Auditions for a re-imagination of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Lydia DeSouza de Medeiros.
Performance will be December 17-19, 2020 (pending permissions) at The Junction. One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, this fantastical play delves into themes of love and attraction, and is also just plain funny. The director is very interested in adding a music and dance element to the production, so if you are a singer, dancer, or musician, please be prepared to showcase your skills during auditions, however it is not obligatory.
All roles are open to be cast with actors from all ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Excellent language/verse speaking and story-telling skills will be of paramount importance and consideration. Period is indeterminate and likely to be eclectic and visually bold. The cast will be relatively small, with much doubling. Especially looking for versatile, athletic actors with strong movement skill and some singing background for
certain roles.
Audition Process
Please email us on info@thejunctiondubai.com to express and interest to audition. Please prepare 2 contrasting 1 minute Shakespearean monologues. If you can sing, play an instrument, or dance, please be prepared to perform a 1 minute piece as
well.
Roles available:
Theseus/Oberon: commanding presence, athletic, excellent verse speaking and movement skills; needs sense of authority, sexual presence, ability to be goofy when necessary, should have an edge of danger, but also needs to be compassionate and capable of forgiveness.
Hippolyta/Titania: both are strong and Queens in their own right, not to be messed with, though Titania is the more poetic of the two; athletic, excellent verse speaking and movement skills; sense of authority, sexual presence, able to be silly when called upon to do so (must be adolescently smitten by Bottom when he is transformed to the ass).
Puck/Philostrate: needs to be youthful and athletic, excellent verse speaking and movement skills; sense of mischief, the "Peck's bad boy"/Billy Idol of the play and of the supernatural world, Puck is the original ADHD kid; can't quite get his orders right, easily distracted, loves stirring things up; Philostrate is more constrained and committed to doing his job well; parallels Puck in that he serves a King and Queen.
Hermia: smaller of stature than Helena; pretty, romantic, poetic, idealistic and feisty; more of a dreamer than Helena, more likely to end up living in a Parisian garret than Helena; bold enough to take matters into her own hands, defy her father (and the
Athenian law), and run away to the woods with the man she loves.
Helena: taller than Hermia, a beauty, smart--and a real problem solver, always countering Demetrius with an answer or a solution; works tirelessly to overcome obstacles along the path to true love, operates from her head more than she does from
her heart (though her heart is clear, pure, and true) but also bold and feisty
Lysander: of the two young men, the more poetic and romantic; the more likely to become an artist, actor, or poet, might end up living in a Parisian garret; believes that the course of true love never does run smooth, and that he and Hermia--like all lovers of legend and history--are destined to be together because theirs is already a bumpy path; not a practical thinker; handsome, athletic
Demetrius: of the two young men, the more rigid and uptight, the more likely to end up a stock broker on Wall Street; the guy dad and mom would choose; certain sense of entitlement; capable of cruelty, but also learns forgiveness late in the game
Nick Bottom the Weaver/Pyramus: A weaver by trade, he is famously known for getting his head transformed into that of a donkey. He is extroverted, boastful, and overly eager to prove his abilities on stage, and is the sort who constantly interrupts to add his two cents. He is also a major over actor, and over eager thespian. BIG personality and excellent comedic timing required.
Francis Flute/Thisbe/Cobweb: as Flute, the youngest of the Mechanicals, more of a boy, a bellows-mender by trade, an inexperienced actor, and very apprehensive about playing a girl (Thisbe) in the play within the play; as Cobweb playful, protective of Titania, mistrustful of Oberon and Puck, edge of danger, good verse speaking skills, excellent movement skills, some singing required (Titania's lullaby)
Snug the Joiner/Lion/Peasblossom: Snug is a cabinet maker, very shy, and an inexperienced actor, does not want to frighten the ladies with his impersonation of a lion in 'Pyramus and Thisbe' as Peasblossom: playful, protective of Titania; mistrustful of Oberon and Puck, edge of danger, good verse speaking skills, excellent movement skills, some singing required (Titania's lullaby).
Starveling the Tailor/Moonshine/Moth: Starveling is a tailor, and probably more of a precise fuss-budget than the other Mechanicals, concerned with detail, getting things right, and although not an experienced actor, wants to appear in 'Pyramus and Thisbe' in a really good costume; as Moth: playful; protective of Titania; mistrustful of Oberon and Puck, edge of danger, good verse speaking skills, excellent movement skills, some singing required (Titania's lullaby)
Tom Snout the Tinker/Wall/Mustardseed: Tom Snout is a Tinker (pot and pan repairman) by trade, an inexperienced actor, not a terribly adept memorizer of lines; “Wall” seems a natural bit of casting for him; as Mustardseed, he may be the most acrid
of the supernatural attendants to Titania, playful; protective of Titania; mistrustful of Oberon and Puck, edge of danger, good language skills, excellent movement skills, some singing required (Titania's lullaby).
Peter Quince/Egeus: a carpenter and aspiring playwright, leader of the Mechanicals (and, apparently, the Athenian amateur theatrical troupe), patient and caring; kind, shy, and retiring, especially compared and contrasted to his leading actor, Nick Bottom the Weaver, whom he tolerates and on whom he does his best to hold tight the reins, easily flustered or discombobulated; it is his idea to perform a play in honor of Theseus's nuptials, so though self-effacing, not without a Big Dream; does his best to hold together his band of players and in the process, becomes something of a pre-Brechtian theatrical
innovator; good language skills; excellent comic instincts; warm and endearing. Egeus is Hermia’s father who has commanded that she marry Demetrius regardless of her affection for Lysander.
Fairies: Children and adult ensemble inhabiting the forest. Singing and some dancing. No lines.
Location: at The Junction on
When:
- Thursday, September 3rd from 19:00 - 22:00
- Friday, September 4th from 13:00 - 17:00.
- Callbacks will take place on Friday, September 10th from 9 am - 12 noon.
Image Credit: The Junction
Age
6+
Price
Free
Telephone number
+971 4 3388 525
Links
Address
DubaiAlserkal Avenue Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai