Folger Theatre 2013-14 Season – Equity Principal Auditions
Washington DC LOA; $520/week minimum
Michael Whitmore, Artistic Director
Artistic Producer: Janet Alexander Griffin
Assistant Artistic Producer: Beth Emelson
Equity Principal Auditions
Friday, February 22, 2013 at Ripley Grier Studios
10 AM – 6 PM 520 8th Ave - Studio 16E
Lunch from 1:30 – 2:30. New York, NY
Please prepare a brief Shakespearean monologue under 2 minutes.
Bring a picture/resume, stapled together.
ROMEO & JULIET
by William Shakespeare
Director: Aaron Posner
Casting: Daryl Eisenberg, CSA
Rehearsals Begin: September 17, 2013
Performances: October 15 – December 8, 2013
NOTE: All actors need to be excellent with Shakespearean language. Tybalt, Romeo, Benvolio and The Chorus need to be strong fighters. Playing a musical instrument is a plus. This play will be performed with the actors’ natural accents. Roles may be doubled.
Juliet - A passionate, deep-feeling, poetic and deeply disaffected young woman. CAST
Romeo – late 20s male. A passionate, deep-feeling, poetic and deeply disaffected young man.
Lord Capulet – 40s-50s male. A strong, intelligent, aggressive, angry, hopeful, domineering man.
Lady Capulet – 40s female. A well-meaning, worried, conflicted and caring woman.
Tybalt – 20-30s male. A hot-headed, aggressive, angry young man. A strong fighter.
Lord Montague – 40s-50s male. A caring, strong, perhaps slightly befuddled, man.
Lady Montague – 40s-50s female. A well-meaning, compassionate mother.
Benvolio – 20s male. A smart, loyal, poetic, gloomy, loving young man. With a temper.
Friar Lawrence – 40s-60s male. A compassionate, zealous, very well-meaning man of faith.
Nurse – 40s-50s female A charming, scattered, kind, compassionate woman.
Chorus/Prince/Paris/Peter/Mercutio/Apothecary/Friar John – 30s-40s male. A smart, flexible, funny, sad, complex excellent actor. Strong fighter.
Balthasar – 18 year old male. A loyal servant.
Pages & Servants – 18 year old male and females. Servants of the Montagues and Capulets. Two girls, one boy.
RICHARD III
by William Shakespeare
Director: Robert Richmond
Casting: Daryl Eisenberg, CSA
Rehearsals Begin: December 31, 2013
Performances: January 28 – March 16, 2014
NOTE: All actors need to be excellent with Shakespearean language. Richard, Catesby, Ratcliff, and Richmond need to be strong fighters. Playing a musical instrument is a plus. This play will be performed with the actors’ natural accents. Roles may be doubled.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester – 35-50 year old male. Manipulative, intelligent, egotistical, and power-hungry, he will stop at nothing to become king; deformed in body and heartless in his actions, he possesses a conniving nature and a sardonic wit. Actor should be skilled in armed stage combat.
King Edward IV – 50-60 year old male. Brother to Richard and George, reigning king at the top of play; bed-ridden and plagued with guilt, he is easily manipulated; unaware of Richard’s plot to overthrow him, he dies believing peace has been restored.
George, Duke of Clarence – 30-45 year old male. Brother to Richard and Edward; gentle and trusting, he invites sympathy; he acknowledges his guilt for past crimes and wishes to restore peace, yet dies at Richard’s command.
Duchess of York – mother of Richard, Edward and George; fiercely protective yet regretful, she eventually curses Richard for his actions; old in years and sorrow.
Edward, Prince of Wales – 12 year old male child. Edward IV’s oldest son; afterward, King Edward V (never crowned); youthful yet astute, he appears wise beyond his years.
Richard, Duke of York – 8 year old male child. Edward IV’s youngest son; sharp-witted and mischievous, he is also a quick study, much like his older brother.
Duke of Buckingham – 30-50 year old male. Richard’s right-hand man; ambitious and amoral; puts Richard on the throne, but is ultimately betrayed when he wavers in killing the young princes.
Sir William Catesby – 25-50 year old male. One of Richard’s followers; commissioned to discern if Hastings is a true supporter of Richard. Actor should be skilled in armed stage combat.
Sir Richard Ratcliff – 25-50 year old male. One of Richard’s followers; serves as the henchman in overseeing the execution of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan. Actor should be skilled in armed stage combat.
Sir James Tyrrell – 25-50 year old male. Hired to kill Richard’s two young cousins; in search of profit, he is eager to improve his station in the world by any means.
First Murderer – 25-50 year old male. Hired by Richard to murder Clarence; eager for the reward and pays little heed to his conscience in completing the act, all the while urging his companion to the same. Actor should be skilled in stage combat.
Second Murderer – 25-50 year old male. Hired by Richard to murder Clarence; his sense of morality battles his desire for the reward; ultimately, his pity for Clarence overtakes his ability to do him harm.
Margaret – 35-60 year old female. Widow of King Henry VI and mother of Prince Edward, both murdered by Richard; she loathes Richard and those who have usurped her throne; embittered, full of rage and sorrow, she unleashes curses upon all who have done her wrong.
Lady Anne – 25-35 year old female. Widow of Prince Edward, she is persuaded to marry Richard, the same man who murdered her husband; easily swayed yet optimistic, she finds no peace.
Elizabeth – 45-65 year old female. Queen of King Edward IV; strong-willed and intelligent; fiercely protective of her brood.
Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond – 25-40 year old male. Afterward, King Henry VII; good, just and fair; challenges Richard for the throne; religious with strong convictions of righteousness; agent of divine justice. Actor should be skilled in armed stage combat.
Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby – 35-50 year old male. Henry Tudor’s stepfather; cautious in his actions, his life is precariously balanced between the two opposing forces; though loyal to Richmond, Richard threatens the life of his son to force his support.
Lord Hastings – 35-50 year old male. Lord Chamberlain under Edward IV; remains loyal to the house of York; blithely confident as a devoted Yorkist, he is ignorant of the impending danger.
Sir Robert Brakenbury – 35-50 year old male. Lieutenant of the Tower; compassionate but loyal to the crown.
Lord Mayor of London – 35-60 year old male. Gullible and eager to please, he is used as a pawn by Richard and Buckingham.
PRODUCTION #3 – TBD
A 3rd production will be announced shortly and information will be updated as soon as possible.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, email a picture/resume to
folger@decasting.com, Subject Line: FOLGER THEATRE 2013-2014 [INSERT SHOW/ROLE HERE]
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