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Breakdown
Seeking 4 men and 4 women.
For these plays we are seeking versatile actors with solid training in Shakespeare, who can embody the spirit and style of these roles, and handle physically demanding fight choreography where necessary. Open to a larger age range than would apply in more traditional casting, as well as outside-the-box interpretations of beauty, sexiness, strength, etc. All roles require a sense of humor risk-taking, and collaborative spirit.
Although all actors will perform in both plays, the roles will in most cases not remain the same. Between the two plays Doublings may change as the plays are cast.
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ROMEO AND JULIET
The familiar story, with some gender shifts.
Seeking:
JULIET CAPULET
FEMALE: 20-30ss. A young noblewoman of Verona, an only child and therefore held to impossible standards. A rebel. Super smart. Would rather be sword fighting. Excellent combat skills. Actor playing JULIET will also play the role of TYBALT.
TYBALT
FEMALE: 20s-30s. Juliet’s cousin. Fierce and combative. A woman not afraid to defy gender norms. Excellent sword and combat skills. Actor playing TYBALT will also play the role of JULIET.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
MALE: 20s-30s. A young nobleman of Verona. Feminine. A feeler. Open-hearted. Would rather be writing poetry. Excellent combat skills.
MERCUTIO
FEMALE: 30s-30s. Romeo’s best friend. A wild child and the life of the party. Sexy, magnetic, a boundary-pusher. Excellent combat skills. Actor playing MERCUTIO will also play the role of LADY CAPULET.
LADY CAPULET
FEMALE: 20s-30s. Juliet's mother. Overwhelmed by the changes taking place around her. Longs for stability. The actor playing LADY CAPULET will also play MERCUTIO.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
MALE: 40s-60s. A friar in Verona, chief confidante of Romeo & Juliet. Traditional but easily moved by love. Protective. Actor playing FRIAR LAWRENCE will also play the role of MONTAGUE and the APOTHECARY.
THE APOTHECARY
MALE: 40s-60s. A dark soul willing to take advantage of social instability. Note: Actor playing APOTHECARY will also play the role of MONTAGUE and FRIAR LAWRENCE.
MONTAGUE
MALE 40s-60s. Romeo's dad. Old school. Quick to anger. The actor playing MONTAGUE will also play FRIAR LAWRENCE and the APOTHECARY.
PARIS
MALE: 20s-30s. A nobleman of Verona. The kind of guy who would have done well in the old world but has no place in the new. The actor playing PARIS will also play BENVOLIO/CHORUS.
BENVOLIO/CHORUS
MALE 20s-30s. A friend to Romeo. Solid. Reliable. Calm under pressure. Excellent combat skills.
PRINCE ESCALUS
FEMALE in drag: 40s-50s. Prince of Verona. Tired and overworked. Would have loved to have been born into the new world so that she wouldn't have to pretend to be a man. The actor playing ESCALUS will also play the NURSE.
NURSE
FEMALE: 40s-50s. Juliet's nurse. Has no allegiance to anything but her but doesn't understand her impetuosity. The actor playing the NURSE will also play ESCALUS.
CAPULET
MALE. 40s-60s. Juliet's dad. Wants to be open to the new order but is too impatient to let things play out. Wishes his daughter was more feminine. The actor playing CAPULET will also play FRIAR JOHN and BALTHASAR.
FRIAR JOHN
Male. 40s-60s. A messenger, but not a very good one. Squirrely. The actor playing FRIAR JOHN will also play CAPULET and BALTHASAR.
BALTHASAR
MALE. 40s-60s. Servant to Romeo. A feeler, like him. The actor playing BALTHASAR will also play FRIAR JOHN and CAPULET.
SAMPSON and GREGORY.
FEMALE in drag. 20s-30s. Troublemakers. Angry because they don't like themselves very much and aren't ready to embrace the new world. The actors playing JULIET and LADY CAPULET will also play SAMPSON and GREGORY. Excellent combat skills.
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R&J&Z
R&J&Z begins with Act V of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and keeps going, with the famous lovers navigating a world where death isn’t necessarily the end. The play also takes up the story of the Searchers, mentioned in the Bard’s work as the cause of Friar John’s failure to get the message to Romeo of Juliet’s feigned death. These were historical characters, single women who dressed in white and lived apart, and were charged with examining all corpses for signs of the plague. Set against a historical backdrop of plague and global exploration, the play throws familiar (and some not-so-familiar) characters together over the course of an apocalyptic twenty-four hours. Written in verse and equally inspired by Shakespeare and modern zombie movies, this world premiere play pushes the boundaries of theatrical humor and horror .
Seeking:
JULIET CAPULET
FEMALE: 20s-30s. A young noblewoman of Verona, in love with and recently married to Romeo. Generous, brave, surprising, delightful, strong. Unexpectedly finds herself in the role of action heroine, and rises to the challenge. Excellent combat skills.
1ST SEARCHER
FEMALE: Late 20s-40s. A badass zombie hunter, member of an ancient order charged with defending humanity from plague and scourge. Craves power. Torn between loyalty to her order and the allure of secret alliances. Excellent combat skills, both fisticuffs and weapons. Beautiful singer (actor will be asked to bring in 16 bars a capella).
2ND SEARCHER
FEMALE: Late 20s-40s. With 1st Searcher, also a badass zombie hunter, member of an ancient order charged with defending humanity from plague and scourge. The more trustworthy of the two Searchers. Confident and sexy. Excellent combat skills, both fisticuffs and weapons.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
MALE: 20s-30s. A young nobleman of Verona, in love with and recently married to Juliet. Strong, protective, surprising, open-hearted. Unexpectedly finds himself in the role of an action hero and rises to the challenge. Excellent combat skills.
TYBALT
MALE: 20s-30s. Juliet’s cousin. Formerly fierce and combative, now getting in touch with his beauty-loving, sensitive side. Excellent sword and combat skills.
MERCUTIO
MALE: 20s-30s. Romeo’s best friend. A wild child and the life of the party. Powerfully built—muscular and/or tall. Sexy, magnetic, a boundary-pusher. Excellent combat skills. Note: Actor playing MERCUTIO will also play the role of PARIS (see below).
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FEMALE OR MALE: 30s-60s. A priest in Verona, chief confidant of Romeo & Juliet. Highly versed in naturally-derived medicines, drugs, and occult lore. Trustworthy, highly intelligent, believes in a benevolent cosmic order. Tested to the very limits of his/her powers. Combat experience a plus.
THE APOTHECARY
FEMALE OR MALE: 30s-50s. Former student of Friar Lawrence: an evil mastermind. Has traveled extensively, including to Hispaniola in the New World. Deals in poisons, sorcery, and craves world domination. Unusual physical types welcome. Combat experience a plus. Note: Actor playing APOTHECARY will also play the role of ESCALUS (see below).
PARIS
MALE: 20s-40s. A nobleman of Verona; engaged to Juliet. Heir to Escalus. A company man, but concealing resentment underneath his smooth exterior. Actor should have good sword combat skills. [Role will be played by actor playing MERCUTIO.]
PRINCE ESCALUS
FEMALE OR MALE: 40s-60s. Prince of Verona. The end of order as we know it. Dies early and joins the Zombie Horde. [Role will be played by actor playing APOTHECARY.]
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