Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey | Madison, NJ
Madison, NJ

DESCRIPTION

Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

AUDITION DATE

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)

Lunch 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

CONTRACT

LORT Non-Rep

$839 weekly minimum (LORT D) - until

6/28/26

$889 weekly minimum (LORT D) - after

6/29/26

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in Shakespeare

Theatre of New Jersey's 2026 Season (See breakdown).

PREPARATION

Please prepare one monologue, no longer than two minutes, that best highlights you for our 2026 season.

LOCATION
Actors' Equity New York Audition Center
165 W 46th St
16th Fl
New York, NY 10036

PERSONNEL
Expected to attend:
Brian Crowe: Artistic Director
Nate Riccio: Casting and Company Manager

OTHER DATES
See breakdown for production specific dates.

OTHER

https://www.shakespearenj.org/

EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.

An Equity Monitor will be provided.
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

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 2026 Season

PRIVATE LIVES
Playwright: Noël Coward
Director: Victoria Mack

First Rehearsal: 4/21/26
First Preview: 5/16/26
Opening: 5/22/26
Closing: 6/7/26
Possible extension to 6/14/26

SYNOPSIS: Private Lives by Noël Coward is a sophisticated romantic comedy about divorced couple Elyot Chase and Amanda Prynne, who unexpectedly reunite while honeymooning with their new spouses at the same hotel. Despite having remarried, their undeniable chemistry quickly reignites old
passions—and old battles—leading them to impulsively run away together. What follows is a witty, fast-paced exploration of love, pride, and the thin line between romance and chaos, as the couple discovers that some relationships are impossible to escape.

SEEKING:

[ELYOT CHASE] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 30s to early 40s. A charming, articulate, and impulsive romantic with razor-sharp wit. Elyot is emotionally quicksilver—capable of deep affection and sudden volatility. His connection with Amanda is passionate, combative, and undeniable.
Excellent comic timing and the ability to balance elegance with raw emotion.

[AMANDA PRYNNE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 30s to early 40s. Brilliant, stylish, and fiercely intelligent. Amanda matches Elyot in wit and temperament, creating a relationship that is both intoxicating and combustible. She moves seamlessly between glamour, humor, venom and vulnerability. Strong comedic instincts and emotional range.

[VICTOR PRYNNE] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 40s–50s. Amanda’s current husband. Earnest, principled, and socially proper, Victor brings sincerity and quiet authority to the chaos around him. His comedy comes from restraint and growing exasperation.

[SIBYL CHASE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, 20s–30s. Sweet, gentle, and traditional, Sibyl is Elyot’s current wife. At first polite and reserved, her naive infatuation with Elyot is somewhat possessive and passionate; she becomes highly flustered by the events of the play.

[LOUISE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, 20s–60s. Hotel or household staff. Witty, observant, and supportive, with some comedic moments. Comfortable with French, able to speak French lines fluently.

KEN LUDWIG’S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
Playwright: Ken Ludwig
Director: Brian B. Crowe, Artistic Director

First Rehearsal: 6/16/26
First Preview: 7/11/26
Opening: 7/17/26
Closing: 8/2/26
Possible extension to 8/9/26

SYNOPSIS: Baskerville is a fast‑paced comedic adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in to investigate a mysterious family curse threatening the newest heir of Baskerville Hall. As they work to uncover the truth behind reports of a fearsome hellhound prowling the foggy moors of Devonshire, the duo must sift through clues, disguises, and an ever‑growing cast of quirky characters. In Ludwig’s version, five actors play more than forty roles, blending suspense with theatrical comedy as Holmes and Watson race to solve the case before the curse dooms the heir.

SEEKING:

[SHERLOCK HOLMES] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 30s–40s. Brilliant, quick‑witted detective, sharp and charismatic. A commanding presence.

[DR. JOHN WATSON] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 30s–50s. Loyal, grounded, and courageous companion to Holmes. Compassionate and practical, Watson guides the audience through the mystery while providing heart and humor.

