Theatre and Drama

TWELFTH NIGHT Auditions 9/8-9/9!

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AUDITIONS

A Musical Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT. Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub. Music and Lyrics by Shaina Taub

Director: Aimée Hayes
Music Director: Erin McConnell
Choreographer: Aaron Thielen

Twelfth Night is a rousing contemporary musical inspired by Shakespeare’s classic comedy about love, mistaken identity, and self-discovery. Separated from all she knows after a wreck at sea, young Viola washes up on the shores of Illyria, and disguises herself as a man in order to survive. Sent to court a Countess on behalf of her new employer, she instead falls hard for him herself! Hilarious mishaps ensue as she navigates this strange and wonderful new land, finding her true self and true love in the process. Featuring an original jazz-funk score by Shaina Taub, this fresh take on Shakespeare’s classic delivers its meaningful messages of empathy and compassion with music, joy, and lots of laughs.

  • Rehearsal Dates: Rehearsals begin Monday September 25. Weekday evenings 6-10 and Saturday, October 21st 1-7.
  • Performance Dates: 11/9/23-11/19/23 (with morning student matinee on Friday, November 17)
  • Any content warning information: This production contains mature content and depictions of physical violence.

Audition info:

  • Audition Dates, Times, Location (including Callbacks): Friday 9/8 5-9 PM, Saturday 9/9 10 AM -1 PM and 2-5 PM. Acting & Vocal Callbacks Sunday 9/10 10 AM 2 PM. Vilas 1090.
  • Auditions open to students of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experience levels. University Theatre auditions are open to all students regardless of major as well as all members of the U-W Madison communities.
  • Preparation information
    • Sides from script. Sides will be available to pick up in the Theatre & Drama Main Office 6173 Vilas Hall.
    • Please prepare a 1-minute cut of a Contemporary Musical Theater song (or pop song in style of show). Music should be printed out and brought with you in a format helpful to the accompanist (a three-ring binder or taped flat, if under four pages). The directing team would prefer you not sing a capella or with a recording. If this provides an access issue for you, please reach out to Jahana Azodi.
    • If you play an instrument, please prepare 16 bars.
    • Actors are encouraged to read the full play prior to auditions.
  • Character list:
    • VIOLA, a young woman
    • OLIVIA, a countess in Illyria
    • ORSINO, a duke in Illyria
    • FESTE, a female busking musician, must play piano and ideally, accordion.
    • MALVOLIO, servant to Olivia
    • TOBY, uncle to Olivia
    • MARIA, lady-in-waiting to Olivia
    • ANDREW, friend to Toby
    • ANTONIO, friend to Sebastian
    • SEBASTIAN, male twin to Viola
    • FABIAN, groundskeeper to Olivia
    • ILLYRIAN OFFICIANT, ILLYRIAN MAIL-PERSON, ILLYRIAN ATTENDANT, FIRST OFFICER, SECOND OFFICER
    • ENSEMBLE
  • A Note on Staged Intimacy: All staged intimacy will be led in rehearsals by a consultant trained in staging intimacy, specifically choreographed within actors’ boundaries and skill level. All instances of scripted staged intimacy for the characters required of the production are noted below. If actors prefer not to be considered for these characters because of this staged intimacy or have questions, please indicate this on the space on audition form, and/or discuss with the director or Artistic Director at auditions.
  • Note: There will be no intimacy or violence of any kind in general auditions or callbacks
  • Remember – all students cast must enroll in 2-3 credits of Theatre 360

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