The Lebanon Community Theatre is bringing the Bard back to the stage for the first time in more than a decade.
Auditions for Romeo and Juliet will be held on Friday, Jan. 7, and Saturday, Jan. 8, at 7:00 p.m. on both days.
Callbacks will be held as needed on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 6:00 p.m.
Performers ages 15 and older are welcome, although minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the initial audition. Interested individuals are requested to prepare a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s works or a monologue from another early modern playwright, roughly 1-2 minutes in length.
Lebanon Community Theatre also requests that auditioners bring a personal calendar so they can review rehearsal conflicts, as well as required proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
With questions, contact director Glenn Anderson at andersongerik@gmail.com. Find a synopsis and character breakdown below, courtesy of Lebanon Community Theatre.
Synopsis:
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a long feud between the Montague and Capulet families disrupts the city of Verona and causes tragic results for Romeo and Juliet. Revenge, love, and a secret marriage force the young star-crossed lovers to grow up quickly — and fate causes them to commit suicide in despair. Contrast and conflict are running themes throughout Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet — the most tragic love story of all time.
Character Descriptions:
Juliet: Capulet’s daughter. She is presented as a young and innocent adolescent, not yet 14 years old. Her youthfulness is stressed throughout the play to illustrate her progression from adolescence to maturity and to emphasize her position as a tragic heroine.
Romeo: Montague’s son, who is loved and respected in Verona. He is initially presented as a comic lover, with his inflated declarations of love for Rosaline. After meeting Juliet, he abandons his tendency to be a traditional, fashionable lover, and his language becomes intense, reflecting his genuine passion for Juliet.
Mercutio: Kinsman to the prince and friend of Romeo. His name comes from the word mercury, the element which indicates his quick temper. Mercutio is bawdy, talkative, and tries to tease Romeo out of his melancholy frame of mind.
Tybalt Lady Capulet’s nephew and Juliet’s cousin. Tybalt is violent and hot-tempered, with a strong sense of honor.
The Nurse: Juliet’s nursemaid, who acts as confidante and messenger for Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence: A brother of the Franciscan order and Romeo’s confessor, who advises both Romeo and Juliet.
Capulet Juliet’s father is quick-tempered and impetuous but is initially reluctant to consent to Juliet’s marriage with Paris because Juliet is so young.
Paris A noble young kinsman to the Prince. Paris is well-mannered and attractive and hopes to marry Juliet.
Benvolio Montague’s nephew and friend of Romeo and Mercutio. Benvolio is the peacemaker who attempts to keep peace between Tybalt and Mercutio.
Lady Capulet Lady Capulet is vengeful and she demands Romeo’s death for killing Tybalt.
Montague Romeo’s father, who is concerned by his son’s melancholy behavior.
Balthasar Romeo’s servant.
An Apothecary A poverty-stricken chemist, who illegally sells poison to Romeo.
Escalus, Prince of Verona The symbol of law and order in Verona, but he fails to prevent further outbreaks of the violence between the Montagues and Capulets.
Friar John A brother of the Franciscan order, sent by Friar Laurence to tell Romeo of his sleeping potion plan for Juliet.
Lady Montague In contrast with Lady Capulet, Lady Montague is peace-loving and dislikes the violence of the feud. Like her husband, she is concerned by her son’s withdrawn and secretive behavior.
Peter A Capulet servant attending the Nurse.
Abram A servant to Montague.
Sampson Servant of the Capulet household.
Gregory Servant of the Capulet household.
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