Rhinebeck Theatre Society is proud to announce auditions for Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm. “A riotous, witty reclaiming of the life of an exceptional woman. Four hundred years ago, Emilia Bassano wanted her voice to be heard. It wasn't. Could she have been the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets? What of her own poetry? Why was her story erased from history?” - Origin Theatrical
Casting Note: In a significant reversal of the theatre of Shakespeare’s day, all characters in Emilia – male and female – will be played by female and non-binary actors. The role of Emilia is to be played by three Actors of Color.
Performance Dates: April 5th - 14th at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572). Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 3 pm.
***There also may be one or two school schools during weekdays.***
Auditions: Sunday, January 28th at 7 pm & Monday, January 29th at 7 pm. Callbacks will be held by invitation on Saturday Feb 3 at 1pm. All auditions will be at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. (661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572)
What to prepare: You may prepare a side from the script or a monologue. You can view all materials ahead of time in this Emilia Audition Materials Folder.
Virtual Audition Submissions: Record a side from the Emilia Audition Materials Folder.
Send the video as a YouTube, Dropbox or Google Drive link to rhinebecktheatersociety@gmail.com by Monday, January 29th at 7:00 pm. Please be prepared to come to callbacks, as it is unlikely a casting decision will be made without an in-person audition.
Bring a resume detailing your theatre experience or be prepared to list your performance experience.
Bring your schedule and a list of all conflicts through April 14th.
Who will be in the room?
Director - Ellen Honig (she/her)
Assistant Director - Miranda Haydn (she/her)
Stage Manager - Paige Juliet Segrell (she/her)
Assistant Stage Manager - Jabez Jackson (he/him)
RTS Board Member - Dorothy Luongo (she/her)
Producer - Rena Gavigan (she/her)
Rhinebeck Theatre Society is committed to providing community-minded, safe theatre experiences. We seek to present stories in a way that reflects a richly diverse world. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility and accommodations, please email rhinebecktheatersociety@gmail.com.
Emilia Character Breakdown
We are seeking a diverse company of female and non-binary actors to bring this provocative, Olivier award-winning play to life. We encourage actors of all backgrounds, races, body shapes, disabilities, experience levels and identities to audition.
The role of Emilia is to be played by 3 Actors of Color at different stages in her life.
Emilia 1 - Young Emilia, Person of Color, to play 14-16 years old by an actor 18+ year old. Young, precocious, ambitious, talented, courageous.
Emilia 2 - Adult Emilia, Person of Color, in her 30s to 40s. Passionately working against adversity and threats to publish her work. Fighting to be taken seriously as a writer. She’s an activist for women in a world that continues to oppress her and her work.
Emilia 3 - The mature Emilia, Person of Color, in her 40s to 70s. As she tells her story, remembering her younger self, we see her life unfold onstage… This is her story.
Lord Carey - 60s. pursues Emilia and becomes her partner. Has a child with Emilia, but then sets her up with Alphonso. He cares deeply for Emilia and the quality of her life.
Alphonso - Emilia’s cousin, and then her husband. A fop who is very self involved. And not interested in women.
Shakespeare - yes, that Shakespeare. He becomes enchanted with and woos Emilia. Despite their shared love of writing and passionate connection, his ego leads him to prioritize his career over their relationship.
Judith, Hester, Flora, Mary, & Eve - The river women. They are from the south side of the river and help Emilia recover when she needs care. They are rough but they are tender and kind, and they become Emilia’s students.
Lady Katherine - A friend of Emilia. Young woman, to play 16. Has adopted her father’s conservative beliefs. Marries Sir Thomas Howard.
Lady Helena - A friend of Emilia. Young woman, to play 16. Has never been to court and is nervous to attend. Quick to poke fun at her friends.
Lady Cordelia - A friend of Emilia. Sweetest and most naive of Emilia 1 and her friends. Flustered by Emilia’s “saucy” sonnets.
Margaret Johnson - Emilia’s mother. A recent widow.
Susan Bertie - A countess. A widow.
Lord/Sir Thomas Howard - Lady Katherine’s suitor. Is appalled by Emilia’s poems.
Lord Collins - Lady Cordelia’s suitor.
Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke - A friend of Lord Carey who finds Emilia’s writing is worth supporting. She wants to help Emilia to succeed..
Lady Margaret Clifford - a dignified woman of the court. Her husband is a philanderer. She offers Emilia 1 a job to tutor her daughter. Encourages Emilia’s writing and helps her publish her work.
Lady Anne Clifford - Lady Margaret Clifford’s daughter. To play 14-16 years old.
Midwife - Emilia’s midwife.
Desdemona - Desdemona in a scene from Othello performed at the Globe (is a woman played by a man- who is in fact a woman in this play)
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