UPCOMING AUDITIONS
The Tempest
Audition Information for The Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Anita “Jo” Lenhart
Storms. Shipwrecks. Castaways. Magicals. Monsters, human and otherwise. While the stars briefly align, one man has a chance to reset destiny - but will the clock run out before his plan to bring his enemies to justice unfolds? Come and ride the storm with us!
Audition Dates:
October 17, Saturday 2:00 PM
October 18, Sunday 5:00 PM
CALLBACKS (by invitation only)
October 18, Sunday 7:00 PM
All auditions will take place at TheatreWorks at the Square
2085 Monroe Ave, Memphis, TN, 38104
Please Note: The role of Prospero will be played by Gene Elliott. All other roles are open.
WHAT TO PREPARE: You will have a five minute slot.
Prepare readings of monologues found at the links below. You will have a four minute slot. In addition to monologues, there will be cold readings of scenes: scene selections for cold readings will be posted below.
Instructions for preparing Monologue Sides for The Tempest, New Moon Theatre: (There will be another packet for SCENES, as there will be cold readings, so check this link for updates)
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Prepare all the readings on Side you have chosen. (Reading is fine; you need not memorize the monologues.) There is more than one character on each side. The sides are designed to give each actor a chance to explore and share their range in the audition. While you may be interested in a particular role, many actors may play multiple roles. Roles written as traditionally male presenting may be reinterpreted. If you choose to read from a device or tablet, please do, but please do not read from a phone.
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Enjoy creating an audition which plays with range – physically, vocally, energetically, upper class vs lower class, whatever fits the chosen scenes – to create distinct characters for each reading. Above all, play the intention implied by the circumstances in which the characters find themselves.
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Important: Many characters sing. The play has opportunities for madrigal and folk songs, but also drunken off tune songs, as well as mysterious, eerie toning or chanting. In addition to your monologues, - if you are willing to sing in the show - please prepare no more than 16 bars of a song, any song, to sing a Capella. A classic holiday carol, a lullaby, a folk song is ideal, but bring what rocks you best or terrifies you least. If you play an instrument, and can carry it in, feel free!
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Character descriptions and sides are posted below. Click here for audition sides.
While the play was originally conceived with the majority of characters written as traditionally male presenting roles, our version will be extremely flexible in this regard. While the current directorial concept posits the characters of Prospsero and Ferdinand as traditionally male presenting and Miranda as traditionally female presenting, the remainder of the roles are completely open conceptually with regards to gender.
PRODUCTION DATES
Performances run April 30 – May 16, 2027
Fridays and Saturdays @8:00pm
Sundays @ 2:00pm
REHEARSAL DATES
Regular rehearsals will begin March 21.
SYNOPSIS
Stranded for twelve years on a desert island with his young daughter Miranda, Prospero, true Duke of Milan, has spent his exile mastering sorcery and commanding the island’s spirits. He creates a violent storm to shipwreck those who cost him his kingdom, trapping his treacherous brother Antonio and King Alonso of Naples, and their followers onto his remote island. With the help of the spirit Ariel, he uses the shipwreck to separate the survivors across the island, setting a grand plan of retribution and restoration into motion.
As the survivors wander the island, Prospero orchestrates a romantic meeting between Alonso’s noble son, Ferdinand, and Miranda. The two instantly fall in love, fulfilling Prospero's hopes for a peaceful future union. Another machination reveals to King Alonzo the treachery of his own brother and his vassal, Antonio. Meanwhile, a comical plot emerges as Caliban, a monster who calls the island home, teams up with a drunken butler and jester to murder Prospero and claim all for themselves, though Ariel easily thwarts their clumsy conspiracy.
In the final act, Prospero confronts his enemies and reveals the ship was never actually lost at all! He gives each of them an opportunity to own up to their wrongs. While some are more contrite than others, he takes the higher road, choosing mercy over revenge, forgiving his brother, and reuniting King Alonso with his safely unharmed son, who has promised to wed Prospero’s daughter, restoring her to the royal destiny for which she was born. To celebrate, Prospero finally frees the monster Caliban, releases the spirit Ariel and finally is ready to give up all magic - which he admits cost him his kingdom in the first place - and with his daughter and all the other castaways - at last heads back home to Italy.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS: (12 - 14 actors needed, various ages)
PRINCIPLES
Prospero (Cast): The rightful Duke of Milan and a powerful magician. Betrayed and exiled, he’s had a long time to develop the perfect plan to bring his enemies into his power. When he sets it in action, he will do anything to win and fulfill his daughter’s destiny, no matter the cost .But, all magic comes with a price…
Miranda: Prospero’s kind hearted, young daughter, entirely and genuinely herself. Having lived on the island since she was three years old, she has never had to learn the artifice of the court. She falls madly in love with Ferdinand, the shipwrecked Prince.
