Equity Actors Audition for 2025 Season Shows

A respectable young man with a carefully constructed double identity. In the country, he is Jack Worthing, a responsible guardian to his young ward Cecily Cardew, admired for his apparent integrity. In London, he adopts the name Ernest, a name he invented to escape the pressures of country life and indulge in a freer existence. This deception becomes problematic when he falls in love with Gwendolen Fairfax, who insists she can only love a man named Ernest. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

Jack’s best friend and Gwendolen’s cousin. A witty and perpetually irreverent bachelor, Algernon thrives on social games, wordplay, and theatrical deception. He lives in a stylish London flat and avoids responsibility through a clever ruse: he has invented an invalid friend named “Bunbury,” whose constant illnesses allow Algernon to excuse himself from social engagements. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

The daughter of Lady Bracknell and cousin to Algernon. She is polished, poised, and acutely aware of her social status. She carries herself with the certainty and sophistication of someone raised to lead society. Though she projects intelligence and refinement, she is also entirely consumed by her romantic ideals. A sharp-witted character who thrives on verbal sparring. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

Jack’s ward. Living in the countryside under Miss Prism’s supervision, Cecily is imaginative, romantic, and rebellious in subtle, clever ways. She fantasizes about romance and has invented an elaborate imaginary relationship with Jack’s fictional brother Ernest. When Algernon arrives posing as this invented brother, she is delighted to discover her romantic daydreams seemingly coming to life. She exhibits childlike wonder, comic bravado, romantic passion. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

The embodiment of Victorian social propriety, Lady Bracknell is Algernon’s aunt and Gwendolen’s mother. She is formidable, haughty, and utterly convinced of her moral and social superiority. Lady Bracknell’s speeches are filled with absurd conclusions delivered with absolute conviction. She is obsessed with lineage, wealth, and appearances, and is a brilliant caricature of the aristocracy. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

Cecily’s governess, an upright, moralistic, and deeply repressed woman with a sharp tongue and a mysterious past. Though she lectures Cecily about discipline and decorum, she is flustered and flirtatious in the presence of Dr. Chasuble. Her dry demeanor masks romantic longing and a past scandal, Miss Prism is a deliciously comic character with rich contradictions—pedantic yet distracted, strict yet soft-hearted, practical yet faintly ridiculous. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

Dr. Chasuble is scholarly, mild-mannered, and rather bashful in his interactions with Miss Prism. Though he appears proper and dutiful, Chasuble is clearly affected by Miss Prism’s attention and dreams of a more romantic, less ascetic life. He is often the voice of moral respectability, though undercuts that image with subtle irony. Carries gentle authority and understated comic sensibility. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

These two roles offer excellent comic opportunities. Lane, Algernon’s London manservant, is droll, discreet, and unfazed by the absurdity of his employer’s habits. Merriman, the country butler at Jack’s estate, is formal and slightly flustered by the mayhem that ensues. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

Male-identifying. Quiet, imaginative, and deeply sensitive, Kenneth carries the weight of a past hurt that has kept him in a tightly controlled life. He is intelligent and observant, with a rich inner world and a love of small rituals. Though cautious and slow to trust, he has a genuine warmth that emerges when he feels safe. His journey is one of learning to embrace change and allow himself to connect more fully with others. "PRIMARY TRUST"

Male-identifying. Kenneth’s closest, and perhaps only, friend. Solid, grounded, humorous and steady, with a natural ability to make people feel at ease. He has a practical way of viewing life but is attuned to others’ needs and feelings. Bert’s loyalty and warmth anchor Kenneth, yet he’s not without his own moments of vulnerability. "PRIMARY TRUST"

Female-identifying. Multiple roles, including Corrina, a self-assured, open-hearted waitress who befriends Kenneth. Corrina has a playful sense of humor, speaks her mind, and doesn’t waste time worrying about others’ opinions. "PRIMARY TRUST"

Male-identifying. Multiple roles, including Clay, a former college football star now reflecting on the passage of time and what comes next; and Sam, the gruff, sharp-tongued bookstore owner with a hidden well of kindness. Ability to create distinct characterizations is key. "PRIMARY TRUST"

Male Identifying. Our narrator. The local doctor for King’s Abbot. Affable, smart and a good storyteller. A self-described “old fogey.” He makes himself available to others and knows everyone in town. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Female identifying. The nosey older sister of James. She prizes gossip above all else and uses it to her advantage whether it is correct or not. She has a fun sense of humor and a gleam in her eye. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Male identifying. The Belgian detective, in retirement. A brilliant mind who sees every detail, and has a strong sense of moral justice. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Male identifying. Young and handsome, Ralph is Ackroyd’s foster son. Wild, with a restless past, Ralph is a bit of a loner and hates his status as the ne’er-do-well foster child of a wealthy man. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Female identifying. Roger Ackroyd’s personal secretary. A stern and tight-lipped woman. She controls Ackroyd’s personal and business affairs with a steady hand, while keeping secrets of her own. She might seem to some as cold and curt in her interactions, but she has an emotional side boiling beneath the surface. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Male identifying. The wealthy businessman and lord of Fernly Hall. Ackroyd is an emotional man and the center of much attention in the town of King’s Abbot. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Female identifying. Roger Ackroyd’s niece. Young, beautiful and willful. Though she has lived a life of privilege, she and her mother have fallen on hard times. She appears to have a warm and generous nature, though can turn suddenly cold when confronted. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Male identifying. A big game hunter and friend of Roger Ackroyd’s who has come to stay at Fernly. A man who has lived all over the world, he believes he understands human nature better than anyone at Fernly. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Female identifying. A young maid at Fernly. She possesses a strong backbone. Though often outspoken, she keeps much to herself and knows more about the comings and goings at Fernly than she is willing to admit. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

"THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Female identifying. Roger Ackroyd’s eccentric sister-in-law and mother to Flora. Flamboyant and overbearing, she resents her dependence on Roger Ackroyd. Often at odds with her daughter and the house staff and house guests. She seems to have a bit of a crush on Dr. Sheppard. "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"

Male identifying. An Inspector from Cranchester. Not the best of the lot, though seemingly well intentioned. But why can’t he see the obvious? "THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD"