Orlando Shakespeare Theater SPT & LOA 2023-24 Season - NYC EPA
Orlando Shakespeare Theater | Orlando, FL
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
Monday, May 8, 2023
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)
Break: 1:00-2:00pm
SPT / LOA
$799 weekly minimum (LOA ref LORT) $690 weekly minimum (SPT 8)
22/23 rates. 23/24 rates pending.
Equity actors for roles in Orlando
Shakespeare Theater SPT & LOA 2023-24 Season (see breakdown).
All roles available unless otherwise specified.
Orlando Shakes is committed to building diversity and inclusion onstage and throughout our organization. We encourage gender diverse and color conscious casting. Actors of all ethnic backgrounds and all genders are encouraged to attend our auditions, and we especially encourage actors from underrepresented groups to audition.
Prepare 1 monologue (of your choice) not to exceed 2 minutes total. Please bring ONE copies of your stapled headshot/resume.
Actors' Equity New York Audition Center 165 W 46th St
16th Fl
New York, NY 10036
Studio B
Expected to attend:
Jim Helsinger, Artistic Director and “A Christmas Carol” Director
Allison Harkness-Holt, Company Manager and ”Comedy of Errors” Director
Callbacks: Callbacks will be held Tuesday May 9 - Wednesday May 10 by appointment only.
See production dates in breakdown.
OTHER
Phone calls will be accepted at 407-447-1700 ext. 210. Emails will be accepted at auditions@orlandoshakes.org.
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.
Equity encourages everyone participating in the auditions to wear a two-ply cloth face mask, surgical mask, singer’s mask or respirator (N95, KN95 or KF94). Single-ply face masks, gaiters and bandanas are not recommended. Singer’s masks can be found at www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask.
Equity encourages members to prepare for their audition prior to arriving at the audition venue, to the extent that they can (e.g., get dressed, hair/make-up, etc.) to avoid crowding in bathrooms and dressing rooms.
Holding/Audition room information:
The maximum capacity in the holding room is: 80
The maximum capacity in the audition room is: 28
By William Shakespeare
Director: Jim Helsinger
LOA
1st Rehearsal: 08/15/2023
Previews 09/06/2023 - 09/07/2023
Runs 09/08/2023 - 10/01/2023
Margeson Theater
A farcical comedy with a major part of the humor coming from slapstick, mistaken identity, puns and word play. This production will be set in modern day New Orleans during the Mardi Gras celebration.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s) Egeon and Emilia’s son. Separated from his twin in infancy, he has been traveling the world to find his brother. Innocent and naive. Great comedic timing, excellent straight man in a comic duo, and great language skills.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s) Egeon and Emilia’s son. Brought up in Corinth, never knowing his father or mother or that he has a twin. Married to Adriana, he is experiencing a “rough patch” in his marriage. Bitter and sardonic. A wonderful comic with great language skills.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s) A quick-witted bondservant to Antipholus of Syracuse. They often enter into comic flights of repartee when Antipholus gives Dromio free range to exercise his wit. An excellent physical clown with great language skills.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s) Twin brother to Dromio of Syracuse and bondservant to Antipholus of Ephesus. Does not know his twin exists. Less quick witted than his twin, defensive due to frequent beatings from his master and mistress. An excellent physical clown with great language skills.
ADRIANA (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 20s) THIS ROLE IS CAST. UNDERSTUDIES WILL BE CONSIDERED. Wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and wealthy in her own right. A proto-feminist distraught that her husband is paying attention to another woman and irritated that men are not as bound as women are, nor are women as free as men. Comic and commanding.
LUCIANA (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 20s) Adriana’s sister, love interest of Antipholus of Syracuse. She is single and lives with Adriana and her husband. More traditional in her view of wifely duties than her sister. Innocent and naive.
SOLINUS (Any gender. Any Ethnicity. 40s-50s) The Duke of Ephesus. A just but merciful ruler. Rules the town with great respect for law, insisting that they cannot go against the set rules even if they wish to.
EGEON (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 50s-60s) A merchant of Syracuse, separated from his twin sons (the Antipholus twins) and wife many years ago. He sneaks into the city to seek for his lost son Antipholus, is caught and sentenced to death. A man with strong verse skills.
ABBESS (AMELIA) (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 40s-60s) THIS ROLE IS CAST. UNDERSTUDIES WILL BE CONSIDERED. Abbess in Ephesus, highly respected by all. The long-lost wife of Egeon and mother to the two Antipholuses separated from them for decades. Commanding and imperious.
BALTHASAR/DOCTOR PINCH (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s-50s) BALTHASAR - A merchant and friend of Antipholus of Esphesus. Funny and sympathetic. DOCTOR PINCH - A conjurer and would-be exorcist. For this production a purveyor of voodoo, sorcery and spells.
ANGELO/FIRST MERCHANT (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s-50s) First Merchant - Friend to Antipholus of Syracuse. Friend of Antipholus of Ephesus and a goldsmith in Syracuse. Gets upset when Antipholus doesn’t pay him for a gold chain.
OFFICER (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s) Arrests Antipholus of Ephesus.
SECOND MERCHANT (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s) A tradesperson who Angelo owes a debt to. Mean and demanding. Has no patience.
COURTESAN (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s) A “Friend” to Antipholus of Ephesus, whom he visits often enough to make his wife jealous. She is an excellent conversationalist, with a mix of wildness and gentleness that greatly pleases her customers.
JAILER (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. Any age) Takes Antipholus of Ephesus to jail. Bumbling comic.
by LaDarrion Williams
Director: Felichia Chivaughn
SPT 8
1st Rehearsal: 09/12/2023
Previews 10/04/2023 - 10/05/2023
Runs 10/06/2023 - 10/29/2023
Possible Extension through 11/05/2023
Goldman Theater
Synopsis: It is February 1940, and the night of the historic Academy Awards in Hollywood, California is underway. Bartender Arthur Brooks, an ambitious black man from rural Alabama, dreams of becoming a movie director. His best friend, Dottie, is a singer/maid at the Ambassador hotel who finds herself to be a cynic of all dreams. But when infamous actress, Hattie McDaniel stops in at the bar and refuses to show up for the biggest event in show business, Arthur and Dottie must do everything in their power to convince her to go claim her win all the while confronting their dark past and making their own dreams come to life. A play on race, class, gender, and the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood.
ARTHUR BROOKS - (He/Him/His. Black. 30s.) A dreamer/bartender who moved from Alabama in hopes of becoming a movie director.
DOTTIE HUDSON - (She/Her/Hers. Black. 30s.) A bit of a cynic who seems to be running from something. She and Arthur are best friends.
HATTIE MCDANIEL - (She/Her/Hers. Black. Late 40s.) Infamous actress currently nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.
By William Shakespeare
Director: N/A
LOA
1st Rehearsal: 01/02/2024
Previews 01/10/2024 - 01/11/2024
Runs 01/12/2024 - 01/21/2024
Margeson Theater
Henry VI, Part 1: Joan of Arc continues the Fire and Reign series at Orlando Shakes - 7 plays in order from Richard II through Richard III. This production is an “original practices” or “bare bard” production with no director or designers. It features a short rehearsal process and performance run. All rehearsals, blocking, and design are determined by the actors. Actors with experience with this type of Shakespearean production are particularly encouraged to apply.
HENRY VI / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s.) Pious, naive and good hearted but unable to compete in a vicious political world.
HUMPHREY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER / ENSEMBLE (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 50s-60s.) Strong verse speaker. Lord Protector of England for Henry VI. A good hearted duke who fails in trying to control the political upheaval of the Wars of the Roses.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER / ENSEMBLE (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 50s-60s.) A sly, conniving politician trying to control the King, arranges the murder of Gloucester.
BURGUNDY / EARL OF SUFFOLK / ENSEMBLE (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 40s-50s.) Strong verse speaker. Burgundy - assists England against France, but then changes sides. Suffolk - Lancastrian, manipulative and powerful. Secret lover of Maragaret.
