Henry 4.1
a co-production with Austin Scottish Rite Theater
Audition Details
a co-production with Austin Scottish Rite Theater
Audition Details
Casting Austin local artists for a modern, immersive production of Shakespeare’s Henry 4.1.
Before moving further in this audition process, please note: the core tenet of this show is going to be flexibility - it will not be a typical rehearsal/tech/show process. We'll have a couple tech/dress days the week before we open, but then won't be in the performance space again until opening night. Weekend two will be in a different performance space with no fully teched rehearsal there. We are looking for artists who are more than comfortable translating movement from one space to another with minimal prep time.
If this sounds exciting to you, please read the full audition details below before submitting!
About the Show
This adaptation of Henry 4.1 will divide the audience into three separate rooms - one for each Henry - to experience the first 20 minutes or so of the play with just that group of characters. They’ll get all the same basic plot elements through press footage, youtube videos, zoom calls, etc, but each room will get a more intimate relationship with their Henry’s side of the story.
The cast (and audience) will all come together for the big Tavern scene and then stay together for the war sequence.
This will be a 15 person cast, tracks as follows (separated by starting room):
Throne Room
Concept Context
This will be a modern-dress adaptation; it will be performed in an immersive 360* staging, with the lines between actor and audience blurred. Each group will embody their own style, based on music genres (outlaw country, indie dance, hardcore punk). Audiences will be encouraged to dress to the style of their room as desired.
Why? Great question. Here’s our background for the music inspiration in each of our three rooms. While the main Henry is listed, this spirit encompasses all characters in their room.
Henry: Yeah, he’s the king, but he took the throne by force from Richard II. Austin outlaw country encompasses the artists who took an alternative path to celebrating “traditional Texas music”. He’s experienced loss (he married his first wife, Hal’s mom, when he was 13 and she was 12, and she died at 25 leaving him with six kids), he’s fought for his position, he only wants the best for his sons and for them to carry on the legacy he scratched tooth and claw for. This music genre allows for escape through rebellion, leveraging the tools of the establishment against them.
Hal: His mom died when he was 8 and his dad was absent, fighting a rebellion for most of his adolescence. At 18 his dad remarried a woman with eight children of her own, in addition to the five siblings Hal already had. Of course he wants to get the hell out of the house and escape by any means necessary. Indie dance music allows for the embrace of hedonism in a space apart, while still being accessible. He needs to party, and you can party to anything with a backbeat.
Hotspur: His inheritance should’ve been a crown (kind of, but we’re not here to split straws), instead his family legacy is marred by being labelled the rebels. Hardcore Punk and Outlaw Country share a common perspective of antiestablishmentarianism and the fire to carve your own path (maybe this is why Henry talks so much about wishing Hotspur was his Henry). While Henry has been working within his new system, Hotspur has upended it - rejecting the new transition Henry has set, to take back what’s his. While doing yelling.
Here are three song lists representing the vibe for each room - featuring all Austin local bands/artists.
Hal
Let this music inspire you, especially if there’s a specific character/group you’re auditioning for.
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, and excited about and comfortable with audience engagement.
We encourage actors of all races, genders, sizes, abilities, and ages to audition. All roles are open to amending written gender for actor comfort.
The Audition Process
For the audition, each actor will complete the audition form and sign up for a 1 hour time slot. Please 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. Your audition materials should not exceed 4 minutes.
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.
In your monologue, 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 - we’ll be sitting around the room so plan for a 360* environment.
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 bold choices, and explore the characters and space.
All sides can be previewed here.
Important Dates / Locations
If you have any questions at all, feel free to email [email protected]
Ready to audition? Fill out the audition form and sign up for a time slot.
Before moving further in this audition process, please note: the core tenet of this show is going to be flexibility - it will not be a typical rehearsal/tech/show process. We'll have a couple tech/dress days the week before we open, but then won't be in the performance space again until opening night. Weekend two will be in a different performance space with no fully teched rehearsal there. We are looking for artists who are more than comfortable translating movement from one space to another with minimal prep time.
If this sounds exciting to you, please read the full audition details below before submitting!
About the Show
This adaptation of Henry 4.1 will divide the audience into three separate rooms - one for each Henry - to experience the first 20 minutes or so of the play with just that group of characters. They’ll get all the same basic plot elements through press footage, youtube videos, zoom calls, etc, but each room will get a more intimate relationship with their Henry’s side of the story.
The cast (and audience) will all come together for the big Tavern scene and then stay together for the war sequence.
This will be a 15 person cast, tracks as follows (separated by starting room):
Throne Room
- King Henry 4: (any gender, age to read 15+ years older than Hal) King of England - took the throne by force from Richard II, but wants to rest in a time of peace now. He's disappointed in his son Hal, and worried about threats from Hotspur.
- Westmoreland: (any gender, any age) an advisor to King Henry. Trusted political mind.
- Blunt: (any gender, any age) an advisor to King Henry. A warrior who gives his life for the King.
- John of Lancaster: (any gender, age to read 20+ years younger than King Henry and younger than Hal): a prince of England, Hal's younger but more present brother. He's learning the ropes and trying to make his father proud.
- Prince Hal: (any gender, age to read about 15 years younger than King Henry): the Prince and Heir to throne of England. A total disappointment to his father, because he's shirking all his duties to hang out in a tavern, do pranks, and ignore that he's a prince. He does start to grow up through the play.
- Falstaff: (any gender, age to read about 10-15 years older than Hal): a lush, a glutton, a hedonistic influence on everyone around him, but lovable nonetheless. He's Hal's closest influence, but knows his position is tenuous once Hal becomes King. Please note that we have been conscientious about cutting all of the fat jokes surrounding Falstaff and may cast an actor of any body size. There's plenty of reasons to make fun of Falstaff for, his weight is not of them.
- Poins: (any gender, age close to Hal): Hal's closest friend in the Tavern, he is a lower nobleman who can understand the weight on Hal and also the need for escape.
- Hostess Quickly: (any gender, any age): the proprietor of the local Tavern where Falstaff, Hal, and a bunch of other wild ruffians (the audience) hang out. She maybe stays too close to Falstaff for her own good, there's an attachment and soft spot there, but she also steps up into the war when she's needed.
- Hotspur: (any gender, age to read 20ish years younger than Northumberland, should read close enough in age to Hal to draw comparisons): angry. he knows his family deserves more/better, and when he finds out Richard II actually named his brother-in-law Mortimer the next in line for the throne, he agrees to lead the rebellion. He's not the smartest (he does whatever Worcester says), but he has heart and spirit.
- Lady Percy (Kate): (any gender, age close to Hotspur): Hotspur's wife. She's fiercely loyal to him, but not afraid to tell him when she thinks he's keeping something from her or making a mistake. She follows him to war and fights for the rebellion, but she can't save her husband.
- Worcester: (any gender, age to read a bit older than Hotspur): Hotspur's uncle, and the smartest schemer in the rebellion. He's calculating, but loses the war for the rebellion when he rejects a peace offering.
- Northumberland: (any gender, age to read 20+ years older than Hotspur): Hotspur's father. He heats up the rebellion, gets Hotspur to fight, but then backs out at the last minute. He has a change of heart too late and has to hear about his son's death from his widow.
- The Douglas: (any gender, any age): The Douglas is a fierce Scottish warrior. He is Braveheart. He is a menace. He is ... a lot. He is a massive presence in the war sequence. Please note, this actor will not start in the Bunker, but will work with an audience member to be the travellers that Falstaff robs in the first half, as well as potentially Francis, the bullied tapster.
