Caesar & Antony & Cleopatra Audition Details

Casting Austin local artists for a mashup production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra.
Once you've read all the details, submit the audition form and sign up for a time slot.

About the Show
​This will be a 15+ person cast, tracks as follows:​

• Antony: A charismatic and passionate Roman general - a brilliant speaker torn between his love and duty to Caesar in Rome and his love and freedom with Cleopatra in Egypt.
• Cleopatra: The cunning and commanding Queen of Egypt; she's theatrical, strategic, and full of love, wielding power through wit, wisdom, and seduction. Unafraid to join the battlefield to support Antony when he goes to war against Brutus and Cassius. 
• Julius Caesar: A revered and stubborn Roman leader whose confidence and perceived ambition make him both idolized and feared. 
• Brutus: An idealistic and conflicted Roman senator who is driven to assassinate Caesar in a self-righteous attempt at protecting the future of Rome.  
• Cassius: A bitter, cunning, and persuasive instigator, driven by resentment and strategic thinking to get Brutus to lead the assassination of Caesar.
• Octavius Caesar: A member of the Triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, dedicated to protecting Caesar and his legacy after he's assassinated. Tumultuous relationship with Antony - he needs his help to avenge Caesar's death, but doesn't trust him or approve of his dalliances in Egypt. 
• Calphurnia: Caesar’s intuitive wife and Octavius' sister, she's emotionally anxious and prophetic in her warnings to Caesar ahead of his assassination. After Caesar's death, she agrees to marry Antony in order to smooth over the relationship between her brother Octavius and Antony. Committed to making the marriage work, even while Antony continues his affair with Cleopatra, she tries to ease tensions between her husband and brother during the war.
• Enobarbus: A witty and loyal soldier; he's Antony's right hand and stays by his side through every up and down.
• Charmian: Cleopatra’s joyful, witty, and devoted confidante; brave in the face of Cleopatra's grief and declining political standing.
• Alexas: A dutiful and diplomatic attendant, navigating Egyptian court life with loyalty and tact, even when his news isn't what Cleopatra wants.
• Lepidus: A peace-seeking, compliant, and overshadowed member of the Triumvirate. He's often caught in the middle of Antony and Octavius' fighting, and is the one to suggest Antony marry Calphurnia to make peace between them.
• First Plebeian/Cinna: doubles as a member of the Roman public who is desperate for answers and swings emotionally from supporting Caesar to Brutus to Antony and Cinna: a Roman citizen who assists with the assassination of Caesar and subsequent war supporting Brutus and Cassius. 
• Second Plebeian/Casca: doubles as a member of the Roman public who is desperate for answers and swings emotionally from supporting Caesar to Brutus to Antony and Casca: an enraged Roman citizen who is instrumental in the assassination of Caesar and subsequent war supporting Brutus and Cassius. 
• Third Plebeian/Metellus: doubles as a member of the Roman public who is desperate for answers and swings emotionally from supporting Caesar to Brutus to Antony and Metellus: an aggrieved Roman citizen who supports the assassination of Caesar and subsequent war supporting Brutus and Cassius. 
• Soothsayer/Cinna the Poet: moves between Rome and Egypt giving insight into the future (even if no one heeds those warnings). As Cinna the Poet, he is mistaken for one of the conspirators and attacked. 
• 1-2 swings

This will be a modern-dress adaptation styled in cyberpunk/neon apocalypse. It will be performed in the round style, with the lines between actor and audience blurred. 

Who We’re Looking For
No previous experience with Shakespeare is required, we are ultimately just looking for a solid artist who is ready to experiment, play, and build a beautiful story.  

Our ideal artist is:
- interested in exploring the text and characters on a deep, analytical level
​- excited about and comfortable with audience engagement

We encourage actors of all races, genders, sizes, abilities, and ages to audition. All roles, except the two marked above, are open to amending written gender for actor comfort.

The Audition Process

1. Complete the audition form 
2. Sign up for a 1 hour time slot or add your name to our video audition list
3. Prepare two emotionally contrasting speeches. One should be classical, the other can be either contemporary or classical. If you sing or play an instrument and would be interested in playing or singing during the show, please prepare a brief song to showcase your skill - this can be in place of your second monologue or in addition. 
4. After monologues we will ask you to stay to cold read sides from the play with other auditioners in your time block. We’re not looking for mastery of text, just a willingness to make big choices, and explore the characters and space. 

Some notes on audition pieces: 

• Each actor will have about 5 minutes for their monologues - we recommend speeches between :45-:90 seconds each
• We're not looking for word perfect memorization, but you should know the speeches enough to engage with the room off the paper.
• If you need help choosing a speech or learning more about the play to give you a foundation for the characters, we’re happy to help! Just email [email protected] and let us know.
• We want to see that you can comfortably engage with the production team as if they’re audience members you’re pulling into the world of your piece - they’ll be sitting around the room so plan for a 360* environment.

Important Dates / Locations

• Auditions: 
  Sunday July 27, 12-5pm, Tuesday July 29, 6-10pm, Friday Aug 1, 6-7pm
  Waveform Studios - 8204 N Lamar Blvd suite a-1, Austin​
  
• Callbacks: Friday Aug 1, 7-10pm | Waveform Studios - 8204 N Lamar Blvd suite a-1, Austin​
• Individual Character Meetings/Prep: 
  Early September
  On zoom, scheduled around actor availability
• Rehearsals: 
  Starting week of Sept 20 
  Sat afternoon, Wed/Thurs evenings
  TBD Central
  
  
• Performances: 
  Nov 13-23
  Dadalab - 2008 Alexandra Ave, Austin

For this show, each actor will receive a $500 honorarium.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to email [email protected]