The Portland All Souls
River Procession
Crew & Casting Call

10-29-26 UPDATE: All our cast roles and most of our crew positions are now filled, but we are still looking for 2 more puppet spotters and 3 more procession helpers (corkers) who also get to carry one of our lanterns. Email us for more details!

The All Souls River Procession is both a performance art piece and a community ritual. There are many characters within its framework. Some have specific functions (i.e. Messengers for the Dead), while others are more symbolic (Grandmother Moon). Acting experience is not necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to embody the energy of a particular being for an hour or two.

We also need many hands to help us run the event, from Stagehands, to procession corkers, to kitchen volunteers to help feed our crew.

If there is an unfilled role listed below that you are interested in, email Moni with the following:

The role you are interested in. (You can include a 2nd or 3rd choice if you have any)
If you have prior experience with All Souls, (or other relevant experience)
For cast roles and stagehands, please include if you have availability on October 25 and/or Sunday Nov 1st for rehearsals.

We hope you will feel called to join us!

2026 Cast Roles

Photo by Anna Androsova, 2024

The Bone Mother

A towering skeleton queen. She guides the recently departed Souls to the river where the threshold between the realms of the living and the dead awaits their passage through. 3 primary puppeteers (Backpack puppet with 2 separate puppeteers for the hands, plus a spotter/alternate who doubles as the Bone Mother's Herald or Usher).

Positions filled (3 puppeteers + 1 spotter).

Photo by Samuel Hobbes, 2025

The Autumn King

With the arrival of the Fall, the Prince of the Greenwood will transform into the Autumn King, symbolizing the shift from the bright colors and abundance of the growing season to the darkness and decomposition that comes after. (Backpack puppet with self-contained hands plus a spotter)

1 puppeteer + 1 spotter/alternate position filled.

Photo Wildland Roots, 2024

The Ancestors

The Ones that Came Before,
the Ones that we Remember,
the Ones that we Become.
(Backpack puppets with self-contained hands, plus spotters)

4 puppeteer and 2 alternate/spotter/lantern carrier positions filled. 2 alternate/spotter/lantern carrier positions open!

Photo by Risk of Change, 2024

The Messengers for the Dead

Crow-formed and mysterious, balancing at the threshold of the realms of the Living and the Dead, the Messengers collect letters to our beloved Dead before the procession and once we reach the site of the Ritual.

Positions filled.

Photo by Lane Rollins, 2024

The Reliquary Keepers

The Reliquary holds a bowl containing messages to our beloved Dead. Two Keepers will bear it by wagon float to the river's edge where the bowl is removed then placed into the river. There the Reliquary Keepers set the messages alight above the water. Rehearsal availability requested.

2 positions filled.

Photo by Lane Rollins, 2024

River Dragon

Illuminated puppet representing the rippling, flowing river, as well as a nod to our neighborhood cryptid the St Johns River Monster. (6 person rod puppet).

6 puppeteer positions filled.

Salmon / Guardian of Water

Calm and flowing. Dresses in watery colors and carries the salmon lantern. Represents Spring, the element of water, and the direction of east during the River Ritual.

Position filled.

Photo by Lane Rollins, 2024

Coyote / Guardian of Fire

Sparky trickster. Dresses in fiery colors and carries the coyote lantern. Represents Summer, the element of fire, and the direction of south during the River Ritual.

Position filled.

Photo by Lane Rollins, 2024

Mushroom / Guardian of Earth

Grounded energy. Dresses in earth tones and carries the mushroom lantern. Represents Autumn, the element of earth, and the direction of west during the River Ritual.

Position filled.

Photo via Reigh, 2024

Owl / Guardian of Air

Quiet intensity. Dresses in white and carries the owl lantern. Represents Winter, the element of air, and the direction of north during the River Ritual.

Position filled.

Photo by @adoremire

Grandmother Moon

The Old One who watches over All. Easily carried illuminated paper mache face mounted on a pole.

Position filled.

Crew Positions

Soup crew captain. Green room menu planning, shop for ingredients, supervise soup crew volunteers, feed our cast and crew before and after the event. 1 position filled.
Trash & Recycling manager. Place and remove 2 trash + 2 recycling bins at event, change out bin liners, remove filled bags, (some minor sorting if needed), help with trash pick-up during and after event. 1 position filled.
Stagehands. Assist Stage Manager and Sound & Light Tech, general help with puppets, props, gear. Requires availability for rehearsals on 10/25 and 11/1. 2 positions filled.
Site hosts/monitors. Offer directions and answer questions during the event, be on radio, monitor for security concerns. 2 shifts of two people each, 4-6pm and 6-8pm. 3 positions filled. 1 position open. Stipend available.

Additional Help Needed (Volunteers)

Soup crew volunteers. Assist the Soup Crew Captain, manage the green room food and drink table. Multiple volunteer positions open.
Volunteer procession corker + lantern carriers. Help ensure street intersections are adequately corked and processioners are moving safely along the street. And you get to carry one of our pyramid lanterns for the procession! 8 volunteer positions filled. 3 volunteer positions open.

If there is an unfilled role listed above that you are interested in, email Moni with the following:

The role you are interested in. (You can include a 2nd or 3rd choice if you have any)
If you have prior experience with All Souls, (or other relevant experience)
For cast roles and stagehands, please include if you have availability on Sunday Nov 1st for rehearsal.

We hope you will feel called to join us!