CHARLES, THE DAUPHIN / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s) Strong verse speaker. Dauphin - Proud but afraid, son of King Charles of France, and heir to the throne. Fights Joan and loses, then assists her.
ALENÇON / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s.) Alençon - A French nobleman, one of Charles the Dolphin’s generals. A rather brainless fellow, he becomes quite a worshiper of Joan. He thinks little of the English and is shocked when they succeed in beating him back.
JOAN LA PUCELLE / ENSEMBLE (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s.) Joan - Fiery, passionate and fierce, excellent fighter. Trying to liberate the French from the English.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s.) Strong, capable leader, commanding. Claims to be heir to the throne and leads the House of York to the crown.
QUEEN MARGARET / ENSEMBLE (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 30s.) Wife of Henry VI; cutting wit and searing intelligence; ambitious, perceptive, embittered, and as political as any man; visceral in her grief and effective with her curses. Has great skill with language.
EARL OF WARWICK / ENSEMBLE (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 40s-50s.) The kingmaker. Commanding and strong, supports the Yorks.
DUKE OF SOMERSET / JOHN TALBOT / REIGNER / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s 40s.) Somerset - Lancastrian. Bitter, manipulative and hates the Yorks. Opposes Richard Plantagenet’s claim to the Dukedom of York. In the Temple Garden scene Somerset chooses the red rose as his symbol, and York the white. John Talbot - son of Lord Talbot, young, adventuresome, full of spirit. Killed fighting by his father.
LORD TALBOT / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s.) Earl of Shrewsbury, the scourge of the French. A grizzled war veteran who has great humility, honor and valor.
ELEANOR, DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER / ENSEMBLE (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 30s-40s.) Ambitious, manipulative wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. A believer in the occult, she holds a seance to find out if she will be Queen.
DUKE OF BEDFORD / OLD MORTIMER / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 50s-70s.) Duke of Bedford - surviving brother of Henry V and regent of France. Bold and valiant, older character. Old Mortimer - True heir to the throne, imprisoned for many years. Tired, weary and woeful.
BASTARD OF ORLEANS / ENSEMBLE (He/Him/His. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s.) Bastard of Orleans - French Noble and good fighter. Admires Joan.
MAYOR OF LONDON / ENSEMBLE (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. 20s-40s.) An ordinary civilian trying to keep the peace, more concerned with commerce than with the in-fighting of the nobility or the war in France.
PROMPTER (Any Gender. Any Ethnicity. Any Age.) Reads all prompted lines from actors during performance.
By David Ives
Director: TBA
SPT 8
1st Rehearsal: 01/16/2024
Previews: 02/07/2024 - 02/08/2024
Runs 02/09/2024 - 03/03/2024
Mandell Theater
Synopsis: At the end of a long day of auditions, a playwright is convinced he’ll never find the right actress to play the heroine in his adaptation of “Venus in Fur,” a scandalous 19th century erotic novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who wrote novels expressing his masochistic fantasies. Enter Vanda, determined to prove she possesses the perfect blend of beauty, intelligence and sex appeal for the role. As the two act out the play, reality and fiction begin to blur in an electrifying cat-and-mouse game of love, seduction and power.
There is no nudity in the production. There will be an intimacy director for this production.
THOMAS (He/Him/His. Any ethnicity. 20s-30s) A hot emerging playwright and first-time director with an incredibly strong sense of self. Demanding, smart, but does not see his own flaws. Has a strong masochist side which comes out during the play. Significant skill with language, able to show exceptional vulnerability under a seemingly impenetrable facade.
VANDA (She/Her/Hers. Any Ethnicity. 20s-30s) Outwardly appearing to be entirely unfit for the role yet when acting displays a seductive and masterful command of the stage. Appears brash, vulgar, and unschooled and clueless, but can flip to sexy, insightful, smart, cold and calculating. A force of nature, a goddess disguised as a ditsy actress. One moment she’s innocent and weak, the next dominating and powerful. Vanda spends sections of the play in a dog collar, bra and panties.
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