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Some roles in this season will be understudied. See separate notice for Stage Management submissions.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Puck, Male/Female, 18-30 - Also known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is Oberon’s jester, a mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks on mortals.
Oberon, Male, 40-60 - The king of the fairies.
Titania, Female, 40-60 - The beautiful queen of the fairies.
Lysander, Male, 20-30 - A young man of Athens, in love with Hermia. Lysander’s relationship with Hermia invokes the theme of love’s difficulty: he cannot marry her openly because Egeus, her father, wishes her to wed Demetrius.
Demetrius, Male, 20-30 - A young man of Athens, initially in love with Hermia and ultimately in love with Helena.
Hermia, Female, 20-30 - Egeus’s daughter, a young woman of Athens. Hermia is in love with Lysander and is a childhood friend of Helena.
Helena, Female, 20-30 - A young woman of Athens, in love with Demetrius. Demetrius and Helena were once betrothed, but when Demetrius met Helena’s friend Hermia, he fell in love with her and abandoned Helena. Lacking confidence in her looks, Helena thinks that Demetrius and Lysander are mocking her when the fairies’ mischief causes them to fall in love with her.
Egeus, Male, 40-60 - Hermia’s father, who brings a complaint against his daughter to Theseus: Egeus has given Demetrius permission to marry Hermia, but Hermia, in love with Lysander, refuses to marry Demetrius.
Theseus, Male, 30-50 - The heroic duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta. Theseus represents power and order throughout the play. He appears only at the beginning and end of the story, removed from the dreamlike events of the forest.
Hippolyta, Female, 30-50 - The legendary queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus. Like Theseus, she symbolizes order.
Nick Bottom, Male, 30-50 - Bottom is full of advice and self-confidence but frequently makes silly mistakes and misuses language.
Peter Quince, Male, 30-50 - A carpenter and the nominal leader of the craftsmen’s attempt to put on a play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. Quince is often shoved aside by the abundantly confident Bottom.
Francis Flute, Male, 20-40 - The bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. Forced to play a young girl in love, the bearded craftsman determines to speak his lines in a high, squeaky voice.
Robin Starveling, Male 20-40 - The tailor chosen to play Thisbe’s mother in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. He ends up playing the part of Moonshine.
Tom Snout, Male, 20-40 - The tinker chosen to play Pyramus’s father in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. He ends up playing the part of Wall, dividing the two lovers.
Snug, Male, 20-40 - The joiner chosen to play the lion in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. Snug worries that his roaring will frighten the ladies in the audience.
Philostrate, Male, 40-60 - Theseus’s Master of the Revels, responsible for organizing the entertainment for the duke’s marriage celebration.
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed, Female/Male 18-30 - The fairies ordered by Titania to attend to Bottom after she falls in love with him.
*Several ensemble non-speaking roles will be available as well
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Shylock - A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Although seen by the rest of the play’s characters as an inhuman monster, Shylock at times diverges from stereotype and reveals himself to be quite human. These contradictions, and his eloquent expressions of hatred, have earned Shylock a place as one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters. *THIS ROLE IS CAST. SEEKING STRONG UNDERSTUDY
Portia, Female, 20-40, - A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portia’s beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets, Portia is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. Far and away the most clever of the play’s characters, it is Portia, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves Antonio from Shylock’s knife.
Antonio, Male, 20-40 - The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock’s contract and almost lose his life. Antonio is something of a mercurial figure, often inexplicably melancholy and, as Shylock points out, possessed of an incorrigible dislike of Jews. Nonetheless, Antonio is beloved of his friends and proves merciful to Shylock, albeit with conditions.
Bassanio, Male, 20-40 - A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio’s love for the wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portia’s portrait.
Gratiano, Male 20-30 - A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man, Gratiano is Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts Portia, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa.
Jessica, Female, 18-30 - Although she is Shylock’s daughter, Jessica hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. The fate of her soul is often in doubt: the play’s characters wonder if her marriage can overcome the fact that she was born a Jew, and we wonder if her sale of a ring given to her father by her mother is excessively callous.
Lorenzo, Male, 18-30 - A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. He schemes to help Jessica escape from her father’s house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont.
Nerissa, Female, 20-30 - Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia’s trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk.
Launcelot Gobbo, Male, 20-40 - Bassanio’s servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, Launcelot leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio.
The Prince of Morocco, Male 20-40 - A Moorish prince who seeks Portia’s hand in marriage. The prince of Morocco asks Portia to ignore his dark countenance and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. Certain that the caskets reflect Portia’s beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which proves to be incorrect.
The Prince of Arragon, Male, 20-40 - An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. Like the prince of Morocco, however, the prince of Arragon chooses unwisely. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portia’s hand.
Salarino, Male, 20-40 - A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. Salarino escorts the newlyweds Jessica and Lorenzo to Belmont, and returns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonio’s trial. He is often almost indistinguishable from his companion Solanio.
Solanio, Male, 20-40 - A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino.
The duke of Venice, Male, 20-40 - The ruler of Venice, who presides over Antonio’s trial. Although a powerful man, the duke’s state is built on respect for the law, and he is unable to help Antonio.
