Auditions for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

UPDATE: Monologue suggestions and audition tips have been posted here.

Series and Ages:  NBYT Teen Company (ages 12-19)

Description:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, combines upper-class nobles, laborers-turned-actors, four love-struck teens, and a world of mischievous fairies who collide in a cluster of magical spells and potions, mistaken identity, wedding preparations, and a hilarious play-within-a-play. Inspired by the colonial collection at the New Britain Museum of American Art, co-directors Nicki LaPorte and Brooke Ferguson will set the production in pre-Revolutionary America.

Directors:  Nicki LaPorte and Brooke Ferguson

Audition Dates:  Monday, March 9, and Wednesday, March 11 (come one date only)

Audition Times:  Beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Audition Place:  NBYT at the New Britain-Berlin YMCA, 50 High Street, New Britain

Audition Prep:  A 30-60 second Shakespeare monologue; reading dialogue from the play; comfortable clothes recommended

Characters:

Hermia—a young woman in love with Lysander but ordered by her father to marry Demetrius

Helena—Hermia’s friend from childhood who is in love with Demetrius

Lysander—in love with Hermia

Demetrius—chosen to marry Hermia marry despite her love for Lysander

Theseus—the duke of Athens; engaged to Hippolyta

Hippolyta—engaged to Theseus

Nick Bottom (the weaver)—manager of the play-within-a-play and portrays Pyramus in it

Peter Quince (the carpenter)—author and director of the play-within-the-play

Francis Flute (the bellows mender)—unwillingly plays the role of Thisbe in the play-within-the-play

Tom Snout (the tinker)—portrays a wall in the play-within-the-play

Robin Starveling (the tailor)—portrays the moon in the play-within-the-play

Snug (the joiner)—portrays the lion in the play-within-the-play because he roars well

Oberon—king of the fairies; married to Titania

Titania—queen of the fairies; married to Oberon

Robin Goodfellow (Puck)—a fairy in Oberon’s service

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed—Titania’s fairies

Rehearsal Days:  Mondays and Wednesdays; additional rehearsal during tech week (final week before performances)

Rehearsal Times:  6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (possibly extended in May and June; not all of the cast will be called to each rehearsal; some recommended Saturday workshops and museum visits will also be scheduled)

Performance Dates:  June 25, 26, 27 and 28

Performance Place:  New Britain Museum of American Art (6/25, 26, 28) and Barnes Museum in Southington (6/27)

Participation Fee:  $75, financial assistance available