torri is Eddie Earl’s loyal, messy, hilarious ride‑or‑die girlfriend and “assistant.” She is comedic gold, emotionally honest, and unpredictably dramatic.
Gloria -(40 plus)- Gloria is a mysterious, elegant woman who can work a room. Married to Omar, she watches everything, reveals little, and moves like someone who knows more than she ever says.
Male Roles
Jayden Talley- (45-60)- is a sharp‑minded, sharp‑tongued Insurance Salesman. He’s loyal, resilient, and unafraid to call out hypocrisy, privilege, or foolishness when he sees it.
Go to our EVENTS page for Tickets!
Trent Robinson- (50 plus)-Trent is a disciplined, sharp‑edged businessman in his late 50s to early 60s. He is known for running Golden Hart Pastries with pride, and a zero‑nonsense focus. He’s confident, polished, and unbothered by anyone’s opinion but his own. Luna's husband.
Eddie Earl- (30-40)- Eddie Earl is a smooth‑talking, fast‑thinking, chaos‑creating con man. He can charm anyone: even himself, but he cannot stand to hear a woman cry.
Prince Randy Rashad- (40 plus) Prince Rashad is a polished, charming man who carries himself like royalty. Randy is holding a secret, one big enough to shift the family dynamic. He may or may not be who he says he is.
Jim Crawford- (25-35)-Carrying a mix of Southern charm, rough‑edge swagger, and quiet heartbreak. Torn between old love and new truth.
A-Acting
R-Rehearsing
T-Transformation
Step In. Speak Out. Shine with ACTORS Renaissance Theate this June
June is a powerful month at Actors Renaissance Theatre as we open the doors to new talent, new stories, and new community voices. We’re holding auditions for our 2026–2027 season opener, the explosive new stage play The Heat of Southside, and launching our transformative community project, Healing Voices of Memphis, created especially for residents of the Frayser and Raleigh neighborhoods. Whether you’re ready to step into the spotlight or ready to turn your lived experiences into meaningful theatre, this is your moment. Sign up today and become part of the story Memphis will be talking about.
