WHO: New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater

SEEKING: All roles are available unless otherwise specified:

Casting Directors’ casting note: “ALL ACTORS MUST HAVE STRONG COMMAND OF CLASSICAL TEXT.”

Duke Senior / Duke Frederick:50+. One actor plays both. Senior: The rightful duke, banished from court after being deposed by his usurping brother. Currently living in the forest with a small handful of attending lords who have followed him into exile. A kind, generous, and forgiving man, living and enjoying his life despite his misfortunes. Frederick: Duke Senior’s usurping brother. Impulsive and vengeful. Paranoid about protecting his newfound power, he banishes his niece Rosalind, who he fears may drum up sympathy among his subjects. A powerful presence.

Jacques:40+. A lord attending on Duke Senior, whom he loyally followed into the forest after his banishment. A man who takes some delight in his attraction to being melancholy. Contemplative, articulate, witty. Something spiritually left-of-center. A role for a major actor with range, who can handle humor and dramatic weight with equal subtlety—often in the same line.

Touchstone:40+. A clown. Exceedingly bright—not a bumpkin. Coaxed by Rosalind and Celia into joining them in exile. Vacillates between appearing incredibly simple, and having a faster tongue and mind than most of the people around him. Sports some airs of sophistication, and swears to have once been a courtier. A role for a master comedian with strong classical language skills.

Celia:Late 20s – early 30s. Daughter to Duke Frederick. Cousin to Rosalind; they were raised together, and have a bond as close as sisters. So strong is Celia’s love for her banished cousin that she follows Rosalind into the forest in voluntary exile. Sometimes deadpan, sometimes sweetly funny and endearing, she is able to keep pace with Rosalind in the arenas of intelligence, wit and spirit. Role for a skilled actress with excellent comic skill.

Orlando:Late 20s – early 30s. Youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. Mistreated by his elder brother Oliver, he takes his portion of their inheritance and heads for the forest, where he meets and falls in love with Rosalind. A young man still defining his relationship with manhood and independence. Innocent and at times a bit hapless—though still intelligent enough to verbally spar with Rosalind, and to hold his own against her razor-sharp wit. A role for an actor with equal parts of language and physical comedic skill.

Oliver:30s. Orlando’s older brother. Threatened by his younger brother, he abuses his power by denying Orlando his rights to a gentleman’s education, thus cementing Orlando’s lowly status. Begins the play selfish and power-hungry, but a single act of great generosity on his brother’s part teaches him humility and compassion, and allows him to open himself up to love.

Silvius:20s – early 30s. A shepherd. Good-natured. Madly in love with Phebe, who is not particularly interested in him, but he is impossible to dissuade; he’ll do anything for her love, no matter how extreme. Love is everything to him.

Phebe:20s – early 30s. A shepherdess. Direct, energetic and single-minded, she goes after what she wants—even though she only wants what she can’t have. After Rosalind (disguised as her male alter-ego) scorns and insults her, she falls in love with “him”, all the while trying to shake the unflappable Silvius.

Corin:50+. A country shepherd. Good-natured and world-wise, although his education comes from nature as opposed to conventional schooling. A natural philosopher who is content living outside of the court. Role for a character actor who can handle classical text and comedy.

Audrey:30s. A country woman. Saucy and bawdy, she strikes a strong contrast to the refined ladies from the court.

Adam:60+. The aging former servant of Sir Rowland de Boys, now loyal servant to Orlando. Strong of heart, but physically frail and, ideally, shorter of stature. A witness to Oliver’s unkindness, he not only accompanies Orlando in his journey to the forest, but also offers up his meager savings to furnish their journey. The model of honesty and loyalty.

Amiens:30s-40s. A lord attending on Duke Senior. Actor in this role must be a STRONG SINGER, comfortable with solo singing. Like the Duke, Amiens tries to stay merry in his new-found home in the forest, entertaining those around him with song. Particularly interested in actors who can accompany themselves on guitar, banjo, or the like.

Charles:30-40. A wrestler at the court. The unbeatable champion, at the top of his game. A strong and imposing mountain of a man. Actor must also be able to handle text.

Le Beau:35-45. A courtier attending on Duke Frederick, but not entirely sympathetic to his bad behavior. Refined and in-the-know about all of the “goings-on” in court.

The role of Rosalind is cast.

Casting Directors’ statement: “PLEASE NOTE: We are committed to casting diverse companies. We are seeking qualified actors of all cultures and ages.”

WHEN: Equity Principal Auditions:
Monday, February 13, 2012
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Lunch from 1 – 2.

Actors' Equity Association Audition Center
165 West 46th Street, 2nd Floor
New York City

1st reh: 4/23/12. Runs at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park from 6/5-7/1.

PAY: LORT $765/week minimum. 

HOW TO APPLY: Please prepare a Shakespeare monologue, 2 minutes or less. Please bring a photo and resume, stapled back-to-back.