Casting and Employment Opportunities

SHAKESPEARE'S RICHARD THE THIRD

Set against the backdrop of the Nixon Administration, this twisted tale tells the story of Shakespeare’s most complicated monarch! We will be casting 13 adult actors and 2 child performers for VIRTUAL performances August 6-8, 2021.

HOW TO AUDITION:

Please send your headshot, resume, and TWO contrasting Shakespeare monologues (no longer than 2 min each) in the style of the play to ducollective.casting@gmail.com.

Once we receive your audition, you will get an email confirmation and our audition form that we ask you to fill out with your conflicts, character preferences, and availability from now until August 8th. Note: your audition videos will not be considered until your form is completed.

---The deadline for submission will be Friday, June 11th at 11:59pm EST---

We are looking forward to watching your submissions - Happy Auditioning!

RICHARD III: CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

Richard: Male/male-presenting, must read late 40’s - early 50’s. Formerly Richard, Duke of Gloucester, he represents Richard Nixon, the 37th President. Manipulative and cruel, yet charming and intelligent.

Lady Elizabeth: Female/female-presenting, must read late 40’s - early 50’s. Formerly Queen Elizabeth, she represents Lady Bird Johnson, President Johnson’s First Lady. Two-faced; she says she doesn’t like the fame, and yet, she craves it and holds on to it desperately.

Buckingham: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Formerly Lord Buckingham, he represents Richard’s Attorney General. A follower of Richard’s, they are swayed by power and don’t come to their senses until the very end. 

Lady Margaret: Female/female-presenting, must read late 30’s - early 40’s. Formerly Queen Margaret, she represents the former First Lady whose reign was run short, First Lady Jackie Kennedy. A scorned woman who curses the land that the current lawmakers step on, she is independent, fierce, and still grieving her husband’s loss.

Lady York: Female/female-presenting, must read late 60’s - early 70’s.  Formerly Duchess of York, she represents Hannah, Nixon’s mother. Grieving, cold, and solemn, she mourns the grace and the dignity that Richard once had as a child.

Clarence/First Citizen/Richmond: Male/male-presenting, must read late 30’s - early 40’s. Formerly Duke of Clarence, he represents Ronald Reagan, Nixon’s chief competitor for the Republican nomination. Confident and poetic, yet, when alone and isolated, scared. Also doubles as the First Citizen and Richmond, who represents one of the Senators in the House fighting for Nixon’s impeachment.

Lady Anne/Second Murderer/Second Citizen: Female/female-presenting, must read 20’s - early 30’s. She represents a young daughter of the former President John F. Kennedy, whose Presidency was cut short. Like Lady Margaret, she is fierce, bitter, but, like Lady Elizabeth, easily swayed and drawn to Richard’s charms. Also doubles as one of Clarence’s Murderers and the Second Citizen.

Hastings/Tyrrel/Blunt: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Formerly Lord Hastings, acts as the Chief of Staff. With higher morals than Buckingham, and more intelligence than the rest of the Cabinet, Hastings quickly realizes the danger that Richard poses to democracy. Also doubles as Tyrrel, who murders the Princes, and Blunt.

Rivers/Berkeley/Archbishop/Stanley: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Formerly Earl Rivers, they represent one of the Cabinet members in the White House. Stuck-up, rich, and confident, Rivers only cares about power. Also doubles as Berkeley, one of Lady Anne’s attendants, the Archbishop, and Stanley.

Vaughan/Brackenbury/Mayor/Messenger/Norfolk: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Formerly Lord Vaughan, they represent one of the Cabinet members in the White House. Stuck-up, rich, and confident like Rivers, Vaughan too only cares about power. Also doubles as Brackenbury, Clarence’s keeper, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., the Messenger, and Norfolk.

Derby/Newsboy: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Formerly Lord Derby, they represent one of the Cabinet members in the White House. Unlike Rivers and Vaughan, as well as unlike Hastings and Buckingham, Derby distrusts the other Cabinet members and sees nothing but evil in Richard. Also doubles as the Newsboy.

Catesby/King Edward IV/Ghost of Edward: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Richard’s right-hand assistant, representing one of his infamous “Plumbers” who carried out the Watergate scandal. A loyal follower of Richard; conniving, sneaky, and not the smartest in the pack. Also doubles as King Edward IV (representing President Johnson) and the Ghost of Edward.

Ratcliffe/First Murderer/Ghost of King Henry VI: Any gender, must read late 20’s - early 40’s. Richard’s personal hitman, representing one of his infamous “Plumbers” who carried out the Watergate scandal. A loyal follower of Richard; conniving, brutal, and not afraid to carry out some of the murders seen throughout the show. Also doubles as the First Murderer of Clarence and the Ghost of King Henry VI (former President John F. Kennedy).

Prince Edward/Boy: Male/male-presenting, must be 11 - 15 years of age. One of the young “heirs” to the Presidency. Less naive than his sibling, Prince Edward distrusts his uncle Richard. Also plays Boy, one of Clarence’s children.

Princess York/Girl: Female/female-presenting, must be 11 - 15 years of age. One of the young “heirs” to the Presidency. More naive than her sibling, Princess York loves her uncle Richard. Also plays Girl, one of Clarence’s children.

Check back soon!

As always, DU is an all inclusive theatre collective and does not cast based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, body type, ability, et cetera.