A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM AUDITIONS
SUMMARY
Hermia and Lysander are deeply in love, but Hermia’s guardian wants them to marry Demetrius. Demetrius is pursued by Helena, whose passion goes painfully unrequited. When the Duke tells Hermia that they must obey their guardian or else die or enter a convent, Hermia and Lysander flee into a nearby wood where they are followed by Demetrius and Helena.
In another part of Athens, a group of artists are rehearsing a play to be performed at Theseus’ and Hippolyta’s marriage. The actors are earnest if not very skillful, and they, too, make plans to rendezvous in the same wood. However, the wood is a magical realm overseen by Oberon and Titania, the rulers of the fairies - and all is not right, even among enchanted creatures…
A comedy set across two worlds – the court of Athens and a mystical forest that lies beyond the city’s walls - and cast gender-blind by Why’s It Gotta Be? Theater Group to intentionally surface queer themes, A Midsummer Night’s Dream the explores themes of the irrationality of love, desire, friendship, possession, jealousy, and magic.
ROLES
Theseus (non-gender specific, >18) - Ruler of Athens and engaged to marry Hippolyta. Tough but fair, very old school in the sense of relationships and the law.
Hippolyta (non-gender specific, >18) - Ruler of the amazons and engaged to marry Theseus. Wise and strong, they know what they want and how to obtain it.
Philostrate (non-gender specific, >18) - Right hand to Theseus. Adores Hippolyta, very traditional and obsessive.
Egeus (non-gender specific, >18) - Parent to Hermia. Very traditional and wealthy. They do not agree with Hermia’s “feelings” for Lysander and has arranged for their child to marry Demetrius.
Lysander (non-gender specific, ~18-35) - A riffraff sort-of young adult. In love with Hermia and has no respect for traditions or the “norm” of society.
Hermia (non-gender specific, ~18-35) - Smart and stubborn. In love with Lysander and does not agree with this arranged marriage to Demetrius. Close friend to Helena.
Demetrius (non-gender specific, ~18-35) - Wealthy and traditional young adult. Born on the right side of the tracks and is seeing this marriage to Hermia as a business investment. Sees Helena as a burden.
Helena (non-gender specific, ~18-35) - Wealthy and perceived as a bit of a nerd. Less confident than Hermia and is in love with Demetrius.
Nick Bottom (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Weaver by day, but a very creative director and actor by night. Not traditional in the slightest, misunderstood by most. Leader of their gang of local talent, will play “Pyramus” in the play-within-the-play.
Peter Quince (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Carpenter by day, wannabe director and stage manager by night. Is more responsible than Nick and tries to take charge so their show will run accordingly. Will narrate the prologue in the play-within-the-play.
Francis Flute (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Bellows mender (a Victorian blower for a fire) by day, actor and artist by night. Will play “Thisbe” in the play-within-the-play.
Robin Starveling (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Tailor by day, actor and artist by night. Will play “Moonshine” in the play-within-the-play.
Tom Snout (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Tinkerer by day, actor and artist by night. Will play “the Wall” in the play-within-the-play.
Snug (non-gender specific, ~18-55) - Joiner (a carpenter/ woodworker) by day, actor and artist by night, has major stage fright. Will play “the Reluctant Lion” in the play-within-the-play.
Robin Goodfellow (Puck) (non-gender specific, ~20-35) - Young adult fairy who works for Oberon. A flirty trickster, a joker type who has fun messing with humans.
Oberon (non-gender specific, >18) - Ruler of the fairies who is in a battle with Titania. A tough, wise, and stubborn ruler who has a plan with Puck to win Titania over.
Titania (non-gender specific, >18) - Ruler of the fairies who is in a battle with Oberon. Wise and clever, yet stubborn in what they think is right.
Fairies (Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed, Fairy #1, Moth) (non-gender specific, >18) - All fairies of Titania and Oberon.
All roles are available and will be considered regardless of gender.
REGISTRATION
Please click here to register to audition.
When registering, please note any dates and / or times you are unavailable from August 30 through November 14.
Please be honest to the best of your knowledge - this is to build a schedule that works for the entire cast, and this cannot be done without accuracy.
You must also be at least 18 years old by September 1, 2026 to be considered - barring that and major scheduling conflicts, all are encouraged to audition regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation; and our team is happy to work around your schedule as best we can - all are encouraged to audition regardless of potential scheduling conflicts.
AUDITIONS
Auditions will be held at the parish hall of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church at 126 Main St. in Easthampton, MA in four ~90-minute blocks:
Thursday, July 23 @ 6:00PM
Thursday, July 23 @ 7:30PM
Sunday, July 26 @ 1:00PM
Sunday, July 26 @ 2:30PM
You only need to attend one audition. If you cannot make these audition timeframes, please indicate so when registering and we will attempt to accommodate accordingly.
For your audition, please select and prepare 1-2 of the provided sides.
You may be paired with other auditioners or members of the production team to read at your audition.
Upon auditioning, the production team may ask you to reread a side a different way and / or to read another side you may have not prepared - you will be given a moment to consider the direction and / or look over the new side.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will begin the last week of August, will be held two evenings and one Sunday afternoon a week between Easthampton, MA and Northampton, MA, and will be about three hours in length each.
Scenes in A Midsummer Night's Dream are dynamically cast - until about mid-October, not everyone will be called to every rehearsal.
When registering, please note any dates and / times or you are unavailable from August 30 through November 14.
Please be honest to the best of your knowledge - this is to build a schedule that works for the entire cast, and this cannot be done without accuracy.
TECH REHEARSALS
Tech rehearsals will be held at the performance space on:
Sunday. November 1 from ~3:00PM to ≤10:30PM
Monday, November 2 from 6:30PM to ≤10:30PM
Tuesday, November 3 from 6:30PM to ≤10:30PM
Wednesday, November 4 from 6