[TRACK ONE] Any race or ethnicity, 20s–50s. Multiple roles, including Stapleton, the seemingly mildmannered naturalist hiding a dangerous side; Barrymore, the mournful caretaker of Baskerville Hall; Milker, a scrappy street urchin; Dr. Mortimer, the friendly country physician; and Lucy, the loving spouse of Wilson. Exceptional physical and vocal versatility for quick character changes.

[TRACK TWO] Any race or ethnicity, 20s–50s. Multiple roles, including Sir Hugo Baskerville, the brutal legendary ancestor; Wilson, the energetic head of the messenger office; Sir Henry Baskerville, the young heir who is adventurous and earnest; and Inspector Lestrade, the cocky Scotland Yard inspector. Exceptional physical and vocal versatility for quick character changes.

[TRACK THREE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, 20s–50s. Multiple roles, including Miss Stapleton, the timid sister with a secret passion; Mrs. Barrymore, the stern caretaker with occasional humor; Mrs. Hudson, Holmes’s dependable and maternal housekeeper; and Cartwright, a scrappy messenger/urchin. Exceptional physical and vocal versatility for quick character changes.

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Playwright: William Shakespeare

First Rehearsal: 8/7/26
First Preview: 8/13/26
Opening: 8/14/26
Closing: 8/23/26

SYNOPSIS: The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare is a lively comedy set in the town of Windsor, where Sir John Falstaff attempts to court two married women for money, only to be cleverly outwitted at every turn. Alongside this, a jealous husband’s suspicions and a young woman’s
competing suitors create a series of comic misunderstandings, leading to disguises, tricks, and a joyful resolution.

SEEKING:

[ALICE FORD] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, late 30s-40s. One of the “Merry Wives.” Clever, playful, and self-assured. Leads the schemes to expose Falstaff’s foolishness. Sharp intelligence and grounded comic instincts.

[FRANK FORD] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity 40s-late 50s. Alice Ford’s husband. Intensely jealous and suspicious, disguising himself to test his wife’s fidelity. A comic role rooted in insecurity and emotional volatility.

[MARGARET PAGE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 30s-early 40s. The second Merry Wife. Warm, witty, and socially adept. Partners with Alice Ford in orchestrating Falstaff’s downfall. Lively, warm hearted, determined.

[GEORGE PAGE] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 40s-mid 50s. Margaret Page’s husband. Practical, trusting, and level-headed, serving as a foil to Ford’s jealousy. Calm authority with gentle humor.

[ANNE PAGE / JOHN RUGBY] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, early 20s-mid 20s. Anne Page is bright, independent, and romantic, determined to choose love on her own terms. John Rugby is the practical and steady servant to Doctor Caius. Requires versatility and clear character differentiation.

[WILLIAM PAGE / PISTOL / ABRAHAM SLENDER] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity early 20s. William Page is the young son of the Page family, minimal speaking. Pistol is bombastic and theatrical, prone to grandiose speech. Slender is awkward and earnest, a foolish suitor to Anne Page, nephew to Shallow. Strong comic range required.

[SIR JOHN FALSTAFF] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 40s-60s. A boisterous, indulgent knight with an inflated ego and sharp wit. Schemes to seduce two married women for financial gain and is repeatedly outsmarted. Requires strong comedic timing, verbal dexterity, and confidence.

[BARDOLPH / DOCTOR CAIUS] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, mid 30s- 50s. Bardolph is a brash follower of Falstaff. Doctor Caius is a hot-tempered French physician and suitor to Anne Page. Bold physicality and strong comic contrast required. A good ear with dialect work.

[NYM / PETER SIMPLE] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, late 20s-late 30s. Nym is reserved and sardonic, while Peter Simple is literal-minded and loyal.

[HOST / MISTRESS QUICKLY] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, early 30s–mid 30s. The Host is a jovial innkeeper who delights in mischief; Mistress Quickly is a fast-talking, clever messenger who thrives in chaos. Excellent comic timing and verbal agility.

[FENTON / ROBERT SHALLOW] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, early 20s-mid 30s. Fenton is charming, sincere, and romantic, Anne Page’s preferred suitor. Robert Shallow is a nostalgic, selfimportant country justice, and uncle to Slender.