- 2 Swings: (any gender): We will likely cast one older swing to cover <Henry, Falstaff, Northumberland, Worcester, Westmoreland, Blunt> and one younger swing to cover <Hal, Hotspur, John, Kate, Poins, Hostess, Douglas>. Our swings are cast with extremely strong, versatile actors who we'd be comfortable placing in any of the covered roles for a performance at a moment's notice. Swings will not be expected to memorize lines or blocking of all their tracks, but they will be expected to know the characters and execute performance-ready emotions and movement at any rehearsals or performances as needed.
Concept Context
This will be a modern-dress adaptation; it will be performed in an immersive 360* staging, with the lines between actor and audience blurred. Each group will embody their own style, based on music genres (outlaw country, indie dance, hardcore punk). Audiences will be encouraged to dress to the style of their room as desired.
Why? Great question. Here’s our background for the music inspiration in each of our three rooms. While the main Henry is listed, this spirit encompasses all characters in their room.
Henry: Yeah, he’s the king, but he took the throne by force from Richard II. Austin outlaw country encompasses the artists who took an alternative path to celebrating “traditional Texas music”. He’s experienced loss (he married his first wife, Hal’s mom, when he was 13 and she was 12, and she died at 25 leaving him with six kids), he’s fought for his position, he only wants the best for his sons and for them to carry on the legacy he scratched tooth and claw for. This music genre allows for escape through rebellion, leveraging the tools of the establishment against them.
Hal: His mom died when he was 8 and his dad was absent, fighting a rebellion for most of his adolescence. At 18 his dad remarried a woman with eight children of her own, in addition to the five siblings Hal already had. Of course he wants to get the hell out of the house and escape by any means necessary. Indie dance music allows for the embrace of hedonism in a space apart, while still being accessible. He needs to party, and you can party to anything with a backbeat.
Hotspur: His inheritance should’ve been a crown (kind of, but we’re not here to split straws), instead his family legacy is marred by being labelled the rebels. Hardcore Punk and Outlaw Country share a common perspective of antiestablishmentarianism and the fire to carve your own path (maybe this is why Henry talks so much about wishing Hotspur was his Henry). While Henry has been working within his new system, Hotspur has upended it - rejecting the new transition Henry has set, to take back what’s his. While doing yelling.
Here are three song lists representing the vibe for each room - featuring all Austin local bands/artists.
Hal
- urban heat - have you ever?
- Annabelle chairlegs - concrete trees
- daybed - red Mercedes
- flags - high speed baby
- haha laughing - sliverz of skin
- die spitz - throw yourself to the sword
- dregs - enemy not me
- mugger - want the world
- Silverada - Smoke em if you got em
- Dale Watson - I Lie When I Drink & Carryin’ On This Way
- The Derailers - Blood of a Man
- Willie - Me And Paul
Let this music inspire you, especially if there’s a specific character/group you’re auditioning for.
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, and excited about and comfortable with audience engagement.
We encourage actors of all races, genders, sizes, abilities, and ages to audition. All roles are open to amending written gender for actor comfort.
The Audition Process
For the audition, each actor will complete the audition form and sign up for a 1 hour time slot. Please 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. Your audition materials should not exceed 4 minutes.
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.
In your monologue, 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 - we’ll be sitting around the room so plan for a 360* environment.
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 bold choices, and explore the characters and space.
All sides can be previewed here.
Important Dates / Locations
- Auditions:
Saturday Aug 1 and Sunday Aug 2, 4-8pm
Scottish Rite Theater - Individual Character Meetings:
Late August
On zoom, scheduled around actor availability - Rehearsals:
Starting week of Sept 1 @ Central Christian Church
Full rehearsal schedule here - Performances:
Nov 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22 - 8pm @ Scottish Rite Theater
Nov 7, 8, 21, 22 - 4pm @Scottish Rite Theater
Nov 12, 13, 14 -7:30 pm @ Venue TBD (possibly)
If you have any questions at all, feel free to email [email protected]
Ready to audition? Fill out the audition form and sign up for a time slot.