Spring Play

  • KEN LUDWIG’S SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD
    By Ken Ludwig

    Direction by Anne James-Noonan, Scenic Design by Denise Karczewski, Lighting Design by Dave Ferguson, Costume Design by Emily Daugherty, Sound Design by Brandon Reed

    “Ken Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com


    AUDITION INFORMATION

    Sign up for the auditions HERE!

     

    General Auditions: Open to all

    Thursday, March 16, 2023 

    W215 (Large Choral Room), Winnetka Campus. 

    Please be prepared to arrive at 1:00 PM and stay until 5:00 PM. Students who are performing in “Lost Girl” will go first and then be excused. All Junior auditionees will be seen after testing ends .

    You must bring a signed conflict form to the audition in order to be cast. Please review the production calendar to complete your conflict form.

    Callback Auditions
    Only if needed!

    Saturday, March 18, 2023

    Hayes-McCausland Theatre, Winnetka Campus

    9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

     

    WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE?

    Please select and perform: 

    Male monologues 1 or 2
    Or
    Female monologues 1 or 2

    Make specific, vocal and physical choices to differentiate the characters from each other. 

    After you perform your monologues, you will be assigned a partner to read through a scene of the director’s choosing.  Scenes do not to be memorized however, you may print and mark your own copy to use at the audition. Additional copies will be available.  

    Casting considerations for some roles may be non-gender specific. If you would only like to be considered for a traditionally cast gender role please indicate so on your audition form. 

     

    REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

    All New Trier productions rehearse M – F until 6PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM – 12PM and 1PM – 4PM. Not all students are called for each rehearsal. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Monday, April 3. Technical and Dress rehearsals end by 8PM. Please review the production calendar for more information.

     

    PERFORMANCE DATES - UPDATED
    Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 7:00pm
    Friday, May 12, 2023 at 4:30pm
    Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2:00pm  

     

    WHAT IS THE PLAY ABOUT?
    Puck and Oberon are returning to a wood near Athens, as directed at the end of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Puck mistakenly follows a sign that says "A Wood Near Athens." That sign is on a 1934 Hollywood sound stage at Warner Bros. They become engulfed in this movie that's being made around them, Oberon falls in love with one of the actresses, and Puck falls in love with just being there and getting treated like a star.  People at the studio think the fantasy figures are studio actors. 


    "This play is about the clash of high culture and popular comedy in America, especially in the world of the movies," Ludwig said in production notes. "It's also about how the imagination is such an important part of all our lives. These themes are set in the world of a 1930s screwball comedy.”  


    WHEN AND HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM CALLED BACK?

    The callback list will be emailed to all auditionees after 7:00 PM on Friday, March 17.

     

    WHEN DOES THE CAST LIST GO UP?

    The cast list will be emailed to all auditionees after 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 19.

     

    REHEARSAL ASSISTANT

    Interested in being a rehearsal assistant for this show? Please complete the rehearsal assistant form and email it to Ms. James-Noonan by March 14th.

     

    CREW APPRENTICESHIP

    All performers are required to fulfill the Crew Apprenticeship Program within one year after being cast in their first production. Please visit www.ntstagecrew.org for more information. Students who audition but are not cast in the Spring Play may still join the Fourth Quarter Crew Apprenticeship Program. See https://www.ntstagecrew.org/about for more information or email Denise Karczewski at karczewd@nths.net.

     

    WHAT IF I'M NOT CAST BUT I STILL WANT TO BE INVOLVED? 

    Stage Crew is a great way to get involved with the productions. All crews are open to anyone interested, and they are a lot of fun - no prior experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining the crew, please contact Ms. Karczewski at karczewd@nths.net

     

    WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO THE AUDITIONS?

    Make sure your hair is out of your face. Wear clothes that make you look and feel good. Do not wear costumes. Be prepared to move. In this show, students will wear character shoes or hard-soled dress shoes. Always avoid jeans, Uggs, flip-flops, or any shoes that make it difficult for you to move.  

     

    WHO DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?

    Please contact Ms. Anne James-Noonan at jamesnoa@nths.net or 847-784-6693.

     

    CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

    This production will be single cast.


    Shakespeare’s characters from     “A Midsummer Night's Dream”:

    • Oberon (M) The powerful strong-willed Fairy King who believes he can do whatever he wants and who knows how to get his way..

    • Puck (F) the vivacious fairy, henchman for Oberon. Notorious for his mischievous deeds, Puck delights in pranks such as replacing Bottom's head with that of an ass.

    Characters based on real people:

    • Jack Warner (M): The founder and studio head of Warner Brothers pictures. 

    • Max Reinhardt (M):  Renowned Austrian theater director working on his first movie.  

    • Olivia Darnell (F): Based on Olivia de Havilland.  A young ingénue, still starry eyed herself after arriving in Hollywood from a small town.  Falls in love with Oberon.

    • Dick Powell (M): Hearthrob of the 1930s.  

    • Jimmy Cagney (M): Played Bottom in the movie, but is best known for his gangster films. 

    • Joe E. Brown (M): Comedian who had worked the vaudeville circuit. Played Flute in the movie. 

    • Louella Parsons (F): One of the most powerful gossip columnists of all time.

    • Will Hays (played as F/Wilma Hayes): President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America, which enforced the so-called “Hays Code” regulating the content of Hollywood films. She’s the censor and everyone hates her. 

    Fictional characters:

    • Lydia Lansing (F) – A blonde with a showgirl voice, she is the girlfriend of studio chief Jack Warner. She’s beautiful, but isn’t the “brightest star in the sky.” 

    • Daryl (M)– The quintessential “Yes man,” Daryl is Warner’s right hand.