Upcoming Auditions: TROILUS & CRESSIDA! 
The audition window will begin mid December and close early January.
Feel free before then to read through the audition info, prep as desired, and reach out with any questions!

We are excited to be casting for Troilus & Cressida - to be performed on Sunday May 26, 2024 in Ramsey Park, Austin, TX. The show will rehearse once, on Saturday May 25. We ask that you keep both full days open, so we can schedule the rehearsal and call times based on space availability. 

Blocking, dramaturgy, character work, costuming, etc will all be done through google sheets. We will have two full cast read throughs on Zoom (one in Feb in order to create a line-learning resource for actors and one in May to check line and character progress) and 2 one-on-one character meetings through zoom. Beyond that, you will be free to get together in groups or with the director to chat, run lines, etc, but there will be no other scheduled formal rehearsals. This is a fully memorized and blocked performance, not a staged reading. 

This production format is not for everyone, and may seem intimidating, but please know the team will offer all the support we can through the process, and the goal of this is to have fun in a whirlwind weekend of Shakespeare. All roles will receive a $100 stipend for the show; any travel expenses will be the responsibility of the actor.

We encourage actors of all races, gender identities, sizes, abilities, and ages to audition.

Character descriptions available below.

To audition, please complete the audition form (coming soon) and submit a video audition to info@walkingshadowshakespeare.com or sign up for one of our zoom sessions. 

Your video should contain two contrasting Shakespeare monologues (at least one must be from Troilus & Cressida, suggested pieces are provided here). In this virtual process, we want to see as much range as you have to offer. 

Feel free to email info@walkingshadowshakespeare.com with any questions!

ROLES AVAILABLE
The Trojans
PRIAM - King of Troy. Observes and absorbs everything that's going on in his kingdom, but trusts the judgment of his sons as a council to work out major decisions (maybe too much). Fair and thoughtful, but losing control. 
HECUBA - Queen of Troy. A silent character, Hecuba appears by Priam's side and with the wives of warriors. This role will be cast with an actor willing to swing into a different role as needed.
HECTOR - The oldest and most rational Prince of Troy. He is an unmatched warrior and speaks with objective logic rather than emotion. He is proud, but not boastful, and knows when to make peace over fighting. This sometimes comes out as stubbornness and refusal to listen to his siblings, which ultimately gets him killed. 
PARIS - Prince of Troy, married to Helen. His main concern is keeping his wife at his side in Troy, whether it jeopardizes the lives of his people or not. Ruled by his love and emotion, he’s not the best at listening sometimes.
TROILUS - Prince of Troy, desperately in love with Cressida. He is an accomplished fighter but can let his emotions take control of him. Prone to jealousy and major emotional swings, Troilus is trying really hard but not always doing TheBest™. This role will include moments of physical intimacy with the person playing Cressida.
HELENUS - He wants what is best for his family and Troy, but doesn’t have the experience or skill of his brothers. He idolizes Helen. Likely will rank in age as youngest, sometimes a twin of Cassandra. *Willing to cast this role with an actor as young as 10.
CASSANDRA - Priam’s daughter. A soothsayer, cursed to never be believed by her brothers or father. Cassandra predicts the fall of Troy, but no one will listen to her. *Willing to cast this role with an actor as young as 10.
ANDROMACHE - Hector’s wife. All she wants is for her husband to stay safe and survive the war, and would rather he place his pride aside rather than go into a battle Cassandra is sure he’ll lose. 
HELEN - The face that launched a thousand ships, Helen seems content in Troy.
AENEAS - A Trojan leader, Aeneas is fair and level headed, often acting as a go-between from one camp to the other.
ANTENOR - A silent character, Antenor is a Trojan warrior captured by the Greeks and traded for Cressida. This role will be cast with an actor willing to swing into a different role as needed.
CRESSIDA - Abandoned in Troy when her father defected to the Greek side, Cressida is left under the supervision of her uncle. She is desperately in love with Troilus, but smart enough to keep her feelings to herself until she’s sure he feels the same. Cool under pressure, level headed and brave, but also silly and full of life. This role will include moments of physical intimacy with the person playing Troilus.
CALCHAS - Cressida’s father, an accomplice to the Greeks. He helps their council and in return demands they trade a Trojan back for his daughter. 
PANDARUS - Cressida’s uncle, and a matchmaker between her and Troilus. He can’t understand why Cressida doesn’t seem to love Troilus, and does *the most* to try and convince her. He’s (maybe too) invested in their relationship.
ALEXANDER - Cressida’s servant and perhaps her only confidante. May double as a musician.

The Greeks
AGAMEMNON - King of Mycenae and general of the Greek forces. He’s diplomatic and bold, but frustrated with the lack of progress in the war.
NESTOR - King of Pyros and part of the Greek council. He makes several references to his old age, but is still trying to keep up with the younger generals in their plans.
ULYSSES - King of Ithaca and the most cunning of the Greek leaders. Most plans are his, as they are desperately trying to convince Achilles to re-enter the war. He is fair, thoughtful, and observant. 
DIOMEDES - King of Argos, he is tasked with caring for Cressida when she’s traded to the Greeks. His insistence that she abandon any Trojan connections in favor of him sparks jealousy in Troilus and puts him maybe the closest to a villain we get in this play. 
MENELAUS - King of Sparta and brother to Agamemnon, his loss of Helen prompts the invasion of Troy. He is frequently the butt of jokes from characters on both sides, and does not hide his rage well. He is hot headed and emotional, ready to be part of every plan but not adding much to the execution of them. 
ACHILLES - The greatest Greek warrior, godlike in his abilities, but he has decided to stop fighting. He spends all of his time in his tent with Patroclus, putting on little pageants to mock the Greek generals and their ineffectiveness as an army without him. He is proud and cocky, but quick to anger when ignored. This role will include moments of physical intimacy with the person playing Patroclus.
PATROCLUS - Achilles’ lover, he is happy to spend the days off the battlefield. He’s not a fighter, he’s gentle, silly, and sweet. When he does step up into the battle, he is killed by Hector, prompting Achilles’ return to the war. This role will include moments of physical intimacy with the person playing Achilles.​
AJAX - A warrior as egotistical but not as skilled as Achilles. He is desperately trying to prove himself and win the favor of the generals, but doesn’t realize that he’s being played by them as a pawn in their strategy. He’s just not that bright, but he’s very strong. 
THERSITES - Servant to Achilles and Ajax, he doesn’t shy away from sharing his very strong (and negative) opinions on their egos and their brainpower. This character frequently breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience.