Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
CONTRACT
SPT $435 weekly minimum (SPT 5+)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in the 2021/2022 season. Productions being cast include Romeo & Juliet, Every Christmas Story Ever Told, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, and Kate Hamill's Pride & Prejudice. (See breakdown.)
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's goal is to create a casting process that is welcoming, absent of intimidation, and serves those auditioning as well as the creative team in the full exploration of the material. All body types, races, and ethnicities are wanted. CSC seeks actors of all abilities and will make all reasonable accommodations to cast actors in any available role. CSC recognizes that most characters are written on the binary (using he/him or she/her pronouns) and we invite gender nonconforming, genderqueer, transgender, and nonbinary actors to submit for the roles with which they identify.
As a producer with the Actors' Equity Association, CSC prohibits discrimination.
INSTRUCTIONS
At this time, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is only accepting video auditions. Prepare two contrasting pieces, at least one of them Shakespeare with a combined length of less than 3 minutes. Slate at the beginnning of the video, stating your name and the pieces you will be doing. Submit video via YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive link and attach digital headshot/resume. Send audition video link with above materials attached with subject line: CSC SEASON SUBMISSION.
Deadline: Wed, Aug 11, 2021
SUBMIT TO
crystian.wiltshire@cincyshakes.com
PERSONNEL
Viewing auditions:
Brian Isaac Phillips: he/him (Producing Artistic Director)
Crystian Wiltshire: he/him (Associate Artistic Director)
Candice Handy: she/her (Education Director/Director)
Kate Bindus (Production Manager, she/her/hers)
Darnell Pierre Benjamin: he/him (Director/Choreographer)
Jeremy Dubin: he/him (Director)
Sara Clark: she/her(Director)
Christopher V. Edwards: he/him (Director)
OTHER DATES
See breakdown for production dates.
OTHER
If there are any provisions Cincinnati Shakespeare Company can make to enhance and support your audition experience, just let us know. Please reach out through the note section of your breakdown submission or by emailing Crystian Wiltshire at crystian.wiltshire@cincyshakes.com.
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 submit.
BREAKDOWN
Romeo & Juliet
First Rehearsal - September 6, 2021, Opening - October 8, 2021, Closing - November 13, 2021
Romeo – Son and heir of the Montagues. The sensitive, impulsive, passionate lover of Juliet.
Juliet – Daughter to the Capulets. The strong-willed lover of Romeo who refuses to bend to her parents vision for her future.
Lady Capulet – Parent to Juliet.
Lord Capulet - Parent to Juliet.
Lady Montague - Parent to Romeo.
Lord Montague – Parent to Romeo.
Nurse – Capulet’s nurse, Juliet’s closest confidant.
Friar Lawrence - Spiritual advisor to the city of Verona and mentor to Romeo.
Prince – Prince of Verona.
Benvolio – Romeo’s cousin, tries his best to keep the peace in Verona.
Tybalt – Juliet’s cousin, despises the Montagues.
Mercutio – Romeo’s quick-witted friend that quarrels both physically and mentally with the Montagues and Capulets.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
First Rehearsal - December 27, 2021, Opening - January 21, 2022, Closing - February 12, 2022
Ma Rainey – The leader of the band. Understands the power of keeping her voice all her own in a climate where the music business wants to steal her voice and abandon her.
Levee - The sharp, hot-headed trumpeteer that ignites much of the feuds within the band and in particular, with Ma Rainey.
Sturdyvant – One of the music producers trying desperately to get a recording from the band.
Dussie Mae – Ma Rainey’s lover who is also sought after by Levee.
Irvin – Ordered by Sturdyvant to do all he can to keep Ma on schedule for recording.
Sylvester – Ma Rainey’s nephew. Struggles to speak due to his speech impediment but tries with all his might.
Slow Drag - Black veteran musician, bass player, bored by life.
Toledo – Black veteran musician, plays piano and is the only member of the band who can read.
Cutler – Black veteran musician and leader of the group when Ma is not present. Plays guitar and trombone.
Policeman – Attempts to arrest Ma on charges of assault and battery.
Every Christmas Story Ever Told
First Rehearsal - November 1, 2021, Opening - November 19, 2021, Closing - December 26, 2021
Actor 1 – Loves Christmas.
Actor 2 – Loves “A Christmas Carol”.
Actor 3 – Loves Actor 1 & Actor 2.
Hamlet
First Rehearsal - January 31, 2022, Opening - February 25, 2022. Closing - March 26, 2022
Hamlet – Prince of Denmark. Driven by advice from their deceased father and unique wit, embarks on a journey filled with impulsiveness, hesitancy and an exceptional power of speech to avenge their father’s death.
Claudius – King of Denmark, Hamlet’s Uncle. Married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude after murdering his own brother to take the crown for himself.
Gertude – Hamlet’s mother. Has an unstable relationship with her son after she marries his uncle Claudius.
Ghost – The ghost of King Hamlet, former king of Denmark. Tells his son Hamlet that he must avenge his death caused by his brother Claudius.
Horatio – Hamlet’s dearest friend, loyal to Hamlet to the very end.
Rosencrantz – Childhood friend of Hamlet that poorly conspires with Guildenstern to learn more of Hamlet’s erratic behavior.
Guildenstern - Childhood friend of Hamlet that poorly conspires with Rosencrantz to learn more of Hamlet’s erratic behavior.
Grave Digger #1 – A grave digger that reveals to Hamlet the skull of Hamlet’s childhood jester.
Grave Digger #2 – Engages with their fellow Grave Digger in a comedic debate on Christian burial.
Polonius - Parent to Ophelia and Laertes. Trusted advisor to the royalty of Denmark.
Ophelia - Child of Polonius and romantically involved with Hamlet.
Laertes - Child of Polonius and sibling to Ophelia. Hot tempered and good with a sword.
Comedy of Errors
First Rehearsal - March 14, 2022, Opening - April 8, 2022, Closing - April 30, 2022
Antipholous of Syracuse – Half of the Antipholi twins finds himself with his servant Dromio in a strange land as he desperately tries to find his lost twin brother.
Antipholus of Ephesus – The other half of the Antipholi twins. A citizen of Ephesus, his life gets turned upside down as his twin brother arrives to the city. But neither he nor the citizens know he has a twin.
Dromio of Syracuse – The spirited, quick-witted, loyal servant to Antipholus of Syracuse since both of them were born.
Dromio of Ephesus – Antipholus of Ephesus’ servant whose loyalty is tested by his master and mistress and eventually, an exorcism.
Solinus, Duke of Ephesus - Older authority in the town of Ephesus. Strictly follows the law but might secretly have a heart as well.
Egeon - Parent of Antipholus twins, in search of the twin lost for many years.
Emilia - Abbess in the town of Ephesus. She might also be the long lost parent of a certain set of twins.
Luciana - Single sister of Adriana. Practical but capable of being swept away by romance and shennanigans.
Adriana – Wife of Antipholus of Syracuse. Despite mistaking her husband’s twin brother for her actual
husband, she verbally quarrels with her sister over a woman’s role in marriage.
Balthazar – Merchant in Ephesus and friend to Antipholus of Ephesus.
Angelo – A goldsmith who makes a gold chain for Antipholus of Ephesus which gets delivered to the wrong brother.
Dr. Pinch – Part healer, part exorcist. Hired by Adriana to cure Antipholus of Ephesus of his alleged madness.
Pride & Prejudice
First Rehearsal - April 18, 2022, Opening - May 20, 2022, Closing - June 18, 2022
Jane, the idealistic, generous, oldest Bennet daughter. Also doubles as Miss De Bourgh, who despite being sickly and unpresentable at court, as an only child she is the heir of the de Bourgh family.
Elizabeth Bennet, an independent-minded child of the Bennet family. Falls in love with Darcy.
Lydia, the youngest Bennet daughter who competes often with her sister “Kitty”. Also doubles as Lady Catherine, the strict, conventional arch-rival of Eliza Bennet.
Mr. Darcy, he is strong-willed and quiet. Tends to be protective of loved ones and falls in love with Elizabeth Bennet.
Mr. Collins, a respectful clergyman who is expected to receive the Longbourn estate. Also plays the very charming and beloved George Wickham and the witty, vain and antagonistic Miss Bingley.
Mr. Bingley, he is Darcy’s best friend and excessively nice. Also doubles as Mary, the plain and pedantic middle child in the Bennet family.
Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s sensible and intelligent best friend. Also doubles as Mr. Bennet, the withdrawn, dry-witted patriarch of the Bennet family.
Mrs. Bennet - The silly yet understanding matriarch of the Bennet family.
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 submit.
Videos
