Auditions

Audition Notice: Southern Shakespeare Company is now holding auditions for our immersive spring 2026 production of A “Walking” Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed April 30–May 9, 2026, at the Tallahassee Museum.

Audition Info

• Day 1: Sunday, January 25 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Day 2: Monday, January 26 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

  • Callbacks: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (same day)

• Location: 136 Progress Drive

• Sign up for an in-person slot: https://signup.com/go/fkiJLFY

• Video auditions: Send to james@southernshakes.org by January 25 at 5:00 PM

Actors should be local to Tallahassee. Walk-ins are welcome! Auditionees are encouraged to prepare up to 60 seconds of memorized text, preferably a Shakespearean verse monologue—but any prepared piece is welcome. No monologue? No problem. Come anyway. Your interest and presence matter most.

About the show: To close our season, the Museum’s majestic live-oak groves will transform into fairy-filled pathways as small audience groups follow a guided trail through the world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Along the way, they’ll encounter Puck’s pranks, Titania’s enchanting court, and the Rude Mechanicals’ comic capers—plus faeries flying overhead on zip lines. This 90-minute, no-intermission adventure promises magic, mischief, and delight at every turn.

Overview of Roles 

Lysander
Track: Lover
Character qualities: Romantic, impetuous, sincere, occasionally hot-headed. He’s passionate and quick to fall into jealousy or devotion.
Actor type: A youthful leading man or woman with charm, comedic timing, and emotional flexibility.

Demetrius
Track: Lover
Character qualities: More rigid and self-assured than Lysander, Demetrius begins as the antagonist in the love plot but transforms into a more open, softened figure by the end.
Actor type: Physically confident performer who can play both arrogance and tenderness believably.

Hermia
Track: Lover
Character qualities: Fiery, loyal, brave, and quick to defend her heart. Her emotional volatility contrasts nicely with Helena’s height and self-deprecation.
Actor type: Strong comedic instincts, expressive physicality, and the ability to shift from passion to frustration in an instant.

Helena
Track: Lover
Character qualities: Romantic, insecure, witty, and resilient. Her self-effacing humor and persistence make her the most self-aware of the lovers.
Actor type: Tall or contrasting physicality to Hermia helps the visual humor, but most important is emotional openness and comic rhythm.

Theseus / Oberon
Track: Ruler / King of Fairies
Character qualities: Theseus is grounded, rational, and regal; Oberon is mystical, proud, and jealous — yet both are authoritative figures who struggle with love and control.
Actor type: Commanding presence, rich voice, capable of both gravitas and magical allure. This doubling emphasizes the “dream” parallel between Athens and Fairyland.

Hippolyta / Titania
Track: Queen / Fairy Queen
Character qualities: Hippolyta is poised, observing; Titania is passionate and independent. Both women possess grace and inner strength.
Actor type: Mature performer with elegance and sensuality — someone who can command a stage through stillness and nuance.

Egeus / Puck
Track: Authority / Trickster
Character qualities: Egeus is stern and patriarchal; Puck is mischievous and free-spirited. Their doubling underscores control vs. chaos.
Actor type: Quick-witted physical actor comfortable with both classical rhetoric and clowning. Needs agility and spark.

Bottom / Pyramus
Track: Comic centerpiece
Character qualities: Endearingly egocentric, theatrical, and full of heart. Bottom drives the humor but must remain lovable.
Actor type: Seasoned comic actor with great timing and vocal versatility — comfortable playing both broad farce and genuine emotion.

Quince
Track: Organizer / Framer
Character qualities: Quince is the “director” of the mechanicals — nervous, officious, yet earnest. The Narrator role suggests a guiding voice, connecting worlds or helping transitions.
Actor type: Strong communicator, clear diction, and calm authority; ideally someone who can ground the comedy with sincerity.

Snug / Lion
Track: Sweet simplicity
Character qualities: Gentle, shy, eager-to-please. His attempt to be ferocious as the Lion is comic gold.
Actor type: Warm presence and physical humor; often a scene-stealer.

Flute / Thisby
Track: Innocent turned romantic
Character qualities: The reluctant romantic lead of the mechanicals, who ultimately delivers unexpectedly moving sincerity.
Actor type: Youthful, expressive actor with comic timing and surprising emotional depth.

Snout / Wall
Track: Straight man / literalist
Character qualities: Dutiful and a bit slow on the uptake, Snout’s commitment to being a “Wall” becomes absurdly funny.
Actor type: Good deadpan humor and ability to sell physical comedy through stillness.

Starveling / Moonshine
Track: Earnest, dry humor
Character qualities: Fussy and precise, Starveling takes his small part seriously, which makes it even funnier.
Actor type: Character actor with dry wit and subtle comedic instincts.