Teens Needed for "Midsummer Night's Dream" Play
Seeking high school aged performers for "Midsummer Night's Dream". Please see the details below. ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE ACCEPTED. About the project: Four young Athenians flee into an enchanted forest where feuding fairy royals, Oberon and Titania, are mid-drama, and a mischief fairy named Puck, armed with a love potion turns the whole night into a romantic disaster spiral: people falling for the wrong person, a queen smitten with a man who literally has a donkey’s head, and a group of bumbling amateur actors caught in the middle of all of it. By dawn, all is set right; everyone ends up with the right partner, and the whole thing feels like a collective fever dream — which is basically Shakespeare’s point: love makes fools of us all. Additional info: Audition Tips: 1. You don’t need to be off book (memorized) for the audition. But try to prepare enough so you know what you are saying and can make strong acting choices. 2. If you play an instrument, please bring it and play something at the audition! 3. Dress comfy. You don’t need to get dressed up unless it makes you feel good to do so! 4. You may be asked to read another role, given direction to try something again, or stopped before you get to the end… Don’t worry about any of this. We are just trying to learn more about you, or perhaps we saw enough! 5. Don’t worry about how others have played the role. If you watch clips on YouTube or watch a recorded performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that’s great!– It’ll help you understand what’s going on. But try not to copy someone else’s performance. Bring yourself to the character. 6. It’s ok to be nervous. Important Dates: 1. Rehearsals begin September 22, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Directors will rehearse Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and a few Saturdays at the Allentown Public Library. (A full rehearsal calendar will be handed out at auditions.) a. Not everyone will be called to every rehearsal. b. I am happy to work with your (reasonable) conflicts up until tech. 2. Tech begins December 14, right after school, at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University. (All will be called for tech rehearsals. Call times will depend on how long it takes students coming from various districts to arrive.) 3. Final Dress rehearsal is December 18. All are called. 4. Opening is December 19 (with a reception to follow after the show) 5. Closing is December 20 (with a strike following the show) 6. Directors will have an ENCORE PERFORMANCE for the 2027 STA Conference, which PSF is hosting! They will have a brush-up rehearsal on Sunday, January 3. You will perform on January 5 at 7:00 pm for the STA Conference folks! See the attachment for audition material. If interested, please apply.
17 roles
These folks play several different characters in the fae world. They attend Titania, queen of the fairies or Oberon, the king of the fairies. Ensemble may also play attendants to Hippolyta and Theseus (The Duke and soon to be Dutchess in the human world.) Musical ability is a plus but not required.
Also known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is a sprite who serves Oberon. A mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks on mortals. Can be any gender. “Lord what fools these mortals be!”
King of the fairies, Oberon is initially at odds with his wife, Titania, because she refuses to relinquish control of a baby prince who he wants for a knight. Oberon’s desire for revenge on Titania leads him to obtain the love-potion flower that creates so much of the play’s confusion and farce. Powerful, though sometimes childish.
Queen of the fairies, Titania resists the attempts of her husband, Oberon. She falls under the spell of the love-potion flower and falls madly in love with Nick Bottom, whose head has been transformed into that of a donkey.. Eventually, all is set right. Fierce, powerful, also good-natured.
A young man from Athens, in love with Hermia. Hermia’s Dad opposes their love and the couple run away together into the forest. Lysander becomes victim to misapplied magic and wakes up in love with Helena. Eventually, all is set right. Energetic, funny, good-hearted.
Egeus’s daughter, a young woman of Athens. Hermia is in love with Lysander and a childhood friend of Helena. She runs away with Lysander to avoid her father’s demand that she marry Demetrius instead. Becomes victim to the love-potion mix-up. Eventually all is set right and Lysander’s love for Hermia is restored. Fierce, loving, funny.
A young man from Athens, initially pursuing Hermia with the consent of her dad. His persistent pursuit throws love out of balance, and through the magic of the flower, he ultimately loves Helena and all is set right. Funny and loveable, though not always nice.
A young woman of Athens, unashamedly in love with Demetrius. They once were betrothed, but now he pursues Hermia, much to Helena’s dismay. The fairies’ mischief causesboth Demetrius and Lysander to fall in love with Helena in the forest, causing conflict with her friend Hermia. But eventually all is set right. Funny, persistent, self-deprecating, good-hearted.
Duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta. Theseus represents power and order throughout the play. He appears only at the beginning and end of the story, removed from the dreamlike events of the forest. Smart, kind, trying to do what’s right.
The legendary queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus. Smart, trying to do what’s right.
Hermia’s father who brings complaint against his daughter to Theseus: Egeus wants Demetrius to marry Hermia, but Hermia, in love with Lysander, refuses to marry Demetrius. Egeus’s severe insistence that Hermia do as he wishes or be held accountable to Athenian law places him squarely outside the whimsical dream realm of the forest. Stern, uncompromising.
A weaver by trade, he’s the “star” of this small company of amateur actors who meet to rehearse a play for Theseus’s wedding day. Perhaps overconfident, Bottom is full of advice to his fellow players, though he misuses language and makes silly mistakes. He is unaware of the fact that Puck has transformed his head into one of an ass and is surprised at the beautiful Titania’s sudden love for him. Foolish and funny, silly and loveable. Plays Pyramus in the play within the play.
A carpenter by trade, and the leader of the craftsmen’s attempt to put on a play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. Plays “The Prologue” in the play within the play.
The bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the play within the play. Doesn’t necessarily want to play the “girl’s part” but gets on board. Playful and funny.
The tailor chosen to play Thisbe’s mother in the play within the play. Ends up playing the part of “Moonshine.” Playful and funny.
The tinker chosen to play Pyramus’s father but ends up playing the part of the “Wall.” Funny and playful.
The joiner chosen to play the lion in the play within the play. Snug worries that the roaring will frighten the audience. What Snug lacks in smarts, they make up in heart. Funny and playful.
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