Tucson: Auditions - Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Givens [mailto:Michael.Givens@tucsonaz.gov]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 2:30 PM
Subject: Auditions - Shakespeare

This will be the final notice for Auditions for William Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night...  with the Character list.


The El Rio Theatre Project announces two nights of auditions for
William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” July 17-18 beginning 7 p.m.
at the Randolph Arts Center Auditorium, 200 S. Alvernon Way.

Coordinated through the El Rio Neighborhood Center, auditioneers are
asked to bring a two-minute classic monologue or be prepared to cold
read from the script.

Eight presentations are scheduled for the end of September at the
Himmel Park Amphitheater, and two encore performances will be held at
the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson.

For information, including the stipend for actors and technicians,
contact Michael Givens, recreation coordinator and director of the
performances, at 791-4196.


A quick "Twelfth Night" summary: 

Viola and Sebastian are look alike twins, separated by a shipwreck.
Viola lands in Illyria, where she disguises herself like her brother and
goes into the service of the Duke Orsino. Orsino sends her to help him
woo the Lady Olivia, who doesn't want the Duke, but finds that she likes
the new messenger the Duke's sending. Then, of course, Viola's brother
shows up, and merry hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle and his
cohorts are trying to find some way to get back at Olivia's officious
majordomo, Malvolio

This first production will be produced and directed by Michael Givens.
Michael was the Artistic Director of the Tucson Community Theatre for 10
years, during which time he produced over 40 productions and directed
17.  Some of his favorite shows include:  “Much Ado About Nothing”,
“Romeo & Juliet”, Lion in Winter”, “A Streetcar Named Desire”
and “The Fantasticks”. 




Character List


Viola - A young woman of aristocratic birth, and the play’s
protagonist. Washed up on the shore of Illyria when her ship is wrecked
in a storm, Viola decides to make her own way in the world. She
disguises herself as a young man, calling herself "Cesario," and becomes
a page to Duke Orsino. She ends up falling in love with Orsinoâ€"even as
Olivia, the woman Orsino is courting, falls in love with Cesario. Thus,
Viola finds that her clever disguise has entrapped her: she cannot tell
Orsino that she loves him, and she cannot tell Olivia why she, as
Cesario, cannot love her. Her poignant plight is the central conflict in
the play.

Orsino - A powerful nobleman in the country of Illyria. Orsino is
lovesick for the beautiful Lady Olivia, but becomes more and more fond
of his handsome new page boy, Cesario, who is actually a womanâ€"Viola.
Orsino is a vehicle through which the play explores the absurdity of
love: a supreme egotist, Orsino mopes around complaining how heartsick
he is over Olivia, when it is clear that he is chiefly in love with the
idea of being in love and enjoys making a spectacle of himself. His
attraction to the ostensibly male Cesario injects sexual ambiguity into
his character.

Olivia - A wealthy, beautiful, and noble Illyrian lady, Olivia is
courted by Orsino and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, but to each of them she
insists that she is in mourning for her brother, who has recently died,
and will not marry for seven years. She and Orsino are similar
characters in that each seems to enjoy wallowing in his or her own
misery. Viola’s arrival in the masculine guise of Cesario enables
Olivia to break free of her self-indulgent melancholy. Olivia seems to
have no difficulty transferring her affections from one love interest to
the next, however, suggesting that her romantic feelingsâ€"like most
emotions in the playâ€"do not run deep.

Sebastian - Viola’s lost twin brother. When he arrives in Illyria,
traveling with Antonio, his close friend and protector, Sebastian
discovers that many people think that they know him. Furthermore, the
beautiful Lady Olivia, whom he has never met, wants to marry him.
Sebastian is not as well rounded a character as his sister. He seems to
exist to take on the role that Viola fills while disguised as
Cesarioâ€"namely, the mate for Olivia.

Malvolio - The straitlaced stewardâ€"or head servantâ€"in the household
of Lady Olivia. Malvolio is very efficient but also very self-righteous,
and he has a poor opinion of drinking, singing, and fun. His
priggishness and haughty attitude earn him the enmity of Sir Toby, Sir
Andrew, and Maria, who play a cruel trick on him, making him believe
that Olivia is in love with him. In his fantasies about marrying his
mistress, he reveals a powerful ambition to rise above his social class.


Feste - The clown, or fool, of Olivia’s household, Feste moves
between Olivia’s and Orsino’s homes. He earns his living by making
pointed jokes, singing old songs, being generally witty, and offering
good advice cloaked under a layer of foolishness. In spite of being a
professional fool, Feste often seems the wisest character in the play.

Sir Toby - Olivia’s uncle. Olivia lets Sir Toby Belch live with her,
but she does not approve of his rowdy behavior, practical jokes, heavy
drinking, late-night carousing, or friends (specifically the idiotic Sir
Andrew). Sir Toby also earns the ire of Malvolio. But Sir Toby has an
ally, and eventually a mate, in Olivia’s sharp-witted
waiting-gentlewoman, Maria. Together they bring about the triumph of
chaotic spirit, which Sir Toby embodies, and the ruin of the
controlling, self-righteous Malvolio.

Maria - Olivia’s clever, daring young waiting-gentlewoman. Maria is
remarkably similar to her antagonist, Malvolio, who harbors aspirations
of rising in the world through marriage. But Maria succeeds where
Malvolio failsâ€"perhaps because she is a woman, but, more likely,
because she is more in tune than Malvolio with the anarchic, topsy-turvy
spirit that animates the play.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek - A friend of Sir Toby’s. Sir Andrew Aguecheek
attempts to court Olivia, but he doesn’t stand a chance. He thinks
that he is witty, brave, young, and good at languages and dancing, but
he is actually an idiot.

Antonio - A man who rescues Sebastian after his shipwreck. Antonio has
become very fond of Sebastian, caring for him, accompanying him to
Illyria, and furnishing him with money.

Fabian - A servant of Lady Olivia's, he too dislikes Malvolio, and also
participates enthusiastically in Malvolio's downfall.

Valentine and Curio - Gentlemen attending Orsino.

---------------------------------
Tucson Theatre Announcements List
Archive and subscription information on http://tucsonstage.com