Auditions Announced:
Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Directed and adapted by Jonathan Gonzalez
Shakespeare at the Pearl continues with the original celebrity couple: Antony and Cleopatra. Long before Brangelina this pair of star-crossed lovers traveled from Rome to Egypt and all parts in between with a blend of passion, lust, betrayal, power, tragedy, and double-crossing that only Shakespeare could create!
We are seeking a cast of 14-17 actors to bring this epic tale to life, The rehearsal process will include ensemble physical training, Shakespeare imagery work, and exercises throughout the process. No Shakespeare experience necessary to be in the production! Continuing in the tradition of the Pearl's productions of MACBETH, A WINTER'S TALE, and ROMEO AND JULIET, the show promises to provide an intimate, energetic, and innovative experience.
WHEN
Sunday August 20th @ 3:00pm
Monday, August 21st @ 7:00pm
WHERE
The Pearl Theater
14803 Park Almeda Dr.
Houston, Tx 77047
WHAT TO BRING
Please bring a Head shot and Resume.
The audition will consist of reading sides from the script. These will be provided at the audition upon check-in.
Stipends available for those qualified.
PERFORMANCES
Antony and Cleopatra runs 3 weekends, October 13 through 29, 2017
with two weekday evening performances, Thursday, Oct 19 and Tuesday Oct 24th
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Antony (35-55) - A once fierce and feared soldier who rules the Roman Empire along with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. Antony has neglected his duties as a ruler in order to live in Egypt, where he carries on a highly visible love affair with Cleopatra. His loyalty is divided between the Western and Eastern worlds; he is torn between the sense of duty and the desire to seek pleasure, between reason and passion. While he feels the need to reaffirm the honor that has made him a celebrated Roman hero, he is also madly in love with Cleopatra.
Octavius Caesar (20-30) - The nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. Octavius rules the Roman Empire with Antony and Lepidus. Relations between Caesar and Antony are strained throughout the play, for the young triumvir believes that Antony squanders his time and neglects his duties while in Egypt. Ambitious and extremely pragmatic, Octavius lacks Antony’s military might as a general, but his careful and stoic reasoning enables him to avoid Antony’s tendency toward heroic or romantic folly.
Enobarbus – (20+) Antony’s most loyal supporter. Worldly and cynical, Enobarbus stays faithful to his master even after Antony makes grave political and military missteps. He abandons Antony only when the general appears to be completely finished.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus - (20-60) The third member of the triumvirate and the weakest, both politically and personally.
Pompey - (20-30) The son of a great general who was one of Julius Caesar’s partners in power. Pompey is young and popular with the Roman people.
Octavia - (20-30) Octavius Caesar’s sister. Octavia marries Antony in order to cement an alliance between the two triumvirs. She is a victim of Antony’s deception, and her meekness, purity, and submission make her the paradigm of Roman womanhood, and Cleopatra’s polar opposite.
Charmian and Iras (20+) - Cleopatra’s faithful attendants. Loyal and sassy.
The Soothsayer (Any age) - An Egyptian fortune-teller who follows Antony to Rome and predicts that his fortune will always pale in comparison to Caesar’s.
Agrippa – (30+) One of Octavius Caesar’s officers. Agrippa leads the retreat from Antony’s unexpectedly powerful forces.
Ensemble (16 and up, any gender) 5-7 actors will play various soldiers, generals, messengers, clowns, and asp-bearers. These roles will create the worlds of the play and are vitally important to the production. Seeking versatile team players with high energy.
The role of Cleopatra has been pre-cast.
