AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare in the City announces auditions for their summer production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Much Ado weaves a tapestry of laughter, romance, and deception. Join the quick-witted Beatrice and charming Benedick as they engage in a battle of wits that conceals a hidden passion, while the sweet Hero and valiant Claudio navigate the unpredictable twists of love.
Roles are available for men and women of all ages. Shakespeare in the City is a partnership between The Newtowne Players and Historic St Mary’s City.
Directed by Beth Sanford, Assistant Directed by Rebecca Waters, Stage Managed by Jen “Oggy” Ogborne, Assistant Stage Managed by Joy Belcher, and Produced by Sharol Buck
Auditions will be held Tuesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the State House of 1676, located at Historic St. Mary’s City, 47418 Old State House Road, St. Mary’s City.
Please come prepared to list all conflicts between April 23 and August 18, 2024. Anyone who does not list conflicts on their audition form and then subsequently brings in a long list after accepting a role will be recast.
Those unable to attend these audition sessions, may submit a video audition by 10:00 p.m. Monday, April 22.
To receive instructions for submitting video submissions, please email the Production Team at auditions@newtowneplayers.org
Auditions will consist of the following monologue as well as a Shakespearean monologue of your choice. (Note: monologues do not need to be memorized.)
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BEATRICE:
Kill Claudio! You kill me to deny it. Farewell. I am gone, though I am
here: there is no love in you: nay, I pray you, let me go. In faith, I will go. You dare easier be friends with me than fight with my enemy. Is Claudio not
approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured
my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they
come to take hands ; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander,
unmitigated rancour, – O, God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Talk with a man out at window! A proper saying! Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant surely! O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies, valourinto compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing; therefore I will die a woman with grieving.
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Those interested in auditioning for Dogberry should prepare the following monologue as well the Beatrice monologue above and a Shakespearean monologue of your choice for a total of three monologues. (Note: monologues do not need to be memorized.).
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DOGBERRY:
Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou
not suspect my years? O, that he were here to write me
down an ass! But masters, remember that I am an ass;
though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am
an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be
proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow,
and which is more, an officer, and which is more, a
householder, and which is more, as pretty a piece of
flesh as any is in Messina, and one that knows the law
– go to! – and a rich fellow enough – go to! – and a
fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two
gowns, and everything handsome about him. – Bring
him away. – O, that I had been writ down an ass!
Performances will take place on the lawn of the State House of 1676 at Historic St Mary’s City on Thursday, August 8, Friday, August 9, Saturday, August 10, Thursday, August 15, Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17, 2024.
The first readthrough will be held during the first week of May. Please note that all
performances and rehearsals will be outdoors.
For more information, please contact the Production Team at auditions@newtowneplayers.org
