Auditions
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Stephen Phillipps
A comic story of order and disorder, reality and appearance, and love and marriage. Four young lovers, faced with the prospects of an unhappy relationship, flee the court and stumble into an enchanted forest. Also in the forest is a theatrical troupe rehearsing a play set to be performed at the impending wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Both groups find the forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and engage in their own domestic conflicts.
AUDITION:
Please prepare a 1-2 minute Elizabethan monologue (not from Midsummer please!). Plan to present the monologue at least twice, with your character wanting something different each time.
Live auditions will be preferred. Auditions will be scheduled in groups every half hour. You may request an appointment by email, MidsummerNight@yahoo.com, or you may show up and be included in the first available time slot.
If you are not available for a live audition, please submit your audition form and video of two performances of your monologue, demonstrating your character’s different possible motivations, to MidsummerNight@yahoo.com.
AUDITION SCHEDULE:
If you wish to make an appointment, please select a first and second preference of day and time. Email your request to MidsummerNight@yahoo.com. We will reply with confirmation.
Wednesday, Aug. 20: 6:30-8:30
London Nelson Community Center
301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
OR
Thursday, Aug. 21: 6:30-9:00
St Andrew’s Episcopal Church
101 Riverside Ave, Ben Lomond, CA 95005
Callbacks (by invitation only)
Sunday, Aug. 24: 6:30-9:30
Park Hall
9370 Mill St, Ben Lomond, CA 95005
AUDITION FORM:
Audition forms are available to download here:
If you plan to audition in person, please fill it out and bring it to the audition. Forms will be available at the audition as well.
If you cannot attend auditions and wish to submit your monologue, fill out and submit the audition form with your video monologue. Please send to MidsummerNight@yahoo.com
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
IDENTIFYING AS MALE
Theseus: (Must appear to be over 30.) Duke of Athens. Confident in his power and position.
Double cast with
Oberon: King of the Fairies. Charismatic, powerful, sexy, … and sensitive? Dance skills would be beneficial. The actor can be any age, if they can achieve those characteristics.
Egeus: (Must appear over 50) Athenian military figure. Father of Hermia. Attendant to Theseus
Demetrius: (Must appear to be between 20-30.) Athenian suitor of Hermia. Appears upper middle class. Businessman? Entrepreneur?
Lysander: (Must appear to be between 20-30.) Athenian youth loved by Hermia. Wealthy, confident, bohemian. Successful artist?
Bottom: (Must appear to be over 30.) An Athenian weaver, a “rude mechanical.” Boisterous. Plays Pyramus in Act V.
Flute: (Actor must be over 18 but appear to be younger.) Bellows mender, another “rude mechanical.” Plays Thisbe in Act V.
Changeling Boy: (Actor must be over 18 but appear to be 10-15.) A human youth raised by Titania. The source of conflict between Titania and Oberon.
IDENTIFYING AS FEMALE
Hippolyta: (Must appear to be over 30) Queen of the Amazons. A warrior, now wedding Theseus.
Double cast with
Titania: Queen of the Fairies. Falls in love/lust with Bottom. Charismatic, powerful, sexy? Dance skills would be beneficial. The actor can be any age, if they can achieve those characteristics.
Hermia: (Must appear to be between 20-30.) Athenian daughter of Egeus. Confident, outspoken, courageous. In love with Lysander.
Helena: (Must appear to be between 20-30.) Athenian woman in love with Demetrius. Diffident at first, but grows through show.
CHARACTERS WITH FLEXIBLE GENDER IDENTITY
Puck: very energetic. Juggling, tumbling, music, and/or dance abilities would be a plus. The actor can be any age, if they can achieve those characteristics.
Double cast with
Philostrate: (Might appear to be over 30) Theseus’ personal assistant and Master of the Revels.
Peter Quince: (Must appear to be over 30) A “rude mechanical.” A carpenter and director/producer of the play Pyramus and Thisbe, which will be presented to the court.
Snug: (Must appear to be over 30) A “rude mechanical.” A joiner (one who joins parts of wood structure together). Not very bright. Plays the lion in Pyramus and Thisbe
Tom Snout: (Must appear to be over 30) another “rude mechanical.” A tinker (repairs pots and kettles). Plays the Wall in Pyramus and Thisbe
Robin Starveling: (Must appear to be over 30) A “rude mechanical.” A tailor. Plays Moonshine in Pyramus and Thisbe
Fairies: Titania’s attendants and Puck’s coconspirators. Spritely, perhaps acrobatic, very energetic. Juggling, tumbling, music, and/or dance abilities would be a plus.
Additional Fairies and Court Attendants/understudies: Non-speaking parts, but integral part of storytelling. Demands just as much acting skill as those with lines. Juggling, tumbling, music, and/or dance abilities would be a plus. Part of the company and a wonderful way to be involved in theater.