Shakespeare Miami Shakespeare in the Park 2013 If music be the food of love, play on! Twelfth Night Twelfth Night is William Shakespeare's hilarious story of a shipwreck, a cross-dressing heroine, thwarted love, servants run amok and the best practical joke ever played! Written in a broad comedic style, Twelfth Night is arguably Shakespeare's most accessible comedy; It tells the story of separated shipwrecked twins, cross-dressing lovers, saucy servants and possibly the greatest practical joke every played. Set in the Roaring 20's, this full production features song, dance and jazz-age music. Directed by Colleen Stovall .
Audition Dates/Times October 13 ArtsPark at Young Circle in Hollywood (at the Ampitheater) 9:00 am to 2:00 pm October 14 PineCrest Gardens, 11100 Red Road, Pinecrest Gardens from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Email Colleen at shakesmiami@gmail.com to set up an audition date and time. Go to the website for more information: www.shakespearemiami.com V
IDEO AUDITIONS: Please prepare and upload a video audition if you cannot attend the auditions on the 13th and 14th. Include, your name, contact info, 2 contrasting monologues. If you sing, include 16 bars of an uptempo song that highlights your voice. send the link to colleen at shakesmiami@gmail.com.
Auditions: • Prepare a short monologue that showcases your training and talent • If you sing, prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo song, to be sung acapella • Be prepared to do a cold reading from the play. • Be prepared to learn a short dance combination.
Audition Notes: • Dress in something you can move in. • Bring or wear shoes you can move/dance in.
Rehearsal Period is from November 26 through Jan 3 Performances from January 4 through 25, 2013
Some notes on the Characters in this play: Orsino; the Duke of Illyria and its ruler. (mid 20’s to 60’s) Possibly some singing At the opening of the comedy, his suit of Lady Olivia has been rejected. She suspects that his love is more for her lands and riches than for her. Orsino is an extremely complex character who, facing defeat, probably for the first time in his charmed life, plots his romance like a military campaign. Never having been defeated in battle, he is puzzled and disturbed that a woman has bested his desires and has publically rebuffed his advances. Viola/Cesario (late teens to 25) female After being shipwrecked, she is smart enough to realize that in order to make her own way in the world via her wits and talents, she needs to divest herself of her woman’s clothing and disguise herself as a young boy. She takes the name of Cesario, and through her skill, brains and charm, attains a position in Duke Orsino's household. As a “harmless” boy, she is then used as an emissary from the duke to reenergize his courtship of Lady Olivia. Note that in her disguise she looks exactly like her twin brother, Sebastian. Let the cross-dressing and gender-bending begin! Lady Olivia (late 20’s to late 50’s) female. Singer - possibly some dancing She is a wealthy and independent Countess. A smart woman in a man’s world, she realizes that the moment she marries, all of her power and freedom will be at the disposal of her husband. She doesn’t trust Orsino, who naturally assumed that any woman in her right mind would jump at the chance to marry someone as handsome and successful as him. Seeking an excuse to stop the constant barrage from Orsino, Olivia concocts the plan to mourn her brother's recent death for seven years. After meeting the emissary from Duke Orsino (Viola disguised as a boy), she realizes that here is a young man that she might be able to control … plus, he’s not all that bad looking either. This world weary woman immediately falls in lust love with the youth. Sebastian; (late teens to 25) male some dancing The twin brother to Viola who is mistaken for Cesario when he (Sebastian) arrives in town. He survives after receiving assistance from Antonia, a wild pirate girl. While he appreciates the assistance, he is desperate to divest himself of her company and go out to seek his fortunes. When he stumbles across Olivia – rich, mature and beautiful, he feels as if his prayers have been answered; a rich estate to rule, a beautiful woman to marry and he immediately and impulsively agrees to marry her. Antonia: (female, age 15 – 50) A pirate’s daughter who saves Sebastian’s life. Fiercely protective of him, she sacrifices everything to get him to a place to stay out of harm’s way, and in the process, exposes herself to her enemies. After mistaking Viola (Cesario) for Sebastian, who denounces Antonia, she is arrested, but later saved after the real Sebastian arrives to vouch for her. Sir Toby Belch (25 – 60) male singer and must dance a little Lady Olivia's uncle. A second son, Toby lives on the generosity of Olivia and her estate. Having his very existence dictated by a woman, albeit by one he loves…, he feels emasculated and sinks into drinking and dissolution. A possible solution comes via the suitors he brings to the house to marry Olivia. Toby is a clown, but a dangerous and complex one. He is a retired military man who knows his way around a weapon. Not a man to be trifled with, drunk or sober. (I personally think this role and that of Maria are the best in the entire play.) Sir Andrew Aguecheek; (late teens to 60’s) male , singer and must dance a little A knight who was imported by Sir Toby to court the Lady Olivia. Entertaining, but harmless, and not the sharpest knife in the drawer, he is gulled into believing he has a chance with Olivia, by Sir Toby. Sir Andrew also has a generous spirit. He picks up Sir Toby’s bar tab every night and also loans him money. He’s a very impressionable young man who has recently inherited his fortune and wants to believe that the Countess will soon be his. Malvolio; (Late 20’s to 60’s) Male or a female as a male Lady Olivia's steward is a distant relative. He despises the other servants and Lady Olivia’s relative, Sir Toby Belch. He is a faithful retainer who outwardly is the perfect servant. During the daytime, he is a puritan, severe and a perfectionist… a serving machine. At night Malvolio lusts for Olivia’s title, lands, money and body in that order. In Shakespeare’s world, he commits the unpardonable sin of social climbing. Maria;(mid 20’s to 50’s) female. Strong Singer and dancer Lady Olivia's waiting woman; Maria is a close relative and trusted attendant to Olivia. Brilliant, funny and clever, Maria is devoted to Olivia, but sick of Malvolio’s nonsense, decides to give him his comeuppance via the best practical joke ever played. She and Sir Toby have been friendly in the past, but after her “Gulling” of Malvolio, they both discover that their liking has turned to love. Feste; (20’s – 60’s) male or female… strong singer and some dancing. A mysterious magical entertainer or "jester," in the employ of Lady Olivia; Kept on after her brother’s death , Feste keeps Olivia honest with herself. Friends with Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian, Feste is the one man Greek chorus of the play. Fabian; (mid teens to late 30’s) male or female. Strong Singer and dancer One of Olivia’s servants who has suffered at the hands of Malvolio. He/she is happy to join in the practical joke which will take Malvolio down a peg. (this is a good role, by the way) Valentine and Curio (12 to 25) male or female. Strong singers and dancers Two gentlemen/women who attend Duke Orsino. A Sea Captain; (25-60) male Tested and found honest by Viola after her shipwreck, The sea captain helps Viola with her disguise and directs her to Orsino’s court where she will make a life for herself in disguise as Cesario. Maids, sailors, officers, a priest, a curate: singers and dancers
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