Web Series: Submissions Only

One day, actors Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead had an idea. They wanted to keep working together and thought to venture out into the growing world of web series. And what better place to get their inspiration than from their experience as actors?

Now casting: SPOILERS!


Submissions Only takes place at Tim Trull’s (Colin Hanlon) casting agency, where he casts various shows in the New York Theater scene. His friend Penny Reilly (Wetherhead) serves as his reader, the person who sits in and helps during auditions. And he has to deal with his less than enthusiastic assistant, Gail Liners (Lindsay Nicole Chambers). Meanwhile, Penny is auditioning for roles herself.

The first season follows the two as they try to gain professional and personal success. Tim is getting over the end of his longtime relationship to Steven Ferrell (Stephen Bienskie), who is also Penny’s agent. And she’s trying to catch the eye of follow actor Eric Hennigan (Patrick Heusing), even taking an acting class to impress him. There, she meets Aaron Miller (Santino Fontana), who is attracted to her. But she pretty much continues to focus on Miles even though he doesn’t seem to be interested in anyone beyond himself.

Meanwhile, Tim is angling to cast the Boston run of a new play called “Iron Dog” directed by Linda Avery (Anne L. Nathan). And Penny wants a role. Tim can’t make her any promises but does agree to let her read, along with Aaron, during auditions. When Eric comes in to audition, Aaron’s jealousy gets the best of him. He gives it his all while reading opposite Eric, surprising everyone. Penny finally agrees to go on a date with him while Linda and Tim ask him to audition for a role. He agrees…

…But doesn’t tell Penny, who has also snagged an audition. Aaron gets the role; Penny doesn’t. So their relationship cools. Meanwhile, Tim has been hiding his sexuality from Linda, who is very affectionate with him. She brings him to a party to woo producers and Steven is there with his new boyfriend, Cameron (Max von Essen). Tim goes over to explain the situation to Steven, but before he can, Steven goes on and ultimately reveals Tim’s true sexuality to Linda. Naturally, she cools toward him. As the season ends, Steven and Linda are mad at Tim and Penny gets a role in the  “Mean Girls the Musical” national tour.

Throughout the series, there would be scenes of Tim auditioning other people—played by well-known Broadway actors. It was fun to play “Spot the Actor!”

In the second season, “Iron Dog” has done well in Boston and Aaron seems to be the next big thing. Linda and Steve are still angry with Tim, but Steve’s relationship with Cameron is going well. And Penny returns to New York after an accident in Mean Girls. Everyone treats her with  kid gloves and no one talks about her injury except in whispers. Penny is confused until Donny (Keenan-Bolger) reveals that everyone believes she broke her vagina. Horrified, Penny clarifies that she broke her hip. Linda ends up rescuing her from the situation and reveals she’s been fired as the director of Iron Dog despite the good reviews the Boston run got.

Penny heals and starts going out on auditions again. On one, she runs into Aaron. There’s still something there, but he’s seeing someone else—Broadway star Serena Maxwell (Donna Vivino). Penny realizes she’s lost her chance. But fate keeps putting her together with Aaron, especially since they share the same agent.

“Iron Dog” opens…and is panned. Linda is overjoyed but everyone else is surprised. And worried for Aaron, who refuses to read the reviews. Finally, he lets Penny read one to him. And it’s not exactly complimentary, but it’s not stinging. They have a bonding moment.

While Aaron’s career is on a downswing, Tim and Penny find their respective careers on upswings. Penny is being seriously considered for a new musical called “Jeremy’s Fort,” starring Serena. And Tim starts casting for Nolan Grisby’s (Wade McCollum) “Compassition” workshop. Gail and Tim’s new reader Randy (Jared Gertner) are enraptured by him. Tim, not so much. But as he works more with Nolan, Tim starts to fall for him. And the feelings are returned. Nolan leaves for Colorado with the promise they will see where this thing between them goes.

Meanwhile, Aaron confesses he still has feelings for Penny. Just as she gets a callback for “Jeremy’s Fort.” Penny is concerned about working with Serena, knowing it means being around Aaron. But her roommate, Raina (Asmeret Ghebremichael), Steven and her parents talk her into going to the callback. (Though Steven realizes why she was so reluctant when Aaron reveals Serena is in “Jeremy’s Fort”).

And she nails it. We learn she got the role…just as she’s telling Aaron she returns his feelings. But they agree that it’s best if they stay apart during “Jeremy’s Fort.” And then they kiss.

Season 3 picks up only a few weeks after the kiss. Penny struggles in rehearsals due not only to difficult music but just from being around Aaron’s girlfriend. Who has the absolute nerve to be a sweetheart. Including getting Penny extra help so she can learn the music. But Aaron leaves to “find himself” as Penny starts looking for a new roommate.

Meanwhile, Tim is still trying to figure out what his relationship with Nolan is. Randall has booked a gig on a cruise, leaving Tim without a reader yet again. He accidently discovers his new reader during a casting call—Agnes (Marilyn Sokol), an older actress who enjoys the work. She fits in well with Tim and Gail. Speaking of Gail, she finally finds some ambition. After Tim has to leave an audition, Gail gives the poor actress some advice. The young woman thanks her and tells her she was very helpful. Gail starts to imagine herself as one of the best casting agents in the business. When disgraced director Vincent Capo asks Tim to cast for the workshop of his musical about Thomas Edison and the beginning of the movie industry, Gail seizes her chance.

On another relationship front, Steven proposes to Cameron. And they start planning their wedding. But first—they have an engagement party! As we run up to the party, Aaron returns after applying to law school. He and Serena go on a double date with Penny and Linda’s new assistant, Josh (Blake Whyte). But Aaron and Penny fight about their relationship and Serena realizes that Penny and Aaron like each other. She dumps Aaron and gives Penny the cold soldier for the rest of Jeremy’s Fort’s run.

Because of this, Penny beats herself up and believes she’s not a good person. Everyone tries to snap her out of it but nothing works. Aaron gets accepted to law school…in Wisconsin. He and Penny say their goodbyes.

Meanwhile, Jeremy’s Fort gets a lot of good press and Penny’s performance is praised. Things are looking up for her, career-wise. And the same is true for Tim. The workshop goes well and everyone is buzzing about the Thomas Edison project. Serena even talks to Penny in a civil manner about it. And Tim is now a hot commodity and Gail is working to become a casting director as well.

And what about Aaron? Well, he appears at Steven and Cameron’s engagement party to talk to Penny. Turns out he got accepted to Cardoza as well. Which is in New York and not Wisconsin. He wants to know which school he should go to. Meaning, he wants to know where he stands with Penny—do they have a chance? The kiss they share says they do. Everyone watches in either happiness or shock (namely Kim, one of Penny’s and Serena’s costars in Jeremy’s Fort).

Happily ever after…for now.

Well, to be honest, I don’t know if there will be a fourth season. The end of the third season seemed to wrap things up. Tim and Penny had started the show failing at love and struggling in their careers. Now both have found success and new loves. Where else to go?

With them at least. But I think Submissions Only could continue. They would just have to pick a new pair of friends who were struggling to make it on Broadway. With guest appearances from the original cast, just to continue their plots a bit.

And because there are still so many Broadway stars that can make cameo appearances.

So, there we are—my favorite web series. I’m sorry this entry was so late. I fell behind after Labor Day weekend. Anyway, I hope there are more web series I discover to become obsessed with.

Like “Frankenstein, MD.”