Audition Tips for "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Julie Generes, director of SLT’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, shares her Top 10 Audition Tips and a description of characters ahead of the upcoming auditions.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, November 30 and Monday, December 1, at 7 p.m. both nights, at Slidell Little Theatre. Auditions are open to the public and to all ages.

A rehearsal schedule will be available on the evening of auditions. Performance dates are January 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1.

Synopsis:

Lysander loves Hermia, and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius; Demetrius used to love Helena but now loves Hermia. Egeus, Hermia's father, prefers Demetrius as a suitor, and enlists the aid of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to enforce his wishes upon his daughter. According to Athenian law, Hermia is given four days to choose between Demetrius, life in a nunnery, or a death sentence. Hermia, ever defiant, chooses to escape with Lysander into the surrounding forest.  And then things get really complicated.

Top Ten Audition Tips

    1.        READ THE PLAY. If some of the Shakespeare-speak is baffling, No Fear Shakespeare online gives you modern text right next to the original text. It is MOSTLY accurate and will give you a feel for how to say the lines

    2.        Be prepared for cold readings from the script. No monologues required.

    3.        Don’t even show up to auditions if you like your Shakespeare stuffy. This is going to be fun. I mean it.

    4.        Please do not stab, gun down, or run over anyone with your car who you perceive to be your competition. I hate that.

    5.        We need lots of fairies. If you are not given a speaking role, please consider it. Fairies will be very busy in this show, If you have a young child who wishes to be a faerie,  they will not be required at all rehearsals, and will never stay late until tech week. Small children must audition, but I’m not telling ANY little kid they aren’t cast. So if they show up, they’re in. It’s up to you if you share that last bit with them.

    6.        I like to be told how pretty I am

    7.        I may ask you to stop and read something in a totally different way. This is not me messing with you. I want to see that you can take direction. I also have wacky ideas for this play

    8.        Consider smaller roles. ALL the roles in this show are fun. Even Hippolyta. Actually, especially her. Consider not just putting “Puck or nothing” on your audition sheet.

    9.        If you wear flip flops to auditions, I will make you take them off. Barefoot is preferable to that flappy noise

 10.        Dress comfortably (except for flip flops), try not to be nervous, BREATHE, come to have fun.

Midsummer Character Breakdown

Theseus - Duke of Athens. Age 20-50 Regal, full of himself

Egeus - father to Hermia. Age 35-100 Typical Dad who wants his daughter to marry who he tells her to – or die.

Lysander - in love with Hermia. age 16-30

Demetrius - in love with Hermia. Was in love with Helena, but that was like ages ago. At least a week or two. Age 16-35

Philostrate - Master of the revels to Theseus. Age -20-100

Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, Starveling- These are the Mechanicals. Any Age. Their sole purpose in the play is to rehearse and perform a show for Theseus on his wedding night. They do this in an hysterical manner.

Bottom - Friend and fellow thespian of Quince, Snug, etc. Accepts fantasy as being just as tangible as reality. Any age

Hippolyta - Queen of the Amazons. Engaged to Theseus. Age 20-40

Hermia -daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. Age 16-30

Helena -in love with Demetrius. Age 16-30

Oberon- king of the fairies Age 20-100

Titania - queen of the fairies. Age 20-100

Robin Goodfellow (Puck) - Maker of mischief. Age 16-100

Peas-blossom, Cobweb, Mustard-seed - fairies with speaking roles. Will also dance. Age-10-100

Lots and lots of fairies- Boys, girls, men, women. Any age. Wear crazy costumes, irritate and entertain the audience. Throw candy, dance, acrobatics, silliness, and whatever else we think up.

The Northshore’s premier community theatre since 1963, Slidell Little Theatre is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and involving members of the community in high quality theatrical productions. SLT is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

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