Measure for Measure AND Peter and the Starcatcher
by Classic Theatre of San Antonio
Mar. 07 (2023)
In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure the Duke leaves Angelo in charge of the city, where he quickly condemns Claudio to death for immoral behavior. Angelo offers to pardon Claudio if his sister, Isabella, sleeps with him. Isabella agrees but has Angelo’s fiancé switch places with her. The Duke returns to spare Claudio, punish Angelo, and propose to Isabella.
The full text of Measure for Measure can be found for free at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The full is available for purchase on Amazon and for check out at your local library.
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Peter and the Starcatcher is a prequel to Peter Pan, based on the children’s book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and freely adapted for the stage by Rick Elice, with co-directors Alex Timbers and Roger Rees. For two-and-a-half hours, a group of actors make theatrical magic by playing dozens of characters: sailors, pirates, British naval officers, Mollusk natives and orphans in addition to eighteen major roles. Elice’s script, jam-packed with poetry, gentle lyricism, and numerous nods to pop culture, is a coming-of-age adventure story about how a nameless orphan — inspired by a remarkable and ambitious girl — became the strange and celebrated hero that is the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up.
Peter and the Starcatcher should be considered a play with music. It features a limited number of musical moments with simple staging.
Selections from the Peter and the Starcatcher script can be requested by emailing ClassicCasting@ClassicTheatre.org. The full play is available for purchase on Amazon.
Auditions for
MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare, directed by Liz Fisher
and
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER by Rick Elice, directed by Jimmy Moore
Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 6:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Our Lady of the Lake University
24th Streeet Theatre
411 S.W. 24th Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
virtual auditions will also be accepted
All roles are open and actors 18+, from all backgrounds, are encouraged to apply. We will accept video and in person submissions.
Audition Requirements:
Please reserve your audition slot by emailing a headshot, audition form, and resume to ClassicCasting@ClassicTheatre.org. Walkups will also be accepted, if time permits. Reservations are preferred. To schedule a virtual audition, please send an email to ClassicCasting@ClassicTheatre.org.
Actors should prepare a one-minute Shakespearean monologue for Measure for Measure and a one-minute comedic monologue for Peter and the Starcatcher.
If you have any questions, please email ClassicCasting@ClassicTheatre.org.
Callback schedule
Measure for Measure, Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 6:30 pm
Peter and the Starcatcher, Friday, March 10, 2023, at 6:30 pm
Casting, rehearsals, and performances
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Measure for Measure will rehearse evenings at Our Lady of the Lake University and perform at Radius Center (106 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, TX 78205)
Rehearsal Dates: 5-6 days per week, late March 2023 thru late April 2023.
Technical Rehearsals: May 1-10, 2023
Performances: May 11-28, 2023, Thursday thru Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. There will not be a Mother’s Day performance. Free Performances for Students Sponsored by H-E-B on Wednesday evenings, May 17 & 24, 2023.
Character Breakdown:
Actors will be asked to play multiple roles.
Vincentio, the Duke, is the ruler of the city. He does not much enjoy pomp and circumstance and has spent a great deal of time off in his study, during which time many laws in his city have gone disregarded.
Angelo, a nobleman chosen by the Duke to replace him during his absence.
Escalus is an old lord at the Viennese court, a kind-hearted man who does not approve of over-severity.
Claudio is a young gentleman.
Lucio is a fop well-acquainted with brothels, who turns everything to dirty jokes.
First Gentleman is a fop, who spends a fair deal of time in brothels but is certain he has not caught any diseases there.
Second Gentleman is a fop, but one outclassed in wit by Lucio and the First Gentleman. He is not much of a churchgoer.
The Provost is in charge of the jail and its prisoners, and of showing Claudio off in the streets as an example before his execution.
Friar Peter Thomas is a monk who helps the Duke in his deception, giving him his monk’s robe and teaching him how to play the part convincingly.
A Justice attends on Angelo and Escalus as they discuss how they will bring back the laws in full force.
Varrius [mute role] is a lord, a friend of the Duke’s. He accompanies the Duke on his supposed return from abroad.
Elbow is a constable, a man from the lower classes who constantly mangles his words.
Froth is a foolish gentleman who spends a great deal of his time in taverns.
Pompey Bum is Mistress Overdone’s bartender and helps her in her pimping.
Abhorson is an executioner, who takes great pride in his job.
Barnardine is a murderer who has been in jail for nine years without being executed.
A Servant is Angelo’s doorman, in charge of letting him know when people wish to speak with him.
