Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, OH

DESCRIPTION

Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

AUDITION DATE

Thursday, January 16, 2025

10:00 AM - 5:30 PM (E)

Lunch 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

AND

Friday, January 17, 2025

10:00 AM - 5:30 PM (E)

Lunch 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

APPOINTMENTS

To schedule an audition appointment, please go to: https://cincyshakes.com/auditi... . No phone calls please.

CONTRACT

SPT

$538 weekly minimum (SPT 5)

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's 2025-26 Season (See breakdown).

PREPARATION

Please prepare two contrasting classical monologues (at least one Shakespeare) not to exceed three minutes total in length. Please bring hardcopies of your headshot and resume.

LOCATION

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

1195 Elm St

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Otto M. Buding Theater. Auditions held in the Stone Student Center, located on the 3rd floor.

PERSONNEL

Expected to attend:

Brian Isaac Phillips - Producing Artistic Director/Director - AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE & DRACULA: COMEDY OF TERRORS

Candice Handy - Associate Artistic Director/Director - OTHELLO & EMMA

See breakdown for production specific personnel.

OTHER DATES

See breakdown for production specific dates.

OTHER

www.cincyshakes.com

An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.

Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.

Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.

BREAKDOWN

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company 2025-26 Season

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

Written by Henry Lewis, Johnathan Sayer and Henry Shields

1st Rehearsal: 7/7/2025

Closing Performance: 8/17/2025

ALL ROLES ARE CAST

Chris Bean: plays inspector Carter and fills in for the role of Mr. Fitzroy – also is the show’s set designer, costume designer, prop maker, box office manager, press person, voice coach, choreographer, and more. He is uptight and nervous.

Jonathan Harris: plays Charles Haversham and sees himself as a kind of James Bond.

Robert Grove: plays Thomas Colleymoore and is a bad actor and unaware of those around him.

Dennis Tyde: plays Perkins and is involved in theater because he wants friends.

Sandra Wilkinson: plays Florence Colleymoore and is extremely conceited.

Max Bennett: plays Cecil Haversham and Arther the Gardener and is inexperienced and naive.

Trevor Watson: the lighting and sound operator and is all business.

Annie Twilloil: the stage manager who grows a love for acting after initially being terrified of it.

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

Adapted/Written by Amy Herzog, Henrick Ibsen

Directed by Brian Isaac Phillips

1st Rehearsal 8/11/25

Closing 9/20/25

SEEKING:

Dr. Thomas Stockmann: (40s) lead, Medical Officer of Municipal Baths

Petra Stockman: (20s) Stockmann's daughter, a teacher

Peter Stockmann: (40s to early 50s) Dr. Stockmann's older brother, Mayor of the Town

Morton Kiil: (60s to 70s) Thomas's father-in-law, owner of a tannery

Hovstad: (30s) Editor of the "People's Messenger"

Billing: (20s) Sub-Editor of the "People's Messenger"

Captain Horster: (20s) A ship's captain

Aslaksen: (50s or 60s) Chair of the Property Owner's Association

DRACULA: COMEDY OF TERRORS

Written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen

Directed by Brian Isaac Phillips

1st Rehearsal 9/16/25

Closing 11/1/25

Please note that the play sends up gender 'norms' and all characters can be played by actors of any gender, race, ethnicity, age or type.

SEEKING:

Track 1: Harker, suitors, bosun, gravedigger

Track 2: Dr. Westfeldt, Renfield, Captain

Track 3: Lucy, Kitty, Driver

Track 4: Mina, Van Helsing

Track 5: Dracula

Dracula: (Commanding European Dialect) Hugely sexy, magnetically handsome, rock star presence

with killer body, narcissist, but obsessed with Lucy

Johnathan Harker: (RP British Accent) obsessive compulsive real estate agent, frightened of his own shadow, engaged to Lucy

Lucy Westfeldt: (RP British Dialect) Brilliant, plucky, earth scientist daughter of Dr. Westfeldt, adventurous, often underestimated because of her beauty, engaged to Harker but curious about Dracula

Mina Westfeldt: (RP British Dialect) Less attractive, less intelligent Westfeldt daughter, lives in Lucy's shadow and desperate for attention, immediately and pathetically falls for Dracula's charms

Dr. Westfeldt: Lucy and Mina's father, self-important misogynist, recently lost his wife to the consumption, a doctor caring for the criminally insane

Dr. Van Helsing: (German Dialect a la Mel Brooks) Brilliant and sturdy German vampire hunting doctor from the University of Schmutz. She is deadly serious, accustomed to people not believing she is a real doctor, a woman of action

Renfield: (Cockney Accent and Salivary Issues) Insane patient of Dr. Westfeldt who lives to serve and eats bugs.

Kitty: (Cockney Accent) A dotty kleptomaniac patient of Dr. Westfeldt's, serves as a maid in his house. Think Mrs. Lovett but servile and easily distracted

Lord Cavendish: (Scottish Dialect) suitor to Lucy, a Scottish dolt.

Lord Windsor: (RP British Dialect) suitor to Lucy, posh, petulant

Lord Havemercy: (Elvis Accent) suitor to Lucy from Memphis, a la Elvis Presley, arrogant

Driver: (Eastern European or Russian Dialect) The male Transylvanian driver of the carriage carrying Johnathan to Dracula's house. Borat meets Boris and Natasha.

Captain: (sea captain accent)

Bosun: (Irish Accent)

Gravedigger: (Cockney Dialect) drunk gravedigger with a secret

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Matthew Johnson

1st Rehearsal 10/21/25

Closing 12/6/25

Please note that age range and gender are flexible for all roles.

SEEKING:

King of Navarre, also known as Ferdinand, young student (20s early 30s)

Berowne, young student (20s early 30s)

Longaville, young student (20s early 30s)

Dumaine, young student (20s early 30s)

The Princess of France, young student (20s early 30s)

Rosaline, young student (20s early 30s)

Maria, young student (20s early 30s)

Katherine, young student (20s early 30s)

Boyet, a lord attending the Princess

Armado, the Braggart, also known as Don Adriano de Armado

Boy, Armado’s Page, also known as Mote

Jaquenetta, the Wench

Costard, the Clown or Swain

Dull, the Constable

Holofernes, older schoolmaster

Nathaniel, Holofernes’ friend

Monsieur Marcade, a messenger from France

Lords, Blackamoors, Musicians

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)

Written by Michael Carleton, John K. Alvarez, James FitzGerald

1st Rehearsal: 12/1/2025

Closing Performance: 12/28/2025

ALL ROLES ARE CAST

JIM – CAST. Wants to perform Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ and tries to keep the show on track despite the others attempts to send it spiraling out of control. Begrudgingly does successful impressions of Jimmy Stewart from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and the Grinch among others. Role requires physicality.

MICHAEL – CAST. Appears to be comfortably under the influence of alcohol and up for anything, including changing the plan of performing ‘A Christmas Carol’ to telling every Christmas story in one night. Role requires physicality.

JOHN – CAST. A true believer in the spirit of Christmas. John has a childlike wonder and desire to share ALL Christmas stories with the audience – not just ‘A Christmas Carol’. Not the smartest person in the room but often wins people over with enthusiasm. A strong character actor with the ability to portray many characters from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’. Role requires physicality.

A SOLDIER'S PLAY

Written by Charles Fuller

Directed by Christopher V. Edwards

1st Rehearsal 1/5/26

Closing 2/15/26

Please note that character analysis is available and freely accessible online.

SEEKING:

Captain Richard Davenport: (African American male) lawyer and military officer investigating the murder of Sergeant Vernon C. Waters

Captain Charles Taylor: (White male, mid to late thirties) resents Davenport's assignment and rank

Tech/Sergeant Vernon C. Waters: (African American male) manages the baseball team and is disliked by his men.

Corporal Bernard Cobb: (African American male, mid to late twenties)

Private Louis Henson: (African American male, late twenties to early thirties) pitcher on the baseball team

Private James Wilkie: (African American male, early forties) career soldier, loses his stripes

C.J. Memphis: (African American male) young and handsome, from Mississippi, best hitter on the baseball team

Private Anthony Smalls: (African American male, late thirties) career soldier, AWOL

Private First Class Melvin Peterson: (African American male, thirties to forties)

Corporal Ellis James: (African American male)

Lieutenant Byrd: (young White male)

Captain Wilcox: (young White male)

OTHELLO

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Candice Handy

1st Rehearsal 2/10/26

Closing 3/29/26

Please note that age range and gender are flexible for all roles.

SEEKING:

Othello, a noble Moor in the service of the Venetian state

Iago, Othello’s ancient

Desdemona, daughter to Brabantio and Othello’s wife

Emilia, Iago’s wife

Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant

Brabantio, a senator and Desdemon’s father

Bianca, mistress to Cassio

Roderigo, Venetian gentleman

Duke of Venice

Montano, Othello’s predecessor in the government of Cyprus

Senator, Messenger, Sailor, Officers

PERICLES

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Brian Isaac Phillips

1st Rehearsal 3/24/26

Closing 5/3/26

Please note that age range and gender are flexible for all roles.

SEEKING:

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Gower, chorus

Antiochus, King of Antioch

Daughter of Antiochus

Helicanus, lord of Tyre

Escanes, lord of Tyre

Simonides, King of Pentapolis

Thaisa, daughter to Simonides

Marina, daughter to Pericles and Thaisa

Lychorida, nurse to Marina

Cleon, Governor of Tarsus

Lysimachus, Governor of Mytilene

Cerimon, lord of Ephesus

Philemon, servant to Cerimon

Leonine, servant to Dionyza

A Pandar

Boult

A Bawd

Lords, Knights, Ladies, Pirates, Fishermen, Messengers

EMMA

Written by Kate Hamill (from the novel by Jane Austin)

Directed by Candice Handy

1st Rehearsal 4/28/26

Closing 6/14/26

SEEKING:

Emma Woodhouse: (late 20s-30s): almost unbelievably charming; a natural comedienne. Bouncily flirty; possesses more power of manipulation than even she understands; has a certain sunny, charming self-regard— it’s what allows her to get away with so much. Very very VERY clever— and fancies herself even more clever than she is. Capable of getting ahead of herself. Incredibly dexterous, verbally. Capable of being unfair or short-sighted or impetuous; maybe a bit overindulged. Grew up with wealth. Can be a bit overconfident and self-congratulatory. Capable of getting quite competitive. Generous with those she considers family. Eminently lovable and eminently fallible. Has emotional depth. Very educated but is not allowed a profession—and thus is a bit like a border collie without any sheep. Frustrated, and thus sometimes putting her considerable energies in the wrong places. Ahead of her time. Given the chance, she might just run the world.