Old Gobbo, Male, 20-40 - Launcelot’s father, also a servant in Venice.
Tubal, Male 20-40 - A Jew in Venice, and one of Shylock’s friends.
Doctor Bellario, Male, 30-50 - A wealthy Paduan lawyer and Portia’s cousin. Doctor Bellario never appears in the play, but he gives Portia’s servant the letters of introduction needed for her to make her appearance in court.
Balthasar, Male 20-40 - Portia’s servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials from Doctor Bellario.
*Several ensemble non-speaking roles will be available as well
ANIMAL FARM
*The Animals*
Major, Male, 40-60 - An old boar whose speech about the evils perpetrated by humans rouses the animals into rebelling. His philosophy concerning the tyranny of Man is named Animalism by his followers. He also teaches the song Beasts of England to the animals.
Snowball, Male, 20-40 - A boar who becomes one of the rebellion's most valuable leaders. After drawing complicated plans for the construction of a windmill, he is chased off of the farm forever by Napoleon's dogs and thereafter used as a scapegoat for the animals' troubles.
Napoleon, Male, 20-40 -A boar who, with Snowball, leads the rebellion against Jones. After the rebellion's success, he systematically begins to control all aspects of the farm until he is an undisputed tyrant.
Squealer, Male, 20-40 -A porker pig who becomes Napoleon's mouthpiece. Throughout the novel, he displays his ability to manipulate the animals' thoughts through the use of hollow yet convincing rhetoric.
Boxer, Male, 40-60 -A dedicated but dimwitted horse who aids in the building of the windmill but is sold to a glue-boiler after collapsing from exhaustion.
Mollie, Female, 20-30 -A vain horse who prefers ribbons and sugar over ideas and rebellion. She is eventually lured off the farm with promises of a comfortable life.
Clover, Female, 40-60 - A motherly horse who silently questions some of Napoleon's decisions and tries to help Boxer after his collapse.
Benjamin, Male, 40-60 -A cynical, pessimistic donkey who continually undercuts the animals' enthusiasm with his cryptic remark, Donkeys live a long time.
Moses, Male, 50-70 -A tame raven and sometimes-pet of Jones who tells the animals stories about a paradise called Sugarcandy Mountain.
Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher, Female/Male, 18TPY - Three dogs. The nine puppies born between Jessie and Bluebell are taken by Napoleon and raised to be his guard dogs.
*The Humans*
Mr. Jones, Male, 40-60, Open Ethnicity - The often-drunk owner of Manor Farm, later expelled from his land by his own animals. He dies in an inebriates' home after abandoning his hopes to reclaim his farm.
Mrs. Jones, Feamle, 40-60 - Jones' wife, who flees from the farm when the animals rebel.
Mr. Whymper, Male, 20-40 - A solicitor hired by Napoleon to act as an intermediary in Animal Farm's trading with neighboring farms.
Mr. Pilkington, Male 40-60 -The owner of Foxwood, a neighboring and neglected farm. He eventually sells some of his land to Napoleon and, in the novel's final scene, toasts to Napoleon's success.
Mr. Frederick – Male, 40-60 -An enemy of Pilkington and owner of Pinchfield, another neighboring farm. Known for driving hard bargains, Frederick swindles Napoleon by buying timber from him with counterfeit money. He later tries to attack and seize Animal Farm but is defeated.
*Several ensemble non-speaking roles will be available as well
TROUBLE IN MIND
Wiletta Mayer, Female, 40-50, African American - Attractive with an outgoing personality. She is an actor and singer who made a career out of playing stereotypical black roles but aspires to be cast in parts more deserving of her talents. Outspoken on issues she perceives as racist.
Al Manners, Male 39-49, Caucasian - Director of the play. He is energetic, confident with a patronizing manner. He considers himself to be a liberal but treats black and white cast members differently. Eventually he exposes his own deep-rooted racial biases.
Bill O’Wray, Males, 60-70, Caucasian - An old white character actor. He insists that he is not prejudiced. At best he is insensitive, and at worst he is a bigot.
Millie Davis, Female 30-35, African American - A veteran actor who dresses very well. She has spent her career performing black stereotypical roles which she despises but is willing to sacrifice her dignity to work as an actor.
John Nevins, Male, 22-30, African American - A college graduate and novice actor who aspires to rise to the top. Young, idealistic and reluctant to listen to the wisdom of his elders.
Sheldon Forrester, Male, 60-70, African American - A veteran actor. Elderly, poorly educated and the stereotypical Uncle Tom – or is he? He may be more than he appears; he may be only playing a role that pleases white people as a means of survival.
Judy Sears, Female, 20-30, Caucasian – New to acting. She is young, energetic, sensitive, liberal. She believes all people are the same and racism is wrong.
Henry, Male, 65-75, Caucasian – Doorman at the theater.Of Irish descent. He has hearing problems. He is a problem solver. A supportive and understanding ally of Willeta
Eddie Fenton, Male, 20-30, Caucasian - A young stage manager. Thoughtful, congenial and helpful to cast and crew.
*Several ensemble non-speaking roles will be available as well
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