TWELFTH NIGHT - CDC Theatre Non Equity Auditions

AUDITIONS:

TWELFTH NIGHT

CDC THEATRE

78 Winans Avenue

Cranford, NJ 07016

www.cdctheatre.org

WHEN:

Oct 23rd 7:00PM

Oct 26th 7:00PM

WHAT:

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night presents an exploration of gender identity and suggests that it is performative and fluid, rather than preordained and fixed. As a result, some roles in this production will be cast across gender lines and an open casting policy will be employed. Individuals who are trans or gender non-conforming, along with individuals with a disability and actors of all races and ages, are encouraged to audition.

This production will be set in the dance club scene of the 1970s and early 1980s and, while pre-recorded music will be used, and some singing may be required. All cast members will dance and those auditioning should at least be able to move well.

WHAT TO PREPARE:

Auditioners should prepare a short (2 minutes or less) Shakespearean monologue of their choice. They will also be asked to read from the play and sides will be available at the audition.

Non-equity, no pay.

PRODUCTION

Producer - Elizabeth Howard

Director - Susan Speidel

Stage Manager - Andrea Redmount

Lighting Designer - Mark Reilly

Set Design /Construction - Marc Chandler/Ed Whitman

Sound- Matthew Difabio

SHOW DATES:

Feb 10,11,17,18, 24, 25 at 8pm

Feb 19 at 2pm

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CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

VIOLA - (age 20–30, female identifying) A well-bred and educated young woman who finds herself lost in Illyria and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, to make her way. She is resourceful and quick-witted, especially when her disguise puts her in challenging positions with others. Her emotions are expressed with a quiet dignity that contrasts with the more emotional bursts of love and mourning seen in other main characters.

OLIVIA - (age 25-35, female identifying) A beautiful, fashionable, and wealthy woman who owns a dance club. In morning for her recently deceased brother, she has vowed not to go out with any man (or go out at all for that matter) for seven years. However, all bets are off when she meets Cesario and focuses her attention on winning his love, completely unaware of course that Cesario is really Viola.

ORSINO - (age 30-40, male identifying) A city official who has jurisdiction over the area of the city that houses Olivia’s dance club. He is obsessed with Olivia, though she has rejected him, and given to melancholy outbursts suggesting that he is more in love with love than with her. All this becomes more complicated when he finds himself attracted to Cesario – who is really Viola in her male role presentation.

FESTE - (any age, drag queen) A DJ and female impersonator who works in Olivia’s club, Feste’s entertains, cracks jokes, and makes fun of everyone. A genius with words and able to accurately size up situations and other characters, Feste is in many ways the wisest person in the play, embodying the spirit of the Twelfth Night holiday, namely having a good time and flipping the bird to anyone in authority.

MALVOLIO (40-60, any gender identity) The manager in Oliva’s club, Malvolio is a stuck-up and condescending killjoy who annoys the other members of the household by constantly scolding them. As such, Malvolio becomes the target of a prank that adds comic relief to the play while also revealing the character’s ambition, arrogance, conceit, and foolishness.

MARIA (40-60, female identifying) Maria is Olivia’s personal assistant. She gets on well with Feste’s and they share each other’s confidences. She also gets on well with Toby and they share a deep affection for one another, though they squabble like an old married couple. Together, they set the comic subplot of Malvolio’s revenge prank in motion.

TOBY BELCH (age 50-60, any gender identity) A relative of Olivia’s, and often inebriated, this is a broad comic character. Toby is very fond of Maria, but fonder of parties and pranks, instigating numerous deceptions throughout the play.

A. AQUECHEEK (40-50, any gender identity) A friend of Toby’s who hopes to enter society and attain wealth through a liaison with Olivia. A comic, dim-witted, and foolish person who does not realize they are being taken advantage of, and genuinely believes Olivia is interested in a romantic encounter.

SEBASTIAN – (age 20-30, male identifying) Viola’s brother, whom she believes has died and who likewise thinks she's dead. He never engages in deception of any kind and is always what he seems to be. He is noble and capable of deeply felt emotion, just like his sister, but he is also pragmatic and knows a good deal when he sees one. When the beautiful and wealthy Olivia proposes to him, he accepts despite the fact that they have just met.

ANTONIO (any age, any gender identity) A member of the military who rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck. Antonio helps Sebastian, with whom he has fallen in love, to find his way in Illyria, despite the fact that past encounters make it dangerous for Antonio to be in the city.

FABIAN (30-40, any gender identity) An attractive bartender in Olivia’s club who assists Toby and Maria with their plot against Malvolio.

VALENTINE (any age, any gender identity) A assistant in Orsino’s office.

CURIO (any age, any gender identity) Another assistant in Orsino’s office.

CITIZENS OF ILLYRIA (all ages, all gender identities) Musicians, partygoers, dancers, and additional workers in both Viola’s club and Orsino’s office.