Auditions
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Directed by Zachary Best
THE STORY:
“The course of true love never did run smooth.” So says Lysander in the opening scene of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He and the other young lovers, along with a group of mischievous fairies, a troupe of amateur actors, and a Duke and Queen, cross paths in the forest where nothing goes as planned. Everyone will relate to (and delight in) the pursuit of young love, the complicated relationship between a somewhat overbearing parent and a child coming of age, the challenge of settling the boundaries of a new marriage, rifts in friendships, and perhaps even the excitement of rehearsing a play! Midsummer follows three separate groups of characters and, therefore, three different plots, marvelously interwoven, as all characters tumble over each other during one magical, zany night in the woods. There is never a dull moment for the characters or the audience. Where else can you find love, revenge, trickery, magic, a donkey head, and amateur theatrics all in the same play?!
ACTORS:
Actors may play more than one role. Tracks are outlined below, but are subject to change based on auditions. This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be set in rural Ireland, and actors will be asked to adopt an Irish accent. There is no need to use an accent during the audition process.
Actor 1: Theseus, Oberon
Actor 2: Egeus, Quince
Actor 3: Lysander
Actor 4: Demetrius
Actor 5: Philostrate, Puck
Actor 6: Bottom
Actor 7: Flute, Cobweb
Actor 8: Snout, First Fairy, Peaseblossom
Actor 9: Snug, Second Fairy, Moth
Actor 10: Starveling, Mustardseed
Actor 11: Hippolyta, Titania
Actor 12: Helena
Actor 13: Hermia
Actors of all backgrounds and identities are encouraged to audition. In some cases, the gender of the character can be flexible. Actors are invited to share what role(s) they are interested in auditioning for.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
THESEUS - Duke of Athens, marrying Hippolyta
LYSANDER - In love with Hermia, despite her father’s objections
DEMETRIUS - In love with Helena
EGEUS - Hermia’s father, wants her to marry Demetrius
PHILOSTRATE - Theseus’ Master of the Revels, responsible for planning his wedding celebration
HIPPOLYTA - Engaged to marry Theseus
HERMIA - In love with Lysander; good friend of Helena; strong-willed and independent
HELENA - In love with Demetrius; good friend of Hermia; self-pitying
PUCK - A mischievous fairy who plays pranks on mortals; servant of Oberon
OBERON - King of the Fairies
TITANIA - Queen of the Fairies
PEASEBLOSSOM, MOTH, COBWEB MUSTARDSEED - Fairies
NICK BOTTOM - Overconfident amateur actor in a play to celebrate Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding; turns into a donkey
PETER QUINCE - A carpenter. Director of the play; owner of a pub
FRANCIS FLUTE- A bellows-mender. Amateur actor who reluctantly plays a young girl in love
ROBIN STARVELING- A taylor. Amateur actor who plays Moonshine
SNUG - A joiner. Amateur actor who plays a lion
TOM SNOUT - A tinker. Amateur actor who plays a wall
AUDITIONS
Auditions will consist of a reading of the actor’s choosing from one of these pre-selected monologues from Midsummer. Alternatively, an actor may present a prepared 1-2 minute monologue from any Shakespeare play. Actors will then be paired with one another to read sides from the show.
• Auditions will be held on Sunday, March 2, from 2 – 5 pm and Monday, March 3, from 7 – 10 pm
• SIGN UP for an audition time HERE
• Call-back auditions will be held on Tuesday, March 4th at 7 pm. Keep that date free.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will be scheduled Sunday through Thursday each week, though not every one of those nights in any given week. A typical rehearsal week will include two weeknight rehearsals and a Sunday afternoon rehearsal. A full rehearsal schedule will be determined once casting has been confirmed.
PERFORMANCES
Performances – except where noted – are at 8:00 PM.
Performance dates: Friday/Saturday, July 18, 19; Thursday/Friday/Saturday, July 24, 25, 26; Thursday/Friday/Saturday, July 31, August 1, 2
IMPORTANT NOTE
There is a 2:00 PM matinee in addition to the 8:00 PM performance each Saturday, for a total of ELEVEN performances.
OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
The audition form and monologues can be downloaded below. If you have questions, please email: tstepanian@hotmail.com
IMPORTANT NOTE
There is a 2:00 PM matinee in addition to the 8:00 PM performance each Saturday, for a total of ELEVEN performances.
Vokes strives to be an inclusive and anti-racist organization. We welcome and encourage a community of all colors, genders/gender non-conformity, body types, and abilities to join us. Vokes strives to cast our shows from the individuals who come to the audition, and we seek to be as flexible and conscious of our casting as possible. In the spirit of preserving opportunities for actors who the entertainment community has traditionally underserved and allowing them to tell their own stories, we will neither cast a white/Caucasian actor in a role written explicitly for a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) actor, nor a cisgender actor in a role specifically written for a transgender or non-binary/gender non-conforming actor. For any role written for a character with a specific disability or neurodivergence, we will prioritize, to the best of our abilities, actors who are living that experience. Sexual, physical, or verbal harassment/abuse of any kind will not be tolerated within our organization. Above all, we value work ethic, fostering talent, and any opportunities to expand our creativity as an artistic organization.
Health Policy:
At this time, we do not require masking. We request that if you or a member of your household are experiencing COVID or Flu symptoms, that you please stay home and contact our box office for ticket exchange options. Our board of directors meets regularly and will make changes to this policy based on state and local health guidelines and mandates. Ticket holders will be notified of any changes regarding these policies. Thank you for helping to keep everyone at Vokes Theatre safe and healthy.