Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival Seeks Actors for 2024 Productions
three productions will be part of this summer’s festival
The main stage performances of the Pablo Center’s 2024 Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival have officially been selected and event organizers are now holding auditions for the three chosen productions, all to be held in the Jamf Theatre this summer.
The first show is the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet, which will be directed by Kathleen Barth. The well-known story is renowned and enjoyed for its message of love conquering all. The second production, Twelfth Night, is a Shakespearean romantic comedy with themes of love and gender as well as disguise and deception, and will be directed by Arthur Grothe. Closing the festival is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] directed by Larissa Campbell, taking the audience on a journey all 37 of Shakespeare’s works.
The festival intends to cast actors across multiple shows, with a contract lasting from May 29 to July 28. The rehearsals will be six days a week (Mondays off) with up to three rehearsal periods a day. Stipends will be $2,200 for principal roles, $2,000 for supporting roles, and $1,800 for the ensemble. Actors in multiple shows will receive multiple stipends. Any casted actors who live outside of a 30-mile radius of Eau Claire will be offered housing during the contracted time.
Audition applications will be done virtually and must be completed by Jan. 15. Applications must include submitting your contact information online (which can be found here), headshots, resumes, and a link to an unlisted YouTube audition video – including a full body slate, followed by two contrasting classical verse monologues (under 90 seconds each), recorded in one continuous take.
Festival organizers are hoping to cast a variety of professional, community, and other actors. All actors – both local and non-local – are encouraged to audition to be a part of the second season of this exciting event.
Performances are slated for July 5-28, 2024, with the following schedule:
- Romeo and Juliet
- July 14 & July 20 @ 1:30pm
- July 12-13, July 21, July 26, & July 28 @ 7:30pm
- Twelfth Night
- July 7, July 13, & July 21 @ 1:30pm
- July 5-6, July 14, & July 27 @ 7:30pm
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]
- July 27-28 @ 1:30pm
- July 19-20 @ 7:30pm
One performance of each will be followed by a talkback with the cast and crew of the shows. Tickets for the shows will be available on April 23 for Pablo members and April 30 for the general public.
More information about the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival can be found at pablocenter.org/wishakespearefest and questions can be directed to wsf@pablocenter.org.
