Upcoming auditions
Auditions for Titus Andronicus: Occupy Rome!
Monday and Tuesday
January 23 & 24, 2012
Callbacks Thursday January 26
Time: 7:30 PM to 10 PM
Location: UCP on the Potomac, Sunrise Community
4409 Forbes Blvd, Lanham, Maryland 20706
Performances in 2012 at the Howard Country Arts Center
April 27th through May 12th
Audition sides will be provided, but you may prepare a 60-90 second monologue if you like.
The cast breakdown is as follows:
Titus Andronicus: 40's-60's. General of Rome's armies in the Goth war, his military acumen is unparalleled. He is unyielding in his beliefs, and respects strength. Fiercely loyal to Rome and his family (in that order) but incredibly dangerous when crossed.
Marcus Andronicus: 40's-60's. Brother to Titus, he is the heart of the family. His loyalty to his family is greater than his loyalty to Rome, unlike his brother. Where as Titus sees the world in black and white, Marcus sees all shades of grey.
Aaron the Moor: 20's-40's. Supplier of drugs to both Romans and Goths alike, he thrives on chaos. He is the sort of person who would set a house on fire so he could listen to the screams. His status as a drug dealer makes him both an outsider and an insider with both Goths and Romans alike.
Lavinia: 20's Only daughter of Titus, she is spirited and independent. She has her father's strength and bravery. Doomed to the cruel mercies of Chiron and Demetrius, she nonetheless exhibits her strength and intelligence even when she is reduced to a mutilated wreck.
Tamora: Late 30's-mid-late 40's. Queen of the goths and mother to Chiron and Demetrius. She is a formidable adversary to Titus and equally dangerous when crossed. Her affection for her sons is somewhat eclipsed by her willingness to use them as pawns.
Saturninus: 30's-40's: Eldest son of Caesar and Emperor of Rome. Huge sense of entitlement eclipsed by his own insecurities and petulant need for praise of his people. Habitual cocaine user.
Bassianus: 20's-30's: Younger brother of Saturninus. More self assured than his brother, he is probably a better choice for Emperor but for the fact that he lacks guile.
Demetrius: 20's-30's Oldest son of Tamora after Alarbus is killed. He is an extremely violent and unpredictable drug addict. He thrives on acts of violence, rape, or worse. He is effectively a weapon to be used either by Tamora or by Aaron.
Chiron: Late teens early 20's. Younger brother of Demetrius, he has been neglected for most of his life. Starved for attention and guidance, his role model is his bestial brother who treats him like a child when he acknowledges him at all.
Lucius: 30's. Titus' eldest son, he is as loyal to his family as his father is to Rome. Impulsive, sometimes bloodthirsty, he is also a natural born leader, though this is a role he will grow into over time.
Alarbus/Clown/Mutius/Goth: 20s-30s: Multiple roles played by same actor. Must be versatile enough to make each role a distinct character
Quintus/Martius/Publius/Goth: Same as Alarbus/Clown/Mutius
Nurse: 30's-60's: The deliverer of Tamora's baby and the only one who knows that the baby is Aaron's and not the Emperors.
Audition Information
Rehearsals for Mainstage shows are typically Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, typically from 8 to 10 PM
Help would also be welcome in tech, set, and costumes. If you have any interest in the theater, please come along, even if you don't want to act.
Rude Mechanicals auditions tend to be very casual, informal affairs. Headshots are welcome but not necessary; a prepared monologue is a nice touch but there will also be scripts or scenes on-site for cold readings
Audition tips
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes you can move around in.
Arriving early is no guarantee you won't be asked to stay late. Bring a book.
Shakespearean dialects are tricky, and the trickiest thing about them is frequently conveying authenticity. When it comes to playing intention, a bold wrong choice is infinitely preferable to a half-hearted right choice. Don't try to decipher what all the words mean at once -- decide upon your overall objective in the scene, (getting the girl to go away with me; getting the guy to give me more money) and play your heart out with it.
You may be assigned a speech with a partner or you may be given a monologue. If at the end of the evening you feel as though your true talents haven't been showcased (comedy instead of drama; singing instead of seduction), ask for the chance to demonstrate what you feel is your strongest range/skill/ability.
"Slower, Clearer, and Louder" are the three notes that apply to almost everyone at one time or another, and almost certainly in an audition setting. Speak up, enunciate, and slow down.
Classical monologues show off how good you are at overcoming the shortcomings of conveying simple emotions with complex language, and modern monologues show off how good you are at overcoming the shortcomings of conveying complex emotions with simple language. The Rude Mechanicals tends to prefer classical monologues to get a sense of what you can do with the words, but modern monologues can (and do) demonstrate a wealth of data about an actor's range and ability. If you have a prepared piece that's post-Elizabethan, bring it out.
Relax. The operative word here is play. Have fun with it.