Hamlet
- adapted and directed by Grant Fitch
Auditions: March 8 & 9 at 7:00pm
Performances: June 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 & 21
Sundays are at 3:00pm. Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 8:00pm
Synopsis:
The classic play of greed, power, paranoia and murder - even in period dress, it's a story with something to say to the modern viewer. Casting will be color-blind and gender-neutral, as much as possible. And the text will be gently translated in spots, making it more accessible for actors and audience.
In 16th-century Denmark, the king is dead, and his brooding 20-something son, Hamlet, should be the new king. Instead, Hamlet’s uncle has stepped into the void, taking both his brother’s crown and his bride, Hamlet’s mother, in one stroke. But when Hamlet learns his uncle is not only an opportunist, but a murderer, no one is safe. With the help of his friends, his girlfriend, and the ghost of his father, Hamlet vows to find the truth and punish the guilty – starting a chain of events that could mean not only his own undoing, but possibly the destruction of everyone around him.
Content warning - This play deals with death, suicide, and violence
Rehearsals:
There will be a read-thru/cast meeting around March 23 (exact date TBD)
Rehearsals will start April 13th
Rehearsals will be Monday thru Thursday 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The schedule may change/go later for the last week or so of rehearsals.
What to Prepare:
Nothing, auditions will consist of readings from the script
Please bring a list of any conflicts in April, May & June
The script is here if you would like to read it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e2sTqKl0b_-5KUBdte_y4IB2mtuJMXaT/edit?tab=t.0
SCENES FOR AUDITIONS
It's always a good idea to come prepared! Here are the most likely scenes to be used in auditions. Page numbers are from the above-linked PDF.
1-4 - Horatio, Francisco, Bernardo, Marcellus
4-7 - Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes
7-10 - Hamlet, Horatio, Francisco, Marcellus
10-13 - Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes
16-18 - Ghost, Hamlet
29-32 - Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern
38-40 - Hamlet, Ophelia
53-57 - Gertrude, Hamlet
64-69 - Ophelia, Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius
71-77 - Gravediggers, Hamlet, Horatio
Cast Requirements:
All cast members need to be at least 18 years old. Some people may play multiple roles.
Looking for a cast of about 20, all ages and types. Casting will be color-blind and gender-neutral, as much as possible. There will be some fencing/stage combat involved for certain roles.
- HAMLET - Male, 20s or 30s - prone to fits of melancholy or violence, but trying to do the right thing
- CLAUDIUS - Male, 40s or 50s - Hamlet's uncle, a consummate politician
- GERTRUDE - Female, 40s or 50s - Hamlet's mother, now married to Claudius
- OPHELIA - Female, 20s - Hamlet's girlfriend, sweet, but with a challenging mad scene
- THE GHOST OF HAMLET'S FATHER - Male, 40s or 50s - a small role, but pivotal - a kindly, fatherly type, tormented
- POLONIUS - 40s-60s, Male or Female - Right-hand advisor to the King, father to Laertes and Ophelia, will always put sucking up to the royals ahead of his/her own family
- Hamlet's old school FRIENDS, all similar in age to him. Male or female.
- HORATIO - Hamlet's best friend and confidante
- LAERTES - Ophelia's sibling, who becomes Hamlet's enemy
- ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN - Interchangeable duo, who will probably be played as a couple
THE COMPANY of background characters and small parts will use all ages and types - almost all of these can be either gender, any age:
- FRANCISCO, BERNARDO, MARCELLUS, & REYNALDO - palace guards and Secret Service types
- Two comic GRAVEDIGGERS
- OSRIC - a master of the revels
- PRIEST - very condescending and judgmental
- and a Company of TRAVELING PLAYERS, which can include (if we can manage it) mime, juggling, or acrobatics, but will certainly need a Leading Player, a Player King and Queen, and a Villain
General Audition Notes
- By agreeing to volunteer (whether on stage or off stage) at our theater, you are allowing use of your image and likeness for 4th Street Theater publicity and archival purpose
- 4th Street Theater is a non-paid non-equity theatre. (all-volunteer)
- Sorry, we do not offer any paid positions or internships.
- No previous acting experience is required to audition for us.
- Actors are required to audition separately for each show they are interested in. We do not have a set troupe/group of actors for a season/year.
- Auditions will always be announced on our website and Facebook. We also encourage you to join our email newsletter. We do not send out individual notifications for auditions.
