2017-2018 Season Auditions
by Austin Shakespeare
Aug. 26 - Aug. 27 (2017)
The 2017-2018 AUstin Shakespeare season includes a fully costumed staged reading of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull adapted by Ann Ciccolella, and a Free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas.
ANN CICCOLELLA, Artistic Director: Ann Ciccolella joined Austin Shakespeare as Artistic Director in August 2007, following an eight-year tenure at Austin’s ZACH Theatre as managing director, and executive director at Austin Circle of Theaters for nine years. Ciccolella led the Renaissance Theater Company for ten years, producing and directing Off-Off Broadway shows. Prior moving to Austin, Ciccolella served for three years as associate director for SHAKESPEARE ON WHEELS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country. In 2013, she directed Off-Broadway for Austin Shakespeare, a new adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Anthem by Jeff Britting at the Baryshnikov Arts Center.
ABOUT AUSTIN SHAKESPEARE: Founded in 1984 and the only professional classical theater company in Central Texas, Austin Shakespeare presents professional theater of the highest quality with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare, bringing to the public performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today. In the fall and spring, Austin Shakespeare also produces plays by Shaw, Schiller, and Stoppard at The Long Center for the Performing Arts Rollins Studio Theatre. Austin Shakespeare’s ongoing “Shakespeare Aloud” reading group and “Artist’s Way” sessions invite new participants weekly. Austin Shakespeare’s education program 20/20 sends professional actors into the schools to encourage love of language.
Austin Shakespeare is inviting alumni and new Austin-area actors to Equity and Non-Equity auditions for its 2017 – 2018 season on Saturday, August 26 from 11 am – 2 pm at the Dougherty Arts Center and Sunday, August 27 from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm at August Playwright’s Studio.
Actors of all ethnic/racial background are encouraged to audition. Contact auditions@austinshakespeare.org to schedule an appointment.
Alumni actors will be provided with sides, but new actors should prepare a 1 to 2-minute piece of heightened language, including pieces from this season’s plays. Audition speeches should be memorized or read with familiarity. If known, actors should indicate which character they are interested in and familiarize themselves with the plays they are auditioning for. On occasion, Austin Shakespeare uses cross-gender casting. Also, age range noted in character descriptions is a matter of appearance. Out-of-town actors can submit videos, but they must provide their own travel and housing if cast.
Austin Shakespeare’s productions are professionally directed and designed, and all actors are paid. Pre-cast roles include Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Boris Trigorin in The Seagull, and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas. All other roles are open.
Rehearsal & Performance Dates
The Crucible rehearses September 9 – 20 with 4 performances from September 21-24, 2017
Much Ado about Nothing rehearses October 17 – November 14 with 4 performances a week + preview from November 15 - December 3, 2017 (no performance on Thanksgiving).
The Seagull rehearses from January 9 – February 6 with 4 performances a week + preview from February 7 – 25, 2018
The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas rehearses April 3 – May 1 with 4 performances a week + preview from May 2 – 27.\, 2018
You must book an appt auditions@austinshakespeare.org
