GUARDS AT THE TAJ — Principal Actors Auditions
Arc Stages
GUARDS AT THE TAJ - NYC EPA
Theater: Arc Stages | Pleasantville, NY
Notice: Audition
Call Type: EPA
AUDITION DATE
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (E)
CONTRACT
CONTRACT
Independent Theatre
CONTRACT
$600 weekly minimum
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in GUARDS AT THE TAJ (See
BREAKDOWN
).PREPARATION
Please prepare a brief monologue in the style of the show.
LOCATION
Ripley-Grier Studios (520)
520 8th Ave
New York, NY 10018-6507
Holding room - Studio 16J
PERSONNEL
Written by: Rajiv Joseph
Director: Neal Gupta
Casting Associate: Stacey Bone-Gleason
Expected to attend: Adam David Cohen, Artistic Director
OTHER DATES
Rehearsals begin: January 11, 2027
Performances: January 29 - February 7, 2027
Performance schedule: Friday at 7pm, Saturday 7pm, Sunday at 2pm
OTHER
All rehearsals and performances will be held at Arc Stages in Pleasantville, NY.
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided.
Equity's
CONTRACT
s 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.
BREAKDOWN
SYNOPSIS
In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal – an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concepts of friendship, beauty and duty... and changes them forever.
NOTE FROM DIRECTOR
South Asia has a rich, complex history of gender diversity, from gender-variant figures in religious traditions to the khwaja saras who held positions of power and responsibility in Mughal courts. This invites us to question assumptions about who can embody masculinity, authority, and power. I am keen to explore how an actor's gender might shape our understanding of these characters, their relationships, and the world of the play.
SEEKING
HUMAYUN: South Asian. Late 20s-late 30s. An Imperial Guard. Son of the Chief Officer of the Guards. Lifelong friend of Babur. He is disciplined, practical, and precise. He is invested in complying with the rules as he believes upholding the status quo will be what will keep him safe. His fear of consequences has built a rigidity in him, but at his core he is deeply vulnerable and caring. Actors of all genders are encouraged to audition.
BABUR: South Asian. Late 20s-late 30s. An Imperial Guard. Lifelong friend of Humayun. He is playful, imaginative, and insatiably curious. He concocts fantastical inventions, delights in nature, and dreams for a life beyond his military post. He challenges the status quo and has a rebellious, mischievous spirit. He has a sensitivity to suffering and is unapologetic in expressing his doubts and emotions. Actors of all genders are encouraged to audition.
