diff --git a/app/Models/Audition.php b/app/Models/Audition.php
index 8531885..ba0dc31 100644
--- a/app/Models/Audition.php
+++ b/app/Models/Audition.php
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class Audition extends Model
 
     public function scopeOpen(Builder $query): void
     {
-        $query->where('entry_deadline', '>=', Carbon::now());
+        $query->where('entry_deadline', '>=', Carbon::now('America/Chicago'));
     }
 
     public function scopeForSeating(Builder $query): void
diff --git a/config/app.php b/config/app.php
index f467267..56f0c40 100644
--- a/config/app.php
+++ b/config/app.php
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ return [
     |
     */
 
-    'timezone' => env('APP_TIMEZONE', 'UTC'),
+    'timezone' => env('APP_TIMEZONE', 'America/Chicago'),
 
     /*
     |--------------------------------------------------------------------------