Harriet Smith: (20s): a deeply likable girl from the lower classes, who’s been given a basic education. A sweet, naturally affectionate human being, but not the brightest flame in the stove. A born enthusiast; the kind of person who leaps WAY before she looks. Has a strong tendency towards hero worship. A born follower. VERY impressionable. Has a desperate adoring friend-crush on Emma. Wants to be in love. Gets flustered easily. A bit naïve.

Mrs. Weston: (mid 30s to early 40s): Emma’s former governess. A very smart woman with a good sense of humor; very perceptive and grounded. Not afraid to tell it like it is. Capable of really teaching deep lessons. Not without edge, when she chooses. Likable and opinionated. Gives great advice. Picture the coolest aunt imaginable. Doubles as Mrs. Bates (70s+) / as cast: An elderly lady, very opinionated, who communicates exclusively in grunts and hand gestures. Mrs. Bates is completely obscured by bonnet and scarves and shawls; she’s a big pile of fabric, rather like Cousin It. We never see what’s underneath all the layers.

Miss Bates: (40+): headmistress of a struggling school for girls. An incredibly good-natured, if motormouthed and daft, woman. Very very proud of her niece Jane Fairfax, whom she talks about obsessively. Once she starts talking, you can’t get a word in edgewise.

Jane Fairfax: (20s to 30s): You know that girl who always seems to do everything right? Jane is that girl. An overachiever. Very composed. Very beautiful. Very discreet. Very accomplished. Very smart. Every hair in place, and it seems effortless. Works as a governess, until she quits under mysterious circumstances. The only girl-child in a family full of schoolteachers, and thus—seemingly—a model of perfect behavior. Maybe a little bit stiff. Under all of this A+ decorum, she’s hiding a love affair with Frank Churchill—she doubts he can be faithful. Is hiding deep passions under that flawless exterior.

Mrs. Elton: (20s to 30s): not bright. What’s more, she has a laugh that’s the auditory equivalent of nails being torn out of your fingers. Is delighted by everything. Her libido is.... quite active. Thinks her new husband, Mr. Elton, is the most desirable thrilling brilliant man alive. A truly intolerable woman. May actually be a hyena, wearing a human suit. May also double as Mrs. Bates.

Mr. Knightly: (30s to 40s): a handsome man; a super charming man; an upright fellow. He’s also a bit of a rule-follower; maybe sometimes a bit of a stick in the mud. Very clever. Capable of getting ahead of himself and edging towards know-it-all. Can be competitive. Is preoccupied with Emma—they get under each other’s skin in the most delightful way. Gets quite jealous of Frank Churchill. Has the best intentions. Feels deeply. A genuinely good guy. Ultimately learns to admit vulnerability and share his feelings.

Mr. Woodhouse: (60s+): an over-anxious, melancholy hypochondriac, but people humor him, as he’s a nice man under it all. Obsessed with the healing powers of gruel. Tends to darkly predict fatal illnesses as a sign of concern. May double as MR. WESTON, (40s-50s) / as cast—the kind of man who likes to make awkward “dad jokes.” Very very proud of his son, Frank Churchill. An unsubtle matchmaker. A good man; not a mean thought in his head. Maybe is prone to blurting out the wrong thing.

Mr. Elton: (any age): a clergyman who sometimes gets the wrong idea. ADORES poetry. A born social climber. Fancies himself a great romantic. Thinks ladies are naturally coy and enjoy wordplay. Is determined to woo, and win. Thinks he oozes charm; maybe just oozes. May double as Mr. Weston.

Mr. Frank Churchill: (20s to 30s): an incredibly charming, handsome, mischievous flirt of a man—the kind of man who gets away with almost everything, because he’s so irresistible. Not a bad guy, really; just a bit too likable for his own good. Ladies love him. Funny. Gossipy. Clever. A little spoiled and manipulative. A bit unused to hearing “no,” and as a result, doesn’t really believe in “no.” Can be callous or unthinkingly cruel or self-indulgent. Wishes to reform but can’t.... always.... help himself. Enjoys half-truths and innuendo. Is, underneath everything, in love with Jane Fairfax—but that doesn’t mean other women become uninteresting to him. Doubles as ROBERT MARTIN—a sweet groundskeeper, in love with Harriet. Non-speaking. My also double as Mrs. Bates.

SALARY

SPT $538 weekly minimum (SPT 5)

UNION

AEA