Shakespeare 70 is pleased to announce open auditions for our March 2025 production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Directors: Shannon McGovern and Garrett Verdone
Producer: Curt Foxworth
Stage Manager: Chris Loos

S70 is committed to advancing an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all productions. We acknowledge the need for growth and are committed to learning from past mistakes. We aim to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, creeds, socio-economic statuses, nationalities, and abilities.

ABOUT THE SHOW
After a shipwreck separates a pair of twins on the shore of a distant land, mistaken identity, unrequited love, and plenty of other hijinks ensue. Shakespeare 70’s production of Twelfth Night will explore gender, sexual identity, and love in all of its forms.

PERFORMANCES
March 26 - 29 at 8pm
March 30 at 2pm
Venue: Don Evans Black Box Theatre at TCNJ’s Kendall Hall, Ewing, NJ

AUDITION DATES
Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 7 pm - 10 pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 - 11:30 am - 3 pm
Zoom auditions may be scheduled by appointment from Monday, January 13 to Wednesday, January 15
Audition location including directions and parking information will be sent with confirmation.

APPOINTMENTS & PREPARATION
Appointments can be made by filling out this form. 
Please contact stage manager Chris Loos at cjloos724@gmail.com with questions.

Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Sides will be provided via email prior to audition dates.  The original text of the play is available for free online, though this production will use an edited text. 

If you can sing or play an instrument and would like to show us your stuff, please prepare ~30 seconds of a song to share with us, preferably in a style akin to folk or jazz.

We are eager to see any actor who is interested.
No experience in straight plays? We’d love to see you.
Never done (or seen) a Shakespeare play? We’d love to see you.
Not sure that you understand every line in the play? Neither do we—let’s figure it out together!—we’d love to see you.

REHEARSALS
A readthrough will be scheduled for Saturday, January 25 and table work will be conducted in the evenings during the week of January 27. Rehearsals will be held 1 weekday evening and Saturday afternoons starting February 1 (which will be the first Saturday rehearsal) on the TCNJ campus. Starting in March, we will have 3-5 rehearsals/week leading up to opening (standard tech, pre-tech schedule).

Direction and stage management are committed to respecting everyone’s time, so a final schedule will be made once all roles are cast (based on actors’ availability) to make the best use of everyone’s time and minimize downtime.

SEEKING
Roles are open to performers of all races, gender identities, sexual orientations, body types, ages (over 18), and abilities.

For this production, S70 is seeking 7-10 actors to play the following roles. Please note that some actors may be asked to play multiple roles.
All roles are non-equity and unpaid.

Viola (25-40): Woman shipwrecked on the shore of Illyria and thinks all others are lost. Disguises herself as a man (Cesario) and works for Orsino. Smart and resilient. 
Sebastian (25-40): Viola’s twin brother. Rescued from the shipwreck, but thinks Viola has perished. Easy going.
Olivia (25-40): Heiress. In mourning for her father and brother. Clever and passionate. 
Orsino (30-50): Duke of Illyria. In love with Olivia. Romantic and a bit oblivious.
Antonio (30-55): Sea captain who rescues Sebastian. Formerly a pirate. Passionate and faithful.
Maria (30-65): Olivia’s maid. Witty and resourceful.
Sir Toby Belch (30-65): Oliva’s uncle. Often drunk and creating a commotion.  
Sir Andrew Aguecheek (30-50): Sir Toby’s friend. Trying to woo Olivia. Not very bright.
Malvolio (30-65): Olivia’s steward. A trusted part of her court. Good at his job and usually kind.
Feste (any age): Jester in Olivia’s court. A musician. Well-liked, but operates on their own.