A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Equity Principal Actors - Riverside Theatre Auditions

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Iowa City, IA EPA

Riverside Theatre | Iowa City, IA

Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

AUDITION DATE

LOCATION

Saturday, January 17, 2026 — Riverside Theatre
119 E College St
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM (C) Iowa City, IA 52240

APPOINTMENTS

Please proceed to the 3rd floor via elevator or stairs. By appointment only. To set up an appointment please follow this link:
https://forms.gle/abTBbtavYDLyswhh9. Or call Irena Sarić at 319-887-1360 during Riverside office hours M–F 10am–4pm CT.

PERSONNEL

EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Adam Knight, Director and Producing Artistic Director
Irena Saric, Managing Director

CONTRACT

$535 weekly minimum (LOA ref. LORT)

LOA

OTHER DATES

1st rehearsal: 5/19/2026
Opening: 6/12/2026
Closing: 6/28/2026

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (see breakdown). All roles will be understudied.
www.riversidetheatre.org

An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.

Riverside Theatre encourages actors of all races, all ethnicities, and all gender identities, as well as performers of differing abilities to submit for ALL roles. 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.

PREPARATION

Please prepare two monologues of no more than 2 minutes each for the role(s) you wish to be considered for. These can be speeches from A Midsummer Night’s Dream or from another Shakespeare or Shakespeare-adjacent play. Please bring two copies of your headshot and resume to the audition.

BREAKDOWN

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

THESEUS/OBERON

Male-presenting, any ethnicity. 30s–40s. THESEUS is the ruler of Athens, a successful and cunning conqueror who is now longing to become a peace-time ruler and win the love of his bride-to-be Hippolyta. Doubles with OBERON, the ruler of the forest fairies, who along with his servant Puck plots a scheme to sway Titania’s desires and win the Changling boy from her. His sympathy for Helena leads to chaos among the Athenian lovers.

BOTTOM

Male-presenting, any ethnicity. 40s–60s. A weaver by trade and the “star” of the amateur theatrical troupe of tradespersons putting on a play for Theseus’ nuptials. He is the hero of his life story and, if he could, would play all the parts in the play. He is turned into a donkey by Puck and is the object of desire to Titania.

PETER QUINCE

Any gender, any ethnicity. 30s–50s, comfortable playing he/him pronouns. A community theatre director with the utmost integrity and belief in creating a piece of art that moves the audience – even if the talent that surrounds Quince is not particularly high. Swallows some frustration with Bottom, who is clearly the great talent in the company.

HELENA and HERMIA

Female-presenting, any ethnicity. 20s–30s. Young Athenian women who escape to the forest for love. Hermia loves Lysander but is desired by Demetrius, whom Helena loves. The tables are turned when a potion makes both men desire Helena, revealing a hidden rivalry between the lifelong friends.

DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER

Male-presenting, any ethnicity. 20s–30s. Young Athenian men who both love Hermia. Demetrius spurns Helena’s advances but uses her to chase after Hermia and Lysander and thwart their escape. A potion administered by Puck makes both men desire Helena instead, and their rivalry continues.

PUCK/PHILOSTRATE (track)

Any gender, any ethnicity. Late teens–20s, comfortable playing he/him pronouns. A mischievous fairy in service to Oberon, Puck plays tricks on the mechanicals as well as the Athenian lovers and enjoys the chaos that ensues. Doubles as Philostrate, the master of revels in service to Theseus.