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SHAKESPEARE AUDITIONS

Writer's picture: Anthony ChaseAnthony Chase

Twelfth Night and Richard III



 Shakespeare in Delaware Park has announced auditions for its 2025 (or 50th Anniversary!) season, which will feature Twelfth Night directed by Eileen Dugan, and Richard III directed by Greg Stuhr.

 

Auditions will take place on November 23, 24, and 25, 2024.


Audition Schedule:

Saturday, November 23: 9 AM – 2 PM | Open Call (by appointment)

Sunday, November 24: 9 AM – 2 PM | Twelfth Night Callbacks

Monday, November 25: 5 PM – 10 PM | Richard III Callbacks

 

Location:

625 Delaware Avenue, 3rd Floor

Buffalo, NY 14202

 

2025 Season Performance Schedule

Twelfth Night | June 19 – July 13, 2025


Richard III | July 24 – August 17, 2025


Touring Production TBD | June 16 – August 18, 2025

 

Open Call Auditions are by appointment only.

To be considered for the 2025 season, actors must schedule an appointment starting on November 4, 2024, by calling 716-856-4533.

(Prepare now, but DO NOT CALL BEFORE NOV. 4, 2024)

 

Shakespeare in Delaware Park welcomes and strongly encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, body types, and those with disabilities (aged 18 and older) to audition. All positions are paid.

 

Audition Requirements

Actors should prepare one memorized Shakespearean monologue (no longer than 2 minutes) and bring a resume and headshot to the audition. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org or call 716-856-4533.

 

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy set in the fictional land of Illyria and centers around themes of love, mistaken identity, and gender roles.

 

Brief Plot Summary

Viola is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria and loses contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes to be dead. Disguising herself as a young man named Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, who is mourning for her dead brother and refuses to entertain any suitors. Orsino sends Cesario (Viola in disguise) to woo Olivia on his behalf, but Olivia falls in love with Cesario instead. Meanwhile, Viola has fallen in love with Orsino, creating a love triangle.


The subplot involves the rowdy Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and his friends playing a cruel prank on Malvolio, Olivia's steward. Complications arise when Sebastian arrives in Illyria, causing confusion due to his resemblance to Cesario. The play concludes with the revealing of Viola's true identity, the pairing off of couples, and the humiliation of Malvolio.

 

Character List
  • Viola/Cesario: The protagonist, a young woman who disguises herself as a man

  • Orsino: The Duke of Illyria, in love with Olivia

  • Olivia: A wealthy countess, mourning her brother's death

  • Sebastian: Viola's twin brother

  • Malvolio: Olivia's pompous steward

  • Sir Toby Belch: Olivia's rowdy uncle

  • Sir Andrew Aguecheek: Sir Toby's foolish friend and drinking companion

  • Maria: Olivia's clever serving woman

  • Feste: The wise fool, Olivia's jester

  • Antonio: A sea captain who rescues Sebastian

  • Valentine and Curio: Gentlemen attending on Duke Orsino

  • Fabian: A servant in Olivia's household

  • A Sea Captain: Friend to Viola

  • Officers, Priests, Sailors, Musicians (various small roles)

 

Richard III

Richard III is a historical play depicting the Machiavellian rise to power and short reign of King Richard III of England.

 

Brief Plot Summary

The play opens near the end of the Wars of the Roses, with Richard, Duke of Gloucester, determined to become king. He manipulates and murders his way to the throne, disposing of his brothers, nephews, and anyone else who stands in his way.


Richard first arranges for his brother George, Duke of Clarence, to be imprisoned and later murdered. He then woos Lady Anne, whose husband and father-in-law he has killed, and marries her to strengthen his position. After the death of King Edward IV, Richard becomes Lord Protector of the realm for Edward's young sons. He then has the boys imprisoned in the Tower of London and declares them illegitimate.


Through further scheming and with the support of the Duke of Buckingham, Richard is crowned king. However, his reign is short and troubled. He betrays Buckingham, and his former allies begin to desert him. Meanwhile, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, gathers forces to challenge Richard's claim to the throne.


The play culminates in the Battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard is killed, and Richmond becomes King Henry VII, uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster and ending the Wars of the Roses.

 

Character List
  • Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III): The protagonist and villain

  • King Edward IV: Richard's older brother, the King of England

  • George, Duke of Clarence: Richard's other brother

  • Queen Elizabeth: Wife of Edward IV

  • Lady Anne: Widow of Edward, Prince of Wales, later Richard's wife

  • Duke of Buckingham: Richard's right-hand man

  • Lord Hastings: Lord Chamberlain

  • Earl of Richmond (later King Henry VII): Richard's main antagonist

  • Duchess of York: Mother of Richard, Clarence, and King Edward IV

  • Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby: Stepfather to Richmond

  • Queen Margaret: Widow of Henry VI, curses Richard and his allies

  • Edward, Prince of Wales and Richard, Duke of York: The young princes, sons of Edward IV

  • Sir William Catesby: A supporter of Richard

  • Sir Richard Ratcliffe: Another of Richard's supporters

  • Earl Rivers, Lord Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan: Relatives of Queen Elizabeth

  • Sir James Tyrrell: Hired by Richard to murder the princes

  • Lord Mayor of London

  • Sir Robert Brakenbury: Lieutenant of the Tower

  • Two Murderers

  • Various lords, ladies, ghosts, soldiers, and messengers


Memorable lines from Twelfth Night include:
  • "If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die." Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1

  • "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5

  • "Love sought is good, but given unsought is better." Olivia, Act 3, Scene 1

  • "Better a witty fool than a foolish wit." Feste, Act 1, Scene 5

  • "O time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me t'untie." Viola, Act 2, Scene

  • "Journeys end in lovers meeting." Feste (the Fool), Act 2, Scene 3


Memorable Lines from Richard III include:
  • "Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York" Richard, Act 1, Scene 1

  • "And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover / To entertain these fair well-spoken days, / I am determined to prove a villain" Richard, Act 1, Scene 1

  • "So wise so young, they say, do never live long" Richard, Act 3, Scene 1

  • "Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end" Duchess of York, Act 4, Scene 4

  • "My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, / And every tongue brings in a several tale, / And every tale condemns me for a villain" Richard, Act 5, Scene 3

  • "I have set my life upon a cast, / And I will stand the hazard of the die" Richard, Act 5, Scene 4

  • "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" Richard, Act 5, Scene 4

©2022 by Theater Talk ... and I'm Anthony Chase

Buffalo, NY, USA

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