​
​
South Dakota Shakespeare Festival announces 2019 auditions
​
​
Production: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, by William Shakespeare
Directed by: Madeline Sayet (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society)
Rehearsals: May 13-June 5, 2019, Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts & Prentis Park
Performances: June 6-9, 2018, Prentis Park
​
The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (SDSF) seeks non-Equity performers for its seventh outdoor season of free Shakespeare in Vermillion’s Prentis Park. As a Mohegan director, Madeline Sayet is excited to collaborate with both other Indigenous artists, as well as artists from diverse cultures on this production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, to build a world that resonates with the place and moment we stand in.
The Festival seeks professional actors, actor/musicians, and teaching artists from the Great Plains region and nationally to form an ensemble-based Shakespeare company for a four-week contract in Vermillion, South Dakota. All positions are paid. Actors coming from out of town will be eligible for local housing and a travel stipend. We are committed to inclusive casting that reflects and nurtures the diversity of our communities.
Music will be incorporated throughout this production. Please prepare an optional couple of bars of a song to be played, sung acapella, or self-accompanied at call-backs if you would like to be included in those components of the show.
​
Auditions will be held in the following locations:
​
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Park Square’s General Auditions, Friday January 18
Park Square Theatre, Historic Hamm Building, 20 West 7th Place, Saint Paul, MN
• Audition and registration information:
https://minnesotaplaylist.com/classified/general-auditions-are-back-at-park-square-theatre
• For consideration for the SDSF, audition packages must include a Shakespeare or classical monologue
• Callbacks will be held by invitation and appointment, Saturday January 19
​
New Native Theatre, Sunday January 20, 2pm
Location TBD
• By invitation only for New Native Theatre ensemble members
• Option to perform a Shakespeare monologue; sides will also be provided
• To sign up for an appointment please email rhiana.yazzie@yahoo.com
​
Southeast South Dakota
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region V, Professional Auditions, January 22-23
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Information and registration:
https://www.kcactf5.org/professional-auditions-and-interviews.html
• To be considered by the SDSF, audition packages must include a Shakespeare or classical monologue
​
University of South Dakota, Department of Theatre, Monday February 18
Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts, Vermillion, South Dakota
• Additional call-backs and auditions by appointment
• for initial auditions, please prepare two contrasting Shakespeare monologues
• to schedule an audition appointment please email Katie.Meirose@coyotes.usd.edu
​
Video Auditions will be accepted by invitation only. Please do not submit unsolicited video auditions.
​
​
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Casting Breakdown
We are committed to inclusive casting that authentically mirrors our communities. Seeking 13 actors. Interested in seeing all genders for each role.
​
Hermia — 17-30, smart, determined, young lover, who rebels against a strict parent by fleeing to the woods with Lysander, when they are forbidden to marry for love. (Does not double)
Helena — 17-30, rejected, resourceful, lover who chases after Demetrius, even after being rejected. Later becomes the object of the affections of both Lysander and Demetrius. (Does not double)
Lysander — 17-30, sincere, committed young lover - until becoming a rash impulsive fool under a love spell. (Does not double)
Demetrius — 17-30, determined to marry Hermia, after already rejecting Helena. Stubborn hard-headed pursuant, then spends a lot of time under a love spell. (does not double)
Hippolyta/Titania — 20s-60s, an Amazon forced into an oppressive marriage with Theseus. Also plays Titania, queen of the fairies. Passionate, strong willed, leader. Dynamic - Spends a lot of time under a love spell. Powerful performer, with wide range.
Theseus/Oberon - 20s-60s, Theseus is Duke of Athens. Also plays Oberon King of the Faeries. Brash, manipulative, powerful faerie, who puts Titania under a love for not agreeing to his demands.
Nick Bottom, Peter Quince, Francis Flute, Tom Snout, Snug, Starveling (Also known as the Rude Mechanicals)/ Faeries - 20s-60s, The Rude Mechanicals - a group of working folks who have formed a troupe of amateur players determined to put on their first play. They are comic, odd, delightful, quirky, and variable. They will double as faeries. Musicians welcome.
Puck (Doubling TBD) - 20s-30s, Robin Goodfellow, a clever, mischievous sprite who causes all sorts of trouble and loves it.
Egeus (Doubling TBD) - 40s-60s, Hermia’s strict parent, who requires Hermia marry Demetrius.
Philostrate (Doubling TBD) - Any Age , Master of Revels, in charge of determining what play shall be performed at Theseus’ court.
Additional Faeries - Children are also welcome to audition to be faeries in this production.
​
​