Isabella is Claudio’s sister, a devout, unbending novice to the order of Saint Clare, though she does not find them rigorous enough and wishes she could be even more strongly restricted by them.
Mariana is a young lady who was once betrothed to Angelo.
Juliet is Claudio’s betrothed. A simple girl and a childhood friend of Isabella’s, she slept with him since they were going to be married and ended up pregnant.
Francisca is a nun of the order of Saint Clare, who is in charge of instructing the novice Isabella as the latter prepares to take her vows.
Mistress Overdone is a madam. When her brothel is closed down by Angelo’s order, she quickly opens another one elsewhere.
A Boy attends on Mariana, singing sad songs to her to ease her boredom.
A Messenger brings Claudio’s final death warrant to the Provost with warnings from Angelo to have it executed quickly
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
Production Dates:
Peter and the Starcatcher is currently scheduled to rehearse at Our Lady of the Lake University and perform at Thiry Auditorium at Our Lady of the Lake University (411 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207).
Rehearsal Dates:
6 days per week (Monday-Saturday), beginning June 8, 2023. No rehearsal on July 4, 2023.
Technical Rehearsals:
Approximately July 10-19, 2023
Performances:
July 20-30, 2023, Thursday thru Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. Two weeks of performances only.
PLEASE NOTE: As part of participation in this free summer musical, actors will be asked to interact with the audience during intermission, gathering donations and audience information.
Character Breakdown:
Actors 18+ from all backgrounds are encouraged to audition. Actors will be asked to play multiple roles.
Boy/Peter Pan, Spoken. A nameless, homeless, and friendless young boy at the beginning of the play and a hero by the end, Peter is brave and competitive, a survivor, and someone the other boys come to look up to. More than anything in the world he wants a home and a family. He doesn’t trust adults and, thus, never wants to grow up to be one. If he could grow up, he’d fall for Molly.
Molly Aster, Mezzo-Soprano. Thirteen-year-old girl and a natural leader, Molly was raised to believe females can do anything males can. She is fearless, curious, passionate, and devoted to her father, her country, her Queen, and the cause of the Starcatchers.
Black Stache, Tenor. A ruthless, heartless pirate captain who captures The Wasp, Black Stache started shaving at age ten. He is proud of his magnificent facial hair and is partial to the poetical and the theatrical.
Smee/Lieutenant Greggors, Spoken. First mate to Black Stache, Smee is simple-minded and single-minded to his captain’s every whim.
Lord Leonard Aster, Spoken. The very model of a Victorian English gentleman, Lord Aster is a loyal subject of the queen, devoted father, and faithful friend.
Mrs. Bumbrake, Tenor. Molly’s nanny, Mrs. Bumbrake is British through and through, no-nonsense, and not afraid of anything; but she likes a good time. She still has girlish charm, even though she’s older.
Slank, Spoken. A vicious captain with no ability to lead his crew, Slank is also an orphan. He is cruel to Peter and the boys and would sell his own mother for a ship to command.
Alf, Tenor. An old seadog who is far more proud of his rank of “Mister” than he should be, Alf is always in search of a damsel, any damsel.
Captain Scott, Spoken. Commander of the fastest ship in Queen Victoria’s fleet, The Wasp, Captain Scott is an old schoolmate of Lord Aster.
Prentiss, Spoken. Ambitious, logical, and a little bit older than Peter, Prentiss wants to be the leader but he knows he will never be one.
Teddy, Spoken. Called “Tubby” by Prentiss because of his obsession with food, Ted is the most talented of the boys, an easy wit, a natural actor. He is fed up with Prentiss, but hungry for companionship.
Fighting Prawn, Spoken. King of the Mollusk natives and the son of Jumbo Prawn and Littleneck Clam, Fighting Prawn is kidnapped by British sailors and brought in chains to England where he served as a sous-chef. Since returning to his island kingdom, he has vengefully murdered any English person who dared set foot on his island.
Hawking Clam, Spoken. Son of Fighting Prawn.
Grempkin, Spoken. Mean and nasty, Grempkin is the schoolmaster from St. Norbert’s Orphanage for Lost Boys.
Teacher, Spoken. Formerly a salmon, Teacher is now an ancient, knowledgeable mermaid.
Mack, Spoken. A very bad sailor, Mack wants to be anywhere else but under Bill Slank’s command.
Sanchez, Spoken. A hard-working Spanish pirate, Sanchez has an identity crisis.
