Riverside Theatre
Iowa City, IA

DESCRIPTION

Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

AUDITION DATE

Friday, January 16, 2026

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (C)

AND

Saturday, January 17, 2026

10:00 AM - 12:30 PM (C)

APPOINTMENTS

By appointment only. To set up an appointment please follow this link: https://forms.gle/abTBbtavYDLy... . Or call Irena Sarić at 319-887-1360 during Riverside office hours M-F 10am-4pm CT.

CONTRACT

LOA

$535 weekly minimum (LOA ref. LORT)

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (see breakdown).

All roles will be understudied.

Riverside Theatre encourages actors of all races, all ethnicities, and all gender identities, as well as performers of differing abilities to submit for ALL roles.

PREPARATION

Please prepare two monologues of no more than 2 minutes each for the role(s) you wish to be considered for. These can be speeches from A Midsummer Night’s Dream or from another Shakespeare or Shakespeare-adjacent play. Please bring two copies of your headshot and resume to the audition.

LOCATION

Riverside Theatre

119 E College St

Iowa City, IA 52240

Please proceed to the 3rd floor via elevator or stairs.

PERSONNEL

EXPECTED TO ATTEND:

Adam Knight, Director and Producing Artistic Director

Irena Saric, Managing Director

OTHER DATES

1st rehearsal: 5/19/2026

Opening: 6/12/2026

Closing: 6/28/2026

OTHER

www.riversidetheatre.org

An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.

Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.

Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.

BREAKDOWN

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

SEEKING:

THESEUS/OBERON – Male-presenting, any ethnicity. 30s-40s. THESEUS is the ruler of Athens, a successful and cunning conqueror who is now longing to become a peace-time ruler and win the love of his bride-to-be Hippolyta. Doubles with OBERON, the ruler of the forest fairies, who along with his servant Puck plots a scheme to sway Titania’s desires and win the Changling boy from her. His sympathy for Helena leads to chaos among the Athenian lovers.

BOTTOM – Male-presenting, any ethnicity, 40s-60s. A weaver by trade and the “star” of the amateur theatrical troupe of tradesperons putting on a play for Theseus’ nuptuals. He is the hero of his life story and, if he could, would play all the parts in the play. He is turned into a donkey by Puck and is the object of desire to Titania.

PETER QUINCE – Any gender, any ethnicity, 30s-50s, comfortable playing he/him pronouns. A community theatre director with the utmost integrity and belief in creating a piece of art that moves the audience – even if the talent that surrounds Quince is not particularly high. Swallows some frustration with Bottom, who is clearly the great talent in the company.

HELENA and HERMIA – Female-presenting, any ethnicity, 20s-30s. Young Athenian women who escape to the forest for love. Hermia loves Lysander but is desired by Demetrius, whom Helena loves. The tables are turned when a potion makes both men desire Helena, revealing a hidden rivalry between the lifelong friends.

DEMETRIUS and LYSANDER – Male-presenting, any ethnicity, 20s-30s. Young Athenian men who both love Hermia. Demetrius spurns Helena’s advances but uses her to chase after Hermia and Lysander and thrwart their escape. A potion administered by Puck makes both men desire Helena instead, and their rivalry continues.

PUCK/PHILOSTRATE (track) – Any gender, any ethnicity, Late teens-20s, comfortable playing he/him pronouns. A michevious fairy in service to Oberon, Puck plays tricks on the mechanicals as well as the Athenian lovers and enjoys the chaos that ensues. Doubles as Philostrate, the master of revels in service to Theseus.

SALARY

LOA $535 weekly minimum (LOA ref. LORT)

UNION

AEA