P R E S S R E L E A S E
Contact: Mynecia Steele
Cultural Arts/Special Events Manager
o 334.595.0850
Prattville’s Way Off Broadway Theatre is excited to hold auditions for its summer production of William Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night. This production is directed and adapted by Blair Dyson. The production runs July 11 – 28, 2024.
Auditions will be held on Monday, April 29, and Tuesday, April 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the WOBT theatre in the Prattville Cultural Arts Building at 203 W. Fourth St, Prattville. There will be roles for three women, ages 20s-50s, and nine men ages 20s-50s. Roles will be cast for appropriate ages and all ethnicities are welcome. Auditions will be cold readings. No monologues are necessary unless you already have one prepared that you would like to show the director.
ROLES AVAILABLE:
All details of gender, ethnicity, and age apply to the characters in the play.
VIOLA (CESARIO) – Female, any ethnicity, 20s – early 30s. A Yankee girl from a good family, separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck. She is strong, smart, practical, loyal, and just. Spends most of the play disguised as a young man named Cesario, who serves Orsino (who she eventually falls in love with). The protagonist of the play.
SEBASTIAN – Male, any ethnicity, 20s – early 30s. Viola’s twin brother is lost and presumed dead in the shipwreck until we meet him in Act II. Courageous, passionate, loyal, kind, and good-hearted, as well as reckless and impulsive. Eventually falls in love with Olivia.
ORSINO – Male, any ethnicity, late 20s – 40s. A wealthy Southerner who comes from “Old Money,” his wealth allows him the free time to listen to music and daydream about matters of love. Horribly overdramatic, he is mostly miserable and cranky, pining for Olivia, who has rejected his advances. He makes a companion of Cesario, eventually falling for Viola.
OLIVIA – Female, any ethnicity, 20s – 40s. A wealthy Southern woman, in mourning for her father and brother. She has a large estate to manage and is much more practical and mature than Orsino. She is intelligent, disciplined, independent, and beautiful. She becomes infatuated with Cesario until she mistakes Sebastian for “him.” Ends up married to Sebastian.
MALVOLIO – Male, any ethnicity, 30s – 60s. Olivia’s steward. Malvolio is officious, self-important, and humorless. Very strait-laced and disapproving. Deeply disdainful of Toby and his companions. Holds a secret love for Olivia, which has more to do with his own advancement than affection for her. Falls for a practical joke played by Toby and Maria, and ends up making a complete fool of himself. The closest thing to a traditional antagonist in the play.
FESTE – Any gender, ethnicity, or age. A wonderful example of a Shakespearean “clown” character, Feste is clever, resourceful, and sees the world more clearly than most of the high-class people who employ him or her. The ideal Feste is skilled in singing, instrumental music, and all sorts of comedy, especially improvisation
SIR TOBY BELCH – Male, any ethnicity, the 40s – 60s. An old drunk and Olivia’s uncle, he lives in her house and has very nearly overstayed his welcome. Possibly a former military officer who was dishonorably discharged. Refuses to take anything seriously unless he feels insulted or looked down upon, at which point he becomes spiteful and aggressive. He loves Maria, exploits Andrew, and despises Malvolio.
MARIA – Female, any ethnicity, 30s – 50s. Olivia’s Chambermaid/Housekeeper. She is loyal to Olivia but is easily distracted and won over by Toby’s attitudes and behaviors. Very clever and confident, and bristles at Malvolio’s authority and attitude. Ends up with Toby.
SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK – Male, any ethnicity, the 20s – 40s. A genuine idiot, he is aloof, presumptuous, gullible, and has a complete lack of self-awareness. Seems like the youngest son of a wealthy family who got an allowance, but no real attention or discipline. Sees himself as a gentleman and pines for Olivia even as his drinking buddy, Toby, bleeds him dry to fund their debauchery.
FABIAN – Any gender, ethnicity, or age. A servant in Olivia’s house who joyfully participates in the mischief brought on by Toby and his companions. A bit of a blank slate, this character can easily be cut from the script, but can also be a significant supporting character if played well.
ANTONIO/ANTONIA – Any gender or ethnicity, 20s – 40s. A sea captain who rescues Sebastian from the shipwreck and is fiercely loyal to him, perhaps even to the point of loving him. A smaller role that becomes very important near the end of the play.
ENSEMBLE/PEOPLE OF ILLYRIA – Various types & ages. Attendants, officers, etc. The final number will depend on the auditions.
SYNOPSIS
Shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, a young Northerner named Viola finds herself stranded on the shores of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, near a town called Illyria. In a panic, she disguises herself as a young man, and calling herself Cesario, enters the service of local lord Orsino, who has fallen hard for a lady named Olivia, who is in mourning, and will not hear his advances. Cesario is sent to woo Olivia for Orsino, even as Viola begins to fall for Orsino, and Olivia begins to fall for Cesario. Meanwhile, a power struggle is going on in Olivia’s house between her uncle and her steward. Eventually, the two plots overlap, creating a high Holy mess that turns the town on its head.
Named for the English holiday that ends the Christmas season, Shakespeare’s “Feast of Fools” is full of love, confusion, music, violence, joy, and despair. Our production is set in 1930’s Mississippi, in a style similar to the film “O, Brother, Where Art Thou,” and is steeped heavily in music.
Shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, Viola finds herself stranded on the shores of Illyria. She disguises herself as a man and calls herself Cesario enters the service of Duke Orsino, who has fallen hard for Olivia. But Olivia still grieves the loss of her dear brother and cannot be bothered with love. Or men. But the Duke is not the type to be deterred in his pursuit of love! He tasks Cesario (aka Viola) to woo Olivia, but things do not go as planned. Olivia falls for Cesario. Viola falls for the duke. And a band of ragtag, rowdy misfits and musicians make all kinds of mischief.
One of Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies, TWELFTH NIGHT ebulliently captures the desire for joy, connection, and reinvention that comes after we wash ashore following our darkest days.
For more information about auditions, contact the Cultural Arts office at 334-595-0850.
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