Ariel: An elemental Spirit, Ariel loves to sing! Magical, chorus-like, and infinitely mercurial, they play hard, transforming into Harpies, Gods, even Dogs! - and ultimately they hope to win their freedom.
Caliban: A monster of the island, born of a witch who once tormented and bound the Ariels. Caliban was nurtured by Prospero but when this monster became old enough, turned on him and sought to harm Miranda. Now Propespero keeps the Monster under magical bondage, but cannot survive on the island without this creatures help.
Alonso: The King/or Queen of Naples, who helped usurp Prospero 12 years ago. Believing Ferdinand has drowned at the top of the play, grief serves to bring their past transgressions to mind: their empathy for others and remorse for the harm they have done softens their heart.
Antonio: Prospero’s brother/sister and former right hand wo/man. After Prospero entrusted the running of the kingdom to Antonio in order to devote himself fully to the study of magic, Antonio stole the kingdom and declared himself Duke of Milan. The current misfortune only adds fuel to A’s penchant for plotting and feeding their own greed. (Could be a sister.)
Ferdinand: The Prince of Naples. He is a noble young man who falls deeply in love with Miranda, even in the midst of misfortune.
Gonzalo: An honest advisor to the King of Naples, who years ago helped save Prospero's life during his initial exile. But for all their experience at court, they are still an idealist.
Stephano and Trinculo: "Here’s another fine mess you’ve got me into!” A drunken butler and a royal jester who, thinking they alone have survived the shipwreck, provide comic relief by stumbling into a foolish plot to rule the island. With Caliban, they make a drunken pact to kill Prospero and the tippling trio’s hijinks ensue.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Player 1: Adrian - A minor Lord of Naples, also a spirit crony of Ariel’s, (Harpy, God, Dog)
Player 2: Francisco - A minor Lord of Naples, also another spirit crony of Ariel’s, (Harpy, God, Dog)
The Master - Captain of the Ship, also yet another spirit crony of Ariel’s, (Harpy, God, Dog)
The Boatswain - Hardworking crew member, famous for challenging the ungrateful noble passengers during the storm, and yes…..another Crony Dog, etc! (Ariel has a lot of friends!!!!!!!
Monologue Sides
Side #2 = Miranda (Prospero’s daughter) and Sebastian (the king’s weak, conniving sibling)
Side #3 = Ariel (Oberon’s servant spirit) and The Boatswain (a rough and ready sailor)
Side #5 = Caliban (Oberon’s captive Monster) and Ceres, A Powerful but Capricious Goddess
Side #6 = Gonzalo (An older, benevolent courtier) and Stephano, (the greedy, liquor obsessed Butler)
Side #7 = Alonzo (King of Naples) and Trinculo (A Jester/Fool)
Callback Sides
Instructions: Please skim over all CB Sides (Callback Sides) and familiarize yourself with the dynamics in each. We are very interested knowing which roles you particularly would like to be considered for. Still, for the sake of exploration in auditions, you might be asked to read any role. The scenes will be used in callbacks, but may also be read during preliminary auditions should time allow.
CB Side 1 Quartet Stephano, Caliban, Trinculo, Ariel
CB Side 2 Quartet Gonzalo, Sebastian, Antonio, Alonso
CB Side 3 Duet Ferdinand, Miranda
CB Side 4 Trio Prospero, Miranda, Caliban
CB Side 6 Duet Sebastian Antonio
CB Side 7 Trio Ferdinand ,Propsero, Miranda
COMPANY HISTORY
New Moon Theatre Company was formed in 2004. During that time it has produced many challenging works such as: The Drowning Girls, The Minutes, A Monster Calls, Evil Dead the Musical, Shockheaded Peter, Lizzie: The Lizzie Borden Rock Musical, Eurydice, Buried Child, Hamlet, Killer Joe, Lettuce and Lovage, The Woman In Black, Haint, Frankenstein, The Rainmaker, Bug, King Lear, and Death of a Salesman. Over the past decade, New Moon Theatre Company has garnered over 50 nominations for Memphis' Ostrander Awards, and 15 wins.
MISSION STATEMENT
To entertain with challenging and provocative works, classic and contemporary, which are not often produced on the main stages of Memphis.
CONTACT
Gene Elliott
Executive Director, New Moon Theatre Company
2085 Monroe Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
901-484-3467
www.newmoontheatre.org