
South Dakota Shakespeare Festival 2022 Auditions
Download Announcement Here

Casting Breakdown
Othello, by William Shakespeare
adapted and directed by Tara Moses
May-June 2022
Seeking non-Equity and Equity performers for the following roles:
OTHELLO, a Black Native and/or Afro-Indigenous man in his 30s – 40s. He is an accomplished and honorable war hero who is the newly eloped husband to DESDEMONA.
DESDEMONA, a Non-Black Native, Indigenous, Alaska Native, and/or First Nations woman in her 20s-30s. She is the daughter of BRABANTIO and loving wife to OTHELLO.
IAGO, a 30s-50s person of color who fought alongside OTHELLO in the War of Restoration.
CASSIO, a 20s-30s man of any ethnicity who fought alongside OTHELLO in the War of Restoration.
RODERIGO, a Non-Black Native, Indigenous, Alaska Native, and/or First Nations man in his 20s – 30s who fought alongside OTHELLO in the War of Restoration.
BRABANTIO, a Non-Black Native, Indigenous, Alaska Native, and/or First Nations man in his 50s who is the father of DESDEMONA and one of the council members of the community. He also plays GRATIANO.
CHIEF VEN, a Black Native and/or Afro-Indigenous man in his 40s who is the highest authority in this part of Indian Territory. (formerly Duke of Venice)
EMILIA, a 30s-40s white woman who is the wife of IAGO and attendant to DESDEMONA
BIANCA, a 20s-30s woman of color who is deeply in love with CASSIO. She also plays FIRST COUNCILWOMAN.
ENSEMBLE, any age/gender/ethnicity who plays a member of the community, OFFICER, SECOND COUNCILPERSON, MONTANO, and other ensemble roles.
ENSEMBLE, any age/gender/ethnicity who plays a member of the community, OFFICER, LODOVICO, and other ensemble roles.
3-4 UNDERSTUDIES/SWINGS, various ages/genders/ethnicities to understudy all of the roles.