The Bardlings

Current Season

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The Bardlings’ Spring 2023 performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in Cascades Park will be a one-hour adaptation of the romantic comedy As You Like It. This pastoral comedy will bring Shakespeare to life for all ages and serve as a light-hearted opening act to the mainstage production on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival.

Watch as newly lovestruck Rosalind flees an oppressive court for the Forest of Arden, where she finds her beloved Orlando has also fled! Disguised as a shepherd boy, Rosalind teaches Orlando how to woo and love with the help of friends and forest dwellers. This production features original music by Jason Chimonides, which was used in the 1998 production of As You Like It.

AUDITION

Middle and high school students who join the company don’t just put on a show: they also gain skills, collaborate with peers, and have fun during weekly meetings, workshops, rehearsals, and a field trip before the final performance!

The Bardlings audition for each fall and spring semester. Generally:

Students should prepare a 60 second or less memorized monologue and expect to cold read sides from the show.
Students will also be asked to complete an audition form with parent contact information and conflicts between the audition date and the showcase performances.

In spring 2023, the Bardlings will meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-7 PM at Christ Classical Academy (2205 Thomasville Road), and/or the SSC offices and warehouse (136 Progress Drive on TCC’s campus) or Cascades Park (1001 South Gadsden) and especially during Tech Week (starting on May 8th) as the showcase performances approach. A mandatory parent meeting on January 26 will outline the rehearsal schedule and more for students selected to participate.

Please note that the Bardlings audition each semester, and admittance into a previous semester does not guarantee placement in the future. Please see below for other FAQ and contact Bardlings director Robin Jackson with any further questions!

The Bardlings are Southern Shakespeare Company’s junior acting company composed of middle and high school students.

The Bardlings perform twice a year with a production in the Fall and a performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in the Spring.

They also engage with workshops, guest lectures, and field trips to develop their skills and expand their knowledge of theatre throughout the year.

For the latest on the Bardlings’ projects and performances…

Photo credit: Bob Howard

Follow the Bardlings on Facebook

Photo credit: Bob Howard

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Taking part in the Bardlings program is one of our favorite things about living in Tallahassee. The staff members have a passion for Shakespeare, for theater education, and for engaging the community. Both of our children love theater and we have been astonished at the amount of time, energy, and expertise that the SSC team has invested in mentoring and nurturing them. [We are] amazed at the diversity of theater education included in the Bardlings program… playwriting, costuming, tech, stage makeup… improv, dialects, and stage combat.

Sarah H.

Bardling Parent

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Thank you for making [The Bardlings program] possible and for all you did to grow Will in his abilities this year! We are grateful

Amanda and Nathan Johnson

Bardlings parents

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We were very cautious about covid and thought carefully before saying yes to MM’s request to join. Throughout the semester and even now the Bardlings directors have exceeded our expectations and we sincerely appreciate your commitment to safety while still providing a vital outlet for MM.

Sarah W.

Bardling Parent

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Since his time with the Bardlings, Jermaine has taken a real love for acting and performing and he is actually really good at it. We have invested in acting, voice and tap lessons this year because he has decided that theater is what he wants to pursue as his career. Thank you so much for investing in him early. It was a great experience and a lasting one, especially performing at Goodwood with the flu in 2017. He really learned what “showtime” means.

Talethia E.

Bardling Parent

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Natallia loves being a part of Bardlings. Thank you for this opportunity for her to express herself, learn more about theater, and enjoy her fellow Bardlings. Much appreciated.

Viletta C.

Bardling Parent

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Bardlings was the BEST experience for CC (and our family) during these crazy times….She just LOVED working with all of the company.

Jessica M.

Bardling Parent

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can join The Bardlings? P

Middle and High School students in Leon County and the surrounding areas.

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How much is The Bardlings membership fee? P

In the 2022-2023 season, the Bardlings membership fee is $180 per semester and includes all aspects of The Bardlings program including workshops, field trips, costumes, etc

Financial assistance is available; reach out to robin@southernshakes.org to inquire.

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When do The Bardlings meet? P

In the 2022-2023 season, the Bardlings meet twice a week (Monday and Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm) and follow the Leon County School schedule taking school holidays off.

The Bardlings will have additional rehearsals leading up to the run of each of their semesterly showcases (aka, “tech week”).

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Where do The Bardlings meet? P

For the 2022-2023 season, the Bardlings regularly meet and rehearse at Christ Classical Academy (2205 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308).

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How do I audition for the Bardlings this spring? P

To audition for the Bardlings, students should generally prepare a 60 second or less monologue of their choice and be ready to read from parts of the showcase script.

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Are there auditions for The Bardlings every semester? P

Yes, The Bardlings program holds auditions in the Fall and the Spring. Admission to the Fall semester does not necessarily guarantee admission to the Spring semester.

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Will you accept self-taped video auditions? P

If students have conflicts with the audition date(s), they may send a self-taped by the time of auditions in order to qualify for callbacks. Send video monologues to robin@southernshakes.org (note that you may need to link to an unlisted YouTube, Google Drive, or similar link as video files are typically too large to email).

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Past Seasons

Watch the Bardlings’ production of ShakespeaREtold V and several of their other past performances on the Southern Shakespeare Company Youtube Channel.

Watch Now

2021-2022 P

For our Fall 2021 Semester, The Bardlings were back in-person to present an original play written by Tallahassee native, the late Eden Rush:

Zombie Shakespeare tells the fantastical story of a troupe of fairy tale characters who are tired of their stories, so they go dig up the grave of literature’s best storyteller, William Shakespeare himself. Shakespeare’s works come to life as each fairy tale character is transported into one of his plays as they search for their new story.

This family-friendly comedy showcased some of the Bard’s most famous scenes and is a perfect exploration of his characters with a fun twist.

The Bardlings’ Spring 2022 performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in Cascades Park brought audiences back to Shakespeare’s works with the infamous Romeo & Juliet. This abridged version of the star crossed lovers’ tale showcased The Bardlings’ technical ability to create productions that bring traditional Shakespeare to life for all ages.

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