"Shakespeare in Love" Audition for the Theater

Mid 30's - Poet and Playwright. Will’s marriage has grown cold and his creative endeavors colder. Will is a romantic dreamer who is in search of his next muse to inspire him. He is also severely in debt and constantly making promises to complete plays that he never does. He is constantly battling with the need to make a living while also preserving his art. He is quick witted, sharp tongued, and the ever seeking bachelor.

A maiden of the court and daughter of Sir Robert De Lesseps. Viola adores the theatre and has dreams to be an actor, but is unable due to the laws around women in theatre. She is also limited by being a lady of the court. Despite only seeing plays whenever the Queen requests a performance, she has taken to heart and memory the poems of Shakespeare. To follow her dreams she disguises herself as Thomas Kent and finally meets the playwright she adores.

Servant to Viola. The Nurse acts as Viola's mother and servant. She is kind and always ready to defend Viola or help with her schemes. She is naturally a nervous woman and one often used for laughs. She serves as the inspiration for the Nurse in Romeo & Juliet.

Mid 30s - Colleague, Friend, and Inspiration. Kit is the close friend to Will and also his creative rival. Known for his work Faustus, Kit’s career seems to be in much better standings than Will’s. Despite their career differences, Kit and Will remain friends and Kit is often the one to inspire the words Will writes, as well as helping Will in his love affairs.

The Money Man. All theatres need backers and Fennyman is that man. Despite his brutish attitude and appearance, Fennyman is a lover of the arts, and secretly desires the stage. Outwardly he is harsh and willing to threaten the cast and crew to get every last penny owed him.

Owner and manager of the Rose Theatre. Henslowe is the nervous and deeply indebted theatre owner who is banking on Shakespeare’s next big hit to be the thing that saves his skin as he owes a great sum of money to Fennyman. He is always on edge and constantly at the end of a knife.

Lead actor of the Chamberlain’s Men. A staunch and renowned actor who was also promised to have access to Shakespeare’s next greatest play. After Will tricked Burbage and gave the play to Henslowe, Burbage vows revenge and plans to steal the play.

The Queen. The Queen is the ruling royal authority of England. She is witty and fond of good humor. She is a lover of the arts, particularly the theatrics, as long as it is happy and features a dog. She is proper, staunch, but humorous and full of surprises.

The Lord Chamberlain. An uptight Lord and servant of the Queen. He acts as the enforcer of the law. It is under his authority that he determines whether a play or a theatre is suitable for the public and has the power to close theatres at any hint of “licentiousness”. He is high strung and quick to anger.

The Lord betrothed to Viola. Lord Wessex is a vain, money hungry man who has made a deal with Viola’s father to marry her in exchange for some land and money in Virginia. He lusts after Viola but ultimately sees her as his ticket to higher status. He is very jealous of her affections for the “playwright”.

Lead actor of the Admiral’s Men, plays Mercutio. Ned is the boisterous and grandiose actor, renowned all around the London theatre community for his larger than life personality. He constantly walks around with an air of suave and charm but also superiority.

Directors are in need of 1-2 actors who also have the ability to play instruments. Preferably stringed instruments such as the guitar. These actors will still have the ability to play certain characters and have lines but they will be in charge of leading the music, live on stage when the script calls for it.

Several ensemble roles are available and will be cast as needed.