Audition Notice: "The Book of Will"
"The Book of Will"
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by the 2025-2026 Roe Green Visiting Director, Tony F. Sias, CEO & President, Karamu House
AUDITION INFORMATION
91勛圖厙
Without William Shakespeare, we wouldnt have literary masterpieces like "Romeo and Juliet." But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeares plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. Theyll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, "The Book of Will" finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know.
Auditions:
When: November 10 & 12 6-10 p.m.
Where: Kent Center for the Performing Arts (CPA), Wright-Curtis Theatre
- Auditions are open to all Kent State students
- Please prepare two brief contrasting monologues for the audition and be prepared for some movement exercises.
- If the monologue isnt memorized, that is fine. Please audition anyway.
- If you are new to auditioning and do not have two monologues, please select two contrasting monologues from the play; several options can be found in the script.
Signing Up
- Fill out and submit by Sunday, November 9 at 5 p.m.. Please be prepared to upload a headshot and performance resume (if you have one) through this form. Please indicate on your audition form which musical and/or play ("Something Rotten" and/or "Side Show" and/or "Book of Will" youd like to be considered for). At the end of the form, there will be a link to sign up for the timeslot(s).
- If you are auditioning for the musical(s) and "Book of Will," sign up for two timeslots (one for "Something Rotten" and/or "Side Show," and one for "Book of Will") in the appropriate areas of the sign-up sheet.
- Please note that if there is no audition form completed and youve signed up for a timeslot(s), you may be removed from your timeslot(s) until a form is submitted.
Preliminary Auditions
Open to ALL 91勛圖厙 students. Auditions will be held for "Book of Will" in Wright-Curtis Theatre. Please prepare two brief contrasting monologues for the audition and be prepared for some movement exercises.
Callbacks:
When: Thursday, November 13 beginning at 6 p.m.
Where: Kent Center for the Performing Arts Wright-Curtis Theatre
Callbacks will consist of sides (excerpts from scenes of the play) and will be circulated when the callback list is announced; please review them in advance of the callback. There may also be a movement portion to the callback.
A Note on Casting: "Book of Will" will be cast, according to the representation of KSU.
REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals:
Begin: Mid-Late February. Sundays 2-8 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays 6-10 p.m.
Tech: Friday, April 10, with a full tech day on Saturday, April 11 .
Performances: Thursday, April 16-Sunday, April 18, Wednesday, April 21-Sunday, April 26
ROLES:
Book of Will (from Dramatists):
Henry Condell 40; feisty, hopeful friend and actor in the Kings Men.
John Heminges 50; reasonable friend and financial manager of the Kings Men; owner of the Globe Tap House; a good man, a gentleman, if serious.
Richard Burbage 50s; seasoned lion of the stage, famous across England, loud and proud.
Alice Heminges 35, Johns daughter and alewife, knows everyone and hangs with the boys.
Boy Hamlet Young actor.
Barman Ruffian.
Barman 2 Drunk.
Ben Jonson Poet laureate of England, friend/rival of Shakespeare. Amazing drunk. A bear of a man. Surprisingly weepy.
Elizabeth Condell Henrys wife, savvy and fun.
Rebecca Heminges Johns wife. Strong, busy with their grocery business, a woman who has weathered much but loves her husband and sons and God.
Ed Knight Stage manager for the Kings Men, self-serious and particular
Ralph Crane Humble scrivener of the Kings Men. Quick, sure, quiet.
William Jaggard Successful if shady publisher of books, plays, and playbills. He is confident in his ability to get what he wants. Very experienced, very connected, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. An ass.
Isaac Jaggard Williams son, will inherit the business. Sensitive, an artist at heart.
Marcus 20, printers apprentice at the Jaggard print shop, nosy but honest.
Compositor Works for Jaggard, young.
Emilia Bassano Lanier 50, fiery Italian feminist and poet, independent woman, lover of life (and of Shakespeare).
Anne Hathaway Shakespeare 60, Shakespeares now ailing wife. Strong-willed, a classy lady, a survivor.
Susanna Shakespeare 30, good girl and daughter of Shakespeare.
Crier Newsboy.
Bernardo, Francisco Actors playing those roles.
Sir Edward Dering 60, book and theatre lover
Horatio
Fruit Seller
Marcellus
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.F.A. MUSICAL THEATRE AND M.F.A. STUDENTS
B.F.A. Musical Theatre candidates are required to audition for all theatre division main stage productions and accept roles if cast. Exemptions to the audition requirement may be granted under certain circumstances. Circumstances include but are not limited to: religious beliefs, moral objection, psychological triggers with the play, and physical concerns. In order to be exempted from the audition requirement, students must submit a written petition to the performance faculty prior to the beginning of the casting process for the production in question. The performance faculty will make a good faith effort to deliberate and come to a decision on the petition at the first performance area meeting after the receipt of the petition. At no point will a student be asked to disclose sensitive personal information.
For information on all the B.F.A. Musical Theatre requirements please go to the following. /theatredance/revised-requirements-bfa-musical-theatre-program