Auditions for Twelfth Night, or What You Will
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Cat Parker
NOTE: Auditions are only open to T. Schreiber Studio current students or alumni who have studied at the Studio for at least three months.
- Auditions are open to all students, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, height, weight or age.
- No scripts will be available in the office. Any version is okay to use.
- You must be a student at the T. Schreiber Studio for at least 3 months before you are eligible to audition.
- You must sign up in person (do not call the office to sign up). Sign-up sheets are posted on the audition board at the Studio. Auditions will be held at ten minute intervals.
- Be certain you can make the audition date before you sign-up, AND IF NECESSARY, please cancel well in advance.
Male and Female readers are needed, but please note that readers are not allowed to audition. You can sign up to be a reader on the callboard. If you sign up, please make sure you make time to read the entire play before you get to auditions. Once sides are posted, please take the time to read the sides, out loud, a couple of times before you get to auditions.
Call Back Sides: Please keep your audition pieces available, as you may be asked to do them again. I will NOT be calling back anyone for the "Gentlemen, Ladies, Court members" roles. I will cast those from the auditions. -Peace, Cat
1-5 Feste, Olivia, Malvolio
Starts: Olivia: “Make your proof.”
Ends: Feste: “… for thou speakest well of fools!” |
1-5 Olivia, Viola/Cesario
Starts: Olivia: “Now, sir, what is your text.”
Ends: Viola: “I would not understand it.” |
2-1 Sebastian, Antonio (Feste)
Starts: Seb: “A lady, sir, though it was said…”
Ends: Ant: “...danger shall seem sport, and I will go.” |
2-2 Malvolio, Viola (minor dialogue from V)
Starts: Mal: “Were not you even now with the Countess...”
Ends: Mal: “if not, be it his that finds it.” |
2-4 Orsino, Viola (minor dialogue from V)
Starts: Orsino: “Once more, Cesario, get thee to …”
Ends: Orsino: “…and that I owe Olivia.” |
3-1 Feste, Viola
Starts: Viola: “Save thee, friend, and thy music…”
Ends: Feste: “…not her fool, but her corrupter of words.” |
3-2 Toby, Fabian, Andrew
Starts: Andrew: “No, faith, I’ll not stay a jot longer.”
Ends: Toby: “…I’ll eat the rest of the anatomy.” |
3-4b Malvolio, Toby, Maria, Fabian
Starts: Toby: “Which way is he, in the name of sanctity?”
Ends: Mal: “…you shall know more hereafter.” |
3-4 Toby, Fabian, Viola
Starts: Viola: “I pray you, sir, what is he?”
Ends: Fab: “I will make your peace with him if I can.” |
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Notes from Cat:
- Prepare and read for only one role. I will shift you if I see another possibility.
- Please be open to the possibility of other roles. There is no insignificant character in the play.
- Come dressed accordingly and be prepared to let me see your choices. Don’t bury your heads in the script. I assume you can read well. Go for what you want me to see, and why you think you’re right for the role.
- Please do not audition if you cannot do the rehearsal schedule, which is available on the board.
- The dialect for the play will be standard American, not British (RP).
- Work to be comfortable with iambic pentameter.
- I don't know what role you should audition for - you know yourself better than I do. Go with your gut.
Performance schedule:
Opens October 9th and runs through November 16, 2008. Performs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Rehearsal info:
August
Mon 8/25 - Fri 8/29 11:00am - 4:00pm
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September
2 Tue 6-11pm
3 Wed 11am - 5pm
4 Thu 6-11pm
5 Fri 6-11pm
6 Sat 11am-6pm
7 Sun 11am-6pm
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10 Wed 10am-6pm
11 Thu 6-11pm
12 Fri 6-11pm
13 Sat 11am-6pm
14 Sun 11am-6pm |
15 Mon 11am-4pm
17 Wed 10am-6pm
18 Thu 6-11pm
19 Fri 6-11pm
20 Sat 11am-6pm
21 Sun 11am-6pm |
24 Wed 10am-6pm
25 Thu 6-11pm
26 Fri 6-11pm
27 Sat 11-6pm
28 Sun 11-6pm |
October
1 Wed 10am-6pm
2 Thu 6-11pm Tech
3 Fri 6-11pm Tech
4 Sat TBD 1st Dress
5 Sun TBD 2nd Dress
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8 Wed 10am-6pm Invited Dress
9 Thu 6:30 1st Preview
10 Fri 6:30 2nd Preview
11 Sat 6:30 Opening! |
Show description:
Shipwrecked on a strange shore. Lost your twin brother in the storm. A woman in a man's world. What do you do? Why, put on your brother's clothes, cut your hair, fall in love with the local duke, woo his lady, and win her heart, of course! Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is fun-filled frolic filled with gender-bending, disguises, misunderstandings, and yellow, cross-cut garters. How can you resist?
Audition schedule:
Friday, July 25th, 1:00pm - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 26th, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 27th, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 31st, 6:00pm. - 11:00 p.m. Callbacks:
Saturday, August 2nd, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cast breakdown:
Orsino, Duke of Illyria: Age: (30s-40s) The ruler of Illyria. Powerful and a gentleman, he is obsessed with gaining the hand in marriage of the fair Lady Olivia, unaware that he himself has a secret admirer. He becomes more and more fond of his handsome new page boy, Cesario, who is actually a woman—Viola. Home from the wars, Orsino is having difficulty finding a new outlet for the considerable energy he used during the war. Deciding to move in the opposite direction, he falls in love – with love. The object of his affection at the beginning of the play is Oliva, but his energy is more devoted to the trappings of love than it is to Oliva personally. Focusing all his attention on the art of love has left his land without a leader, and quietly spiraling out of control.
Lady Olivia: (25-35) An aristocrat of high social standing and beauty, Olivia has recently lost her father (within the year) and her brother (within 6 months) and her feelings of grief are combined with anxiety over her new role as leader of her estate, and concern over dodging the affections of Orsino. Her state of turmoil leads her to vow to stay isolated for seven years. She, like Orsino, is allowing her world to fall into a state of decline due to her inability to move forward. However, the arrival of V/Cesario causes a crack in her walls, and she starts to rejoin the world.
Viola/Cesario: (20-30) A young woman of aristocratic birth, washes up on the shore of Illyria when her ship is wrecked in a storm. A woman alone in unknown territory, mourning the loss of her brother in the storm, Viola decides to conceal herself as a man to find work. She is energetic and proactive, with a romantic heart. However, she finds herself made captive by her decision when her true identity starts to become lost under the trappings of her disguise.
Feste: (35+) [Also plays the Sea Captain and Antonio] In spite of being a professional fool, Feste often seems the wisest character in the play. Like King Arthur’s “Merlin,” Festes is a manipulator, and a truth seeker. It is Feste, in one of his many disguises, that points the characters in the right direction. By bringing Viola and Sebastian to Illyria, Feste puts the land back on the road to recovery. He earns his living by making pointed jokes, singing old songs, being generally witty, and offering good advice cloaked under a layer of foolishness.
A Sea Captain: (Played by Festes) A friend to Viola, he helps her to disguise herself as Cesario. He initially reports Sebastian dead.
Antonio: (Played by Festes) A Sea Captain by trade, Antonio is a man with many enemies in the Duke Orsino's court. Nonetheless he accompanies Sebastian in his travels.
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Sir Toby Belch: (50+) Toby is from the “old school.” He believes in having fun, and is not above taking his sport out on the people around him. A member of the aristricracy, yet he enjoys people for who they are, not their rank. He worries about his niece’s unending period of mourning, but focuses more on his own needs – money and entertainment.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek: (35+) The drinking partner of Sir Toby, Andrew pushes Olivia's patience and hospitality with his continuously loud and silly behavior. Sir Andrew is not overly intelligent but does have access to family money. He attempts to court Olivia, but doesn’t stand a chance. He thinks that he is witty, brave, young, and good at languages and dancing, but he is…..not.
Malvolio: (40+) As Lady Olivia's steward, Malvolio sees himself in a somewhat grandiose light, imagining Olivia to love him and wishing to be more than his current rank. He disapproves of many ‘frivilous’ activities, such as drinking, singing, joking, playacting, etc. While very efficient at his job, his priggishness and haughty attitude earn him the enmity of many. In his fantasies about marrying Olivia, he reveals a powerful ambition to rise above his social class.
Maria: (30-50) Lady Olivia's gentlewoman (not her maid!). She is patient and tactful and tries diplomatically to subdue the boisterous spirits of Toby and his friends, but her fun-loving nature sometimes causes her to get drawn into the party. Her intelligence and wit are demonstrated through her witty banter with Festes and her idea of tricking Malvolio. She cares for Sir Toby and sees his true nature underneath the partying demeanor.
Sebastian: (20-30) Viola's twin brother. Infused with the same energetic and proactive nature as Viola, Sebastian also manages to overcome huge odds to survive the shipwreck and find his way in the world. Bewildered by the unusual way that people are treating him, he nevertheless takes it in stride and, just like Viola, makes things happen.
Fabian: (25-50) A servant of Lady Olivia's, and co-conspirator of Toby’s. A practical joker.
Additional:
Three men, of various ages (20+) for court attendants, and parson. May also be called upon to understudy roles.
Three women, of various ages (20+) for court attendants. May also be called upon to understudy roles. |
Audition sides:
There are two sides for every role. Please be familiar with both, but pick one to do for the audition. I may or may not ask you to do the other one.
Orsino: Act 1-3 Dialogue
First Line: Who saw Cesario, ho?
Last Line: To call his fortunes thine.
Orsino: Act 2-4 Minor Dialogue
First Line: Come hither, boy: if ever thou shalt
Last Line: once display'd, doth fall that very hour.
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Feste:Act 1-5 Minor Dialogue
First Line: Wit, an't be thy will, put me into good fooling!
Last Line: Dexterously, good madonna.
Feste:Act 3-1 Dialogue
First Line: Troth, sir, I can yield you none without words;
Last Line: I think I saw your wisdom there.
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Malvolio: Act 1-5 Dialogue
First Line: Madam, yond young fellow swears he will Last Line: Gentlewoman, my lady calls.
Malvolio: Act 2-5 Minor Dialogue
First Line: 'Tis but fortune; all is fortune. Maria once
Last Line: 'You must amend your drunkenness.'
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Viola: Act 1-5 Minor Dialogue
First Line: The honourable lady of the house, which is
Last Line: the heart of my message.
Viola: Act 2-4 Minor Dialogue
First Line: Ay, but I know--
Last Line: Sir, shall I to this lady?
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Oliva: Act 1-5 Minor Dialogue
First Line: ‘What is your parentage?’ (2nd Time)
Last Line: What is decreed must be, and be this so.
Oliva: Act 3-1 (monologue)
First Line: O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful
Last Line: Love sought is good, but given unsought
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Maria: Act 2-3 Minor Dialogue
First Line: Sweet Sir Toby, be patient for tonight:
Last Line: can hardly make distinction of our hands.
Maria: Act 3-2 Minor Dialogue
First Line: If you desire the spleen, and will laugh
Last Line: he'll smile and take't for a great favour.
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Toby: Act 3-2 Minor Dialogue
First Line: Why, then, build me thy fortunes upon the
Last Line: I'll eat the rest of the anatomy.
Toby: Act 3-4 (monologue)
First Line: Now will not I deliver his letter
Last Line: one another by the look, like cockatrices
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Fabian: Act 3-2 (monologue)
First Line: She did show favour to the youth in your sight
Last Line: laudable attempt either of valour or policy.
Fabian: Act 5-1 (monologue)
First Line: Good madam, hear me speak,
Last Line: That have on both sides pass'd.
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Sebastian: Act 4-3 (monologue)
First Line: This is the air; that is the glorious sun;
Last Line: That is deceiveable. But here the lady comes.
Sebastian: Act 5-1 (minor dialogue)
First Line: Do I stand there? I never had a brother;
Last Line: And say 'Thrice-welcome, drowned Viola!'
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Andrew: Act 2-3 (monologue)
First Line: By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast
Last Line: for thy leman: hadst it?
Andrew: Act 3-4 (piece together the letter Andrew writes, although others are saying the lines-create monologue)
First Line: 'Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art but a
Last Line: thy sworn enemy, ANDREW AGUECHEEK.
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General Monologues and dialogues
If you are auditioning for Valentine, Curio, the Priest or any other “Additional Character” pick any two of the following to use for auditions. I don’t care if you stick with your own gender or not.
Valentine: Act 1-1 (monologue)
First Line: So please my lord, I might not be admitted;
Last Line: And lasting in her sad remembrance.
Sea Captain: Act 1-2 (monologue)
First Line: True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
Last Line: So long as I could see.
Antonio: Act 3-4 (minor dialogue)
First Line: Let me speak a little. This youth that you see
Last Line: Are empty trunks o'erflourish'd by the devil.
Fabian: Act 3-2 (monologue)
First Line: She did show favour to the youth in your sight
Last Line: some laudable attempt either of valour or policy
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Antonio: Act 3-3 (monologue)
First Line: I could not stay behind you
Last Line: Set forth in your pursuit.
First Officer: Act 4-4 (monologue)
First Line: Orsino, this is that Antonio
Last Line: In private brabble did we apprehend him.
Priest: Act 5-1 (monologue)
First Line: A contract of eternal bond of love,
Last Line: I have travell'd but two hours.
Maria: Act 2-5 (monologue)
First Line: If you will then see the fruits of the sport,
Last Line: If you will see it, follow me.
Viola: Act 3-1 (monologue)
First Line: By innocence I swear, and by my youth
Last Line: Will I my master’s tears to you deplore.
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