A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM - NYC EPA
New York Shakespeare Festival
AUDITION DATE
Tue, Jul 10, 2018
9:30 am - 5:30 pm (EDT)
Lunch 1 to 2
CONTRACT
Off Broadway Special Agreement (Equivalent to Off-Broadway AA; $637/week min)
SEEKING
Equity actors for various roles. Part of the Public Theater’s MOBILE SHAKESPEARE INITIATIVE. See breakdown for details.
PREPARATION
Please prepare one SHORT (no more than two minutes in length) Shakespeare monologue. Bring picture and resume.
LOCATION
Actors' Equity New York Audition Center
165 W 46th St
16th Fl
New York, NY 10036
PERSONNEL
Writer: William Shakespeare
Director: Jenny Koons
Casting: Heidi Griffiths/Jordan Thaler
Attended by Public Theater Casting Office (Heidi Griffiths, Rebecca Feldman, Claire Yenson, and/or Chalin Tulyathan)
OTHER DATES
First Rehearsal: 9/10/18
Tour: 10/5/18 –10/27/18
Public Theater: 10/29/18 – 11/18/18
OTHER
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.
An Equity monitor will be provided.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
BREAKDOWN
Now in its eighth year, The Public Theater’s MOBILE SHAKESPEARE INITIATIVE is focused on bringing Shakespeare to non-traditional venues such as community centers, prisons, homeless shelters, and centers for underserved youth around the tri-state area. Actors travel by company van and participate in set-up and striking of small scenic elements, props, and costumes. The company will present approximately six performances per week during the tour. The final three weeks will be played at The Public Theater with eight performances per week, and will be open to the general public.
This production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM is set in contemporary New York City and is populated with characters who are deeply recognizable as the New Yorkers we see every day. The crisp summer sneakers crowd, janitors, baristas, the 9-to-5 commuter crowd, Queens College students, and everyone in between. The company of actors will collaborate with audience members to create a pop-up block party, the center of which is the collective dream of the play. All actors must be comfortable interacting with audience members in and out of character to create the environment for the production.
We are seeking a dynamic ensemble of collaborative, hilarious, language-oriented actors who enjoy working in a physical style. Most roles will double with multiple characters. The ability to transform and disappear into character will be key. Actors of all cultures, ages, gender identities, disabled and non-disabled are encouraged to audition.
SEEKING:
THESEUS/OBERON. Male-identifying. Any ethnicity. 40s. As THESEUS, Duke of Athens, a man who’s used to getting what he wants. Commanding, charismatic, and authoritative. Thrown off both by his love for Hippolyta and her refusal to acquiesce to his rule. As OBERON, King of the Fairies. He can be expansive and playful, but also unyielding. Blustering and powerful. He plays games to entertain himself and to maintain control over his kingdom and his wife/favorite sparring partner, Titania.
HIPPOLYTA/TITANIA. Female-identifying. Any ethnicity. Late 30’s-40s. As HIPPOLYTA, A captured Amazon warrior Queen, betrothed to Theseus. Regal, powerful, witty. Takes control of her circumstances and position. As TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies, a dreamy and passionate woman who loves her kingdom and subjects. Comfortable with her position and status. Will spar and go head to head with her husband, unwilling to hold back her opinions.
PUCK. Female-identifying, genderqueer, or gender-neutral. Any ethnicity. 20s-50s. Oberon’s fixer and partner in crime, they usually create more trouble than they resolve. Warm and playful, but with an edge. Deeply mischievous. Life of the party. Natural emcee. A prankster. The audience’s primary liaison to the world of the play. Must be very dynamic, great with language, dangerous, wicked, energized. And FUNNY.
BOTTOM. Male-identifying. Any ethnicity. 30s-40s. Alpha male, top dog type. The overconfident weaver chosen to play Pyramus in the mechanicals’ play for Theseus’ marriage celebration. Enthusiastic and dominating. Wants to play ALL the roles. Likes to overact. A role for a character actor who has, in equal parts, MASTERFUL COMEDIC SKILL and classical chops and who, like the character, usually wants to play ALL the roles.
HERMIA/QUINCE. Female-identifying. Any ethnicity. 20s-30s. As HERMIA, spunky, headstrong, decisive. Knows her own mind, and ready to begin her adult life with or without her father’s permission or input. Outspoken, sharp, quick-witted, and physically bold. As QUINCE, a carpenter, and the leader in name only of the mechanicals in their effort to put on a play for Theseus’ marriage celebration. A clipboard carrying spreadsheet maker, organized and precise. Determined to lead her company, yet often pushed to the side by Bottom, she remains ever-hopeful that she can create order out of chaos.
HELENA/SNOUT. Female-identifying. Any ethnicity. 20s-30s. As HELENA, Hermia’s devoted best friend. Used to being the sidekick and the second choice. She has a healthy sense of humor about her social position but it masks her insecurities, which come raging forth when provoked. Intelligent, clever, and funny. Fiercely independent. Deeply feeling. As SNOUT, a welder and part of the company of mechanicals. A woman of few words. Easygoing and not the deepest thinker. Winds up playing the Wall in the mechanicals’ play, with a straightforwardness so literal it becomes humorous.
LYSANDER/SNUG. Male-identifying. Any ethnicity. 20s-30s. As LYSANDER, a young man in love with Hermia. Bold, funny, confident. Self-absorbed and lovesick. Blissfully ignorant in some ways, and very devoted to Hermia. As SNUG, a laborer and member of the mechanicals’ company. A gentle spirit with difficulty staying in character or remembering lines, he plays the Lion in the company’s play—and worries that his roaring will frighten the faint-hearted in the audience.
DEMETRIUS/FLUTE. Male-identifying. Any ethnicity. 20s-30s. As DEMETRIUS, also in love with Hermia. He has the advantage of being the man who her father approves of. Used to getting his way. Bolder and more aggressive than his competition for Hermia’s attention. Cocky, smooth, and charming. As FLUTE, the mechanical chosen to play Thisbe, a young girl in love. Young, innocent, a bit dense and slow on the uptake. Dedicated to giving the best performance possible.
EGEUS/FAIRY/MUSICIAN. Any gender. Any ethnicity. 20s-50s. As EGEUS, Hermia’s parent. Old-fashioned, protective, stubborn. Not quite ready to let Hermia exert her own adult opinions. As FAIRY, dedicated to Titania and happy to be in her protection. Will also serve as this production’s MUSICIAN, providing incidental music and hopefully some BEATBOXING to help create the soundscape of New York and the world of this production. We are interested in a variety of electronic and/or hand-carried instruments but particularly percussion (iPhone MIDI controllers, mini pianos, etc.). Please note instruments played in submission.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to audition.
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