[SIR HUGH EVANS] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 30s-50s. A Welsh parson. Earnest, kindhearted, and occasionally pedantic. A good ear for dialect work.

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
Playwright: Edward Albee

First Rehearsal: 8/11/26
First Preview: 9/5/26
Opening: 9/11/26
Closing: 9/27/26

SYNOPSIS: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a three‑act drama set in the living room of George, a frustrated history professor, and his sharp‑tongued wife, Martha. After returning from a faculty party, they invite a younger couple, Nick and Honey, for drinks. What begins as casual entertainment quickly
turns into a tense psychological battle, as George and Martha draw the younger couple into their cruel games and verbal confrontations. Through insults, humiliations, and shocking revelations, the illusions of George and Martha’s marriage are exposed.

SEEKING:

[GEORGE] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 50s–60s. A disillusioned, middle-aged history professor, bitter and frustrated with his life and marriage. Sharp-witted and cynical, he delights in psychological games with his wife while masking deep vulnerability beneath his caustic humor.

[MARTHA] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, 50s–60s. George’s formidable and combative wife, outspoken, intelligent, and emotionally volatile. She uses a sharp tongue and manipulation to challenge her husband while revealing her own insecurities and desire for control.

[NICK] Male identifying, late 20s–early 30s. A young, newly hired biology professor, ambitious, confident, and somewhat naïve. He becomes an unwitting participant in George and Martha’s psychological games while confronting his own insecurities.

[HONEY] Female identifying, mid 20s-late 30s. Nick’s gentle and timid wife, somewhat naïve and easily intimidated. She provides contrast to the aggressive energy of George and Martha but gradually reveals depth and complexity under pressure.

HAMLET
Playwright: William Shakespeare
Director: Brian B. Crowe, Artistic Director

First Rehearsal: 9/15/26
First Preview: 10/10/26
Opening: 10/16/26
Closing: 11/15/26

SEEKING:

[HAMLET] Any race or ethnicity, late 20s-early 30s. Prince of Denmark. Intelligent, contemplative, and deeply emotional, Hamlet is consumed by grief and a desire for revenge. He feigns madness to uncover the truth about his father’s death while struggling with moral dilemmas and indecision. Exceptional text skills and Shakespeare experience required.

[CLAUDIUS] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 40s–60s. Hamlet’s uncle and the new king. Cunning, ambitious, and politically savvy, Claudius has murdered his brother to claim the throne and seeks to maintain his power at all costs.

[GERTRUDE] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, 40s–50s. Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother. Loving yet politically naive, she quickly marries Claudius after her husband’s death and struggles with Hamlet’s resentment and the unfolding tragedy.

[OPHELIA] Female identifying, any race or ethnicity, late 20s. Daughter of Polonius and Hamlet’s love interest. Gentle, innocent, and obedient, Ophelia is caught between her father, brother, and Hamlet’s emotional turmoil, ultimately succumbing to grief and despair.

[POLONIUS] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 50s–70s. Advisor to the king. Long-winded, pompous, and manipulative, Polonius is protective of his children but ultimately meets a tragic end due to his meddling.

[LAERTES] Male identifying, any race or ethnicity, 20s–30s. Polonius’s son and Ophelia’s brother. Passionate, impulsive, and skilled in combat, Laertes seeks revenge for his father’s and sister’s deaths, clashing with Hamlet in the final duel.

[HORATIO] Any race or ethnicity, 30s. Hamlet’s loyal and level-headed friend. Intelligent and rational, Horatio serves as Hamlet’s confidant.

[ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN] Any race or ethnicity, 20s–30s. Courtiers and former friends of Hamlet, sent by Claudius to spy on him. Often played with comedic or contrasting personalities, they are ultimately pawns in the political intrigue.

[ENSEMBLE] Any race or ethnicity, 20s-60s. All other roles will be cast from an ensemble of actors. Shakespeare experience required.

SALARY

LORT Non-Rep $839 weekly minimum (LORT D) - until 6/28/26 $889 weekly minimum (LORT D) - after 6/29/26

UNION

AEA