Encore Players Host Auditions at KVPAC for Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Encore Players are set to host auditions at KVPAC for Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

Directed by Greg Scurria

Show Synopsis:
Like many of William Shakespeare's comedies, this one centers on mistaken identity. The leading character, Viola, masquerades as her presumed dead brother, in order to secure work from a man, who is in love with a woman, who falls in love with Viola, because she thinks Viola is a man. Throw in a wicked storm, a shipwreck, practical jokes, sword fights, and menacing servants, and this play truly has something for everybody.

All (14) parts are open:
Seeking Male and Female actors for the following roles:

Viola - A young woman of aristocratic birth, and the play's protagonist. Washed up on the shore of Illyria when her ship is wrecked in a storm, Viola decides to make her own way in the world. She disguises herself as a young man, calling herself "Cesario," and becomes a page to Duke Orsino. She ends up falling in love with Orsino-even as Olivia, the woman Orsino is courting, falls in love with Cesario. Thus, Viola finds that her clever disguise has entrapped her: she cannot tell Orsino that she loves him, and she cannot tell Olivia why she, as Cesario, cannot love her. Her poignant plight is the central conflict in the play.

Orsino - A powerful nobleman in the country of Illyria. Orsino is lovesick for the beautiful Lady Olivia, but becomes more and more fond of his handsome new page boy, Cesario, who is actually a woman-Viola. Orsino is a vehicle through which the play explores the absurdity of love: a supreme egotist, Orsino mopes around complaining how heartsick he is over Olivia, when it is clear that he is chiefly in love with the idea of being in love and enjoys making a spectacle of himself. His attraction to the ostensibly male Cesario injects sexual ambiguity into his character.

Olivia - A wealthy, beautiful, and noble Illyrian lady, Olivia is courted by Orsino and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, but to each of them she insists that she is in mourning for her brother, who has recently died, and will not marry for seven years. She and Orsino are similar characters in that each seems to enjoy wallowing in his or her own misery. Viola's arrival in the masculine guise of Cesario enables Olivia to break free of her self-indulgent melancholy. Olivia seems to have no difficulty transferring her affections from one love interest to the next, however, suggesting that her romantic feelings-like most emotions in the play-do not run deep.

Sebastian - Viola's lost twin brother. When he arrives in Illyria, traveling with Antonio, his close friend and protector, Sebastian discovers that many people think that they know him. Furthermore, the beautiful Lady Olivia, whom he has never met, wants to marry him. Sebastian is not as well rounded a character as his sister. He seems to exist to take on the role that Viola fills while disguised as Cesario-namely, the mate for Olivia.

Malvolio - The straitlaced steward-or head servant-in the household of Lady Olivia. Malvolio is very efficient but also very self-righteous, and he has a poor opinion of drinking, singing, and fun. His priggishness and haughty attitude earn him the enmity of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria, who play a cruel trick on him, making him believe that Olivia is in love with him. In his fantasies about marrying his mistress, he reveals a powerful ambition to rise above his social class.

Feste - The clown, or fool, of Olivia's household, Feste moves between Olivia's and Orsino's homes. He earns his living by making pointed jokes, singing old songs, being generally witty, and offering good advice cloaked under a layer of foolishness. In spite of being a professional fool, Feste often seems the wisest character in the play.

Sir Toby - Olivia's uncle. Olivia lets Sir Toby Belch live with her, but she does not approve of his rowdy behavior, practical jokes, Heavy Drinking, late-night carousing, or friends (specifically the idiotic Sir Andrew). Sir Toby also earns the ire of Malvolio. But Sir Toby has an ally, and eventually a mate, in Olivia's sharp-witted waiting-gentlewoman, Maria. Together they bring about the triumph of chaotic spirit, which Sir Toby embodies, and the ruin of the controlling, self-righteous Malvolio.

Maria - Olivia's clever, daring young waiting-gentlewoman. Maria is remarkably similar to her antagonist, Malvolio, who harbors aspirations of rising in the world through marriage. But Maria succeeds where Malvolio fails-perhaps because she is a woman, but, more likely, because she is more in tune than Malvolio with the anarchic, topsy-turvy spirit that animates the play.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek - A friend of Sir Toby's. Sir Andrew Aguecheek attempts to court Olivia, but he doesn't stand a chance. He thinks that he is witty, brave, young, and good at languages and dancing, but he is actually an idiot.

Antonio - A man who rescues Sebastian after his shipwreck. Antonio has become very fond of Sebastian, caring for him, accompanying him to Illyria, and furnishing him with money-all because of a love so strong that it seems to be romantic in nature. Antonio's attraction to Sebastian, however, never bears fruit. Despite the ambiguous and shifting gender roles in the play, Twelfth Night remains a romantic comedy in which the characters are destined for marriage. In such a world, homoerotic attraction cannot be fulfilled.

A Sea-Captain - He rescues Viola from drowning, and helps her transform herself into Cesario and become Orsino's page. Later, he has supposedly had some issues with Malvolio somehow, and must be found so that Viola may reclaim her female clothes and possessions.

Fabian - A member of Olivia's household with responsibilities that are never explained. He is a sort of mid-play replacement for Feste, taking part in the plots against Malvolio with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. He doesn't seem to have much of a personality, but is included in the play for the purpose of exposition‹and he is also good at stating the obvious for the audience.

Curio and Valentine - Two of Orsino's attendants. Valentine is sent to try and woo Olivia, though he is not quite as successful at gaining entrance to Olivia's house as "Cesario" is. Curio accompanies Orsino on his visit to Olivia's; their basic purpose is to wait on Orsino as best they can.

Auditions will be starting at 7:00pm on Tuesday, Oct 18 and Wednesday, Oct 19 (as needed).

Audition location is KVPAC, Building 2, Classroom 1.

Call backs are by invitation only on Thursday, Oct 20 in Building 2 on the Storybook Stage.

Please prepare a short 60-90 second classical monologue (Shakespeare would obviously be preferred but other classical monologues will be okay).

Please indicate if you play a stringed instrument at all, as LIVE music will accompany the songs of Feste.

Bring headshot/ resume if you have one.

Participants must be age 17 or older.

Please email KVPAC reception to set up an appointment time at info@kvpac.org or call 281-829-2787.

First rehearsal read thru scheduled for Monday, Oct 24, 2011.

Rehearsals will break for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

Performances are
January 13, 2012 at 8:00pm (evening)
January 14, 2012 at 8:00pm (evening)
January 15, 2012 at 2:00pm (matinee)
January 20, 2012 at 8:00pm (evening)
January 21, 2012 at 8:00pm (evening)
January 22, 2012 at 2:00pm (matinee)

http://www.kvpac.org/

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