SEEKING: Actors for Ariel, Ferdinand, and Miranda, as well as understudy Prospero
Delaware Shakespeare is accepting video auditions for the roles of Ariel, Ferdinand, and Miranda in its 2022 Summer Festival production of The Tempest, directed by David Stradley. The production was originally scheduled to be staged in July 2020, and many roles were cast at that time. (Full current casting can be seen HERE, along with currently hired design team members).
Rehearsals for The Tempest will begin June 15 and be held on weeknights/weekend days, with a run of July 15-31 on the grounds of Rockwood Park in Wilmington, DE.
Del Shakes is committed to and interested in creating opportunities beyond “traditional” casting tropes, in particular when it comes to race and gender. Del Shakes actively casts BIPOC and other non-white identifying actors through color-conscious casting. Del Shakes also looks for chances to practice gender-expansive casting. Anyone is encouraged to audition for whatever role they identify with, regardless of gender prescriptions of the character, or the assigned birth gender of the actor. Del Shakes considers this a collaborative, open conversation.
The role of Ariel will likely be cast with a woman-identifying (cis or trans) and/or non-binary actor. The actor auditioning for Ariel should also be an excellent singer and creative mover.
Due to the previous casting of Prospero and creative vision of the production, Del Shakes is seeking a Black, 20s, woman-identifying actor (cis or trans) and/or non-binary actor for the role of Miranda. (Character is female-presenting.)
Ferdinand, 20s, any race or ethnicity, man-identifying (cis or trans) and/or non-binary actor. (Character is male-presenting.)
Del Shakes also seeks an understudy for Prospero: Black, 40s-60s, man-identifying (cis or trans) and/or non-binary actor. (Character is male-presenting.)
Del Shakes does not provide housing. Del Shakes is a fully vaccinated company.
College students should apply for the Del Shakes College Apprentice Program.
COMPENSATION
Del Shakes has one Equity contract available for these roles. Equity actors are employed through a Guest Artist Tier II contract ($487/week, plus health weeks). Non-Equity actors are paid $350/week. Understudy compensation TBD.
INSTRUCTIONS
Send headshot, resume, and link to a Shakespeare monologue (no more than 2 minutes) via THIS AUDITION FORM. (A Google account is necessary to access and upload files to the form. If you have troubles or other questions, please email auditions@delshakes.org.)
If auditioning for Ariel, please also include 16 bars of a song.
Audition materials are due by Wednesday, February 9. Selected actors will be contacted for callback auditions, likely to be held via Zoom.
PERSONNEL
Viewing auditions:
David Stradley, Producing Artistic Director (he/him)
and either
Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez, Artistic Squad (she/they), or
Izzy Sazak, Artistic Squad (they/them)
OTHER
See a video about the Summer Festival HERE.
Learn about Del Shakes’ commitment to antiracism HERE.
