AUDITIONS

March 5- 21, 2027

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Stage Director: Elizabeth Ross |. Music Director: Valerie Forgione

Production Managers: Iain Bason, Kristen Tourville

Shakespeare’s tale of betrayal, revenge, forgiveness and family, as reimagined with a female-presenting protagonist. Prospero, deposed Duchess of Milan, uses magical arts to bring within her power the enemies who robbed her of her throne and marooned her on a remote island.

Audition Schedule

Auditions: Tuesday, November 3 at 7-10 p.m.

Thursday, November 5 at 7-10 p.m.

Callbacks: Sunday, November 8 at 7-10 p.m.

Audition slots will be in 1 hour increments. If you cannot make the audition dates, you may make a video of one of the sides (The Tempest Sides) and send it to Iain Bason at iain@thebasons.com.

PRODUCTION DATES

Friday, March 5, 2027, at 8 pm

Saturday, March 6, 2027, at 8 pm

Sunday, March 7, 2027, at 2 pm

Friday, March 12, 2027, at 8 pm

Saturday, March 13, 2027, at 2 pm (special matinee)

Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 2 pm

Friday, March 19, 2027, at 8 pm

Saturday, March 20, 2027, at 8 pm

Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 2 pm

Roles

Arlington Friends of the Drama is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities and abilities to audition.

We encourage performers to audition for any role they feel comfortable playing. We welcome trans and nonbinary performers, and we will approach casting with care, openness, and respect for both performer identity and the needs of the piece.

Prospero - Female presenting, Age: 50s-older

The rightful Duke of Milan who was overthrown and exiled by her brother Antonio and Alonso, the King of Naples. Prospero has lived for years with her daughter Miranda on a Magical island. Prospero has been able to harness the magic of the island and its spirits to become a powerful sorceress. Will she take revenge on her brother and associates or will she forgive them, return to Milan, and give up magic?

Ariel - Any gender, Any Age, Singing encouraged, but not required

A spirit and Prospero's servant. Prospero rescued Ariel from a prison in which they were placed by the dead witch Sycorax. Now Ariel uses magic to carry out Prospero's commands. Ariel wants their freedom, which Prospero has promised to grant at the end of the play. They are also mischievous and able to traverse the length of the island in an instant and to change shapes at will.

Caliban - Any gender, Any Age

Prospero's unwilling slave. As the son of the witch Sycorax, who ruled the island before she died years prior to Prospero's arrival, Caliban believes that he should be master of the island.

Miranda - Female presenting, Teens- to late 20s, this part may require intimate choreography.

Prospero's daughter, the rightful princess of Milan. Miranda is a compassionate, dutiful daughter, but also intelligent and headstrong.

Antonio - Male presenting, late 20s- late 40s, this part may require intimate choreography.

Prospero's brother. Antonio once plotted to overthrow Prospero and later encourages Sebastian to do the same to Alonso. He is a power-hungry and conniving character, and never shows remorse for his cruel schemes. Sebastian and Antonio are a couple.

Alonso - Male presenting, 40s-older

The king of Naples. Alonso plotted with Antonio to overthrow Prospero, but he expresses genuine remorse when confronted with his crimes. Alonso also shows a sincere love for his son Ferdinand and is distraught for much of the play, believing that Ferdinand has drowned in the tempest.

Ferdinand - Male presenting, Teens-late 20s, this part may require intimate choreography.

Alonso's son. Ferdinand finds love with Miranda. Their union seals the reconciliation between Alonso of Naples and Prospero of Milan. Ferdinand is kind, courteous, and dutiful.

Sebastian - Female presenting, 20s-40s, this part may require intimate choreography.

Alonso's sister. Sebastian is persuaded by Antonio to try to murder her brother so that she can become king. Sebastian and Antonio are a couple.

Gonzalo - Any gender, 40s-older

Alonso's advisor. Gonzalo was charged with carrying out the kidnapping of Prospero and Miranda. A kind soul, he pitied the pair and arranged for them to have provisions for survival in exile.

Stephano - Any gender, Any age

Alonso's butler. Stephano is a comical character who spends the whole play drunk. Caliban mistakes him for a god because he gives Caliban wine and gets him drunk.

Trinculo - Any gender, Any age

The king's jester. Trinculo is another comical character, and like Stephano, he is drunk for much of the play. Trinculo is less charismatic and more cowardly than Stephano. He resents Caliban's worship of Stephano but readily follows along with the plot to murder Prospero.

Boatswain - Any gender (may be doubled with a spirit), Any age

A member of the ship's crew. The boatswain speaks commandingly to the courtiers in the first scene. The assertion of his authority angers the courtiers, especially Antonio and Sebastian.

Spirit/Iris (may be doubled with Boatswain) - Any gender, Any age, Singing required

Iris: The Greek goddess of the rainbow. She appears in the wedding masque.

Spirit/Ceres (may be doubled with ship’s crew) - Any gender, Any age, Singing required

Ceres: The Greek goddess of the harvest. She appears in the wedding masque.

Spirit/Juno (may be doubled with ship’s crew)- Any gender, Any age, Singing required

Juno: The queen of the Greek gods. She appears in the wedding masque.