RICHARD III Submission - New York Shakespeare Festival Auditions

RICHARD III - EQUITY VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

New York Shakespeare Festival

CONTRACT

LORT Non-Rep $1058 weekly minimum (LORT B)

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in RICHARD III by William Shakespeare (see breakdown).

The Public Theater is committed to inclusive casting and as such we are intentionally seeking performers of all ethnicities, performers with disabilities, performers of all gender identities, and ages.

The Public Theater is committed to ensuring a safe return to theatrical production and to complying with state and local guidelines in addition to sector-specific parameters. The health and safety of all of our artists, staff, audiences, and the city is paramount to The Public.

INSTRUCTIONS

Please prepare a brief Shakespeare monologue. Please submit audition video via online form at https://airtable.com/shrORSYoAnDUfyNvr

Deadline: Wed, Feb 16, 2022

PERSONNEL

Directed by Robert O’Hara

Viewing auditions:
Jordan Thaler, Director of Casting
Heidi Griffiths, Director of Casting
Kate Murray, Casting Director
Chalin Tulyathan, Casting Associate

OTHER DATES

1st Rehearsal on or about: 5/9/22
1st Performance on or about: 6/17/22
Closing on or about: 7/17/22

OTHER

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

NOTE REGARDING COVID: As a condition of employment, the Public will require all employees who report to work on site (either at the Public Theater or any other workspace or performing location) to confirm that they are fully vaccinated and have received an additional dose/booster shot. For the purpose of this policy, “fully vaccinated” means that at least 14 days have passed since the date of receiving the final vaccine dose in the COVID-19 vaccine series. Safety guidelines have been developed by the Public’s Onsite Safety and COVID-19 Compliance team in ongoing dialogue with those with expertise in institutional infection control practices, infectious diseases, and community health to ensure compliance with all state and local health guidelines, and to augment working practices during rehearsals, tech, and performances to minimize risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among actors, crew, and other theater professionals

SEEKING

Some roles will be understudied.

[RICHARD] The Duke Of Gloucester, eventually crowned King Richard III (CAST).

[BUCKINGHAM] 30's - 40's years old, male. Richard's right-hand man. Powerful, intelligent, and ambitious, he aids Richard in his schemes to gain power, and is promised the title Earl of Hereford in return. He begins the play as capable of violence as Richard, but when Richard's abominations begin to escalate, he is forced to confront the cost of his loyalty to his new King. Cold and calculating but has imagination and some humor.

[KING EDWARD IV] 40's - 50's years old, male. A once powerful King but now ill, he looks weaker. His sickness makes him irrational, emotional and easy to manipulate, allowing Richard to use him as a puppet to advance his own status. Doubles with: KING HENRY VII (EARLIER, EARL OF RICHMOND) - A leader capable of rallying an army to challenge Richard for the throne. Kills Richard III in Bosworth Field. He is more like his predecessor than not and perhaps even more frightening in his perfection.

[DUCHESS OF YORK] Late 50's - 70's years old, female. A spine of steel. Mother to Richard, Edward, and George. She mourns Richard's rise to power and grieves for the death of her other sons. She may look like the oldest person in the court, but she will outlive them all.

[QUEEN ELIZABETH] 40's - 50's years old, female. Queen to King Edward IV. A shrewd and calculating member of the aristocracy. Richly groomed and strong-willed. She opposes Richard's ascent to power and fears for the safety of her young children whom Richard views as threats to his sovereignty. Richard views her as a capable adversary and justifiably so.

[MARGARET] 50's - 60's years old, female. Powerful, commanding and an intimidating presence. The widow of Henry VI, the previous King of England, unseated by Edward IV. She is forced to survive on charity from her husband's murderers. She curses the new court for their participation in the murders of her husband and sons, and it is her curses that foreshadow future events.

[LADY ANNE] 20's - Early 30's years old, female. The young widow of Henry VI's son, Prince Edward. She is in mourning for the death of her husband and father-in-law. Intelligent. Passionate. Bold. Fatalistic. Filled with hate for Richard, but because of his scheming and clever manipulation, she is forced to become his unhappy wife.

[PRINCE EDWARD AND PRINCE RICHARD] 10 - 12 years old, boys. Tyrants in training. Not a pair of precious cherubs, these brothers are fiercely smart and capable of becoming just like the men around them. Very mature for their ages and can go toe--toe with any adult in a match of wits. Strong language skills, strong voices, and an ability be centered, commanding and still. Actors of all genders encouraged to submit.

[LORD HASTINGS] Late 20's - 40's years old, male. He likes all sensual pleasures of the company of women and wine. Faithful to Edward IV and opposed to Richard taking the throne. His entitled naïveté makes him ignore all signs of his downfall, which ends in his beheading.

[LORD STANLEY] Late 40's - 50's years old, male. More of a politician than the others. A career diplomat and operator. Two-faced, he aids both Richard’s ascent to the throne and his assassination by Richmond, his step-son. A man who has made it because of his family, money and education.

[RATCLIFFE AND CATESBY] Late 20's - 40's years old, male. Cunning. Intelligent, in a crafty way of the overeducated. Devious and certainly capable of killing. Henchmen inside of Richard’s tight circle of devious and deadly sycophants.

[LORD RIVERS/AND OTHERS] 40's years old, male. Brother to Queen Elizabeth. Would probably make a better old money playboy than a politician. Manages to get all the mileage he possibly can from his privilege. Doubles with: TYRREL A striking presence. Secretive. Cold and seemingly unfeeling but with a hidden capacity to experience regret and terror for his actions, along with other roles.

[GEORGE/AND OTHERS] 30's - 40's years old, male. Duke of Clarence. Richard's older brother. Before him in succession to the crown. The spirit of a writer/poet. Will double with other ensemble roles.

[ENSEMBLE] Late 20's - Late 40's years old, Males and Females. 1ST AND 2ND MURDERERS, CITIZENS 1, 2 & 3,, ELY, DORSET, GREY, MAYOR and others. Featured character roles which will be doubled/tripled with other roles. Move well and are good fighters. Will also understudy principal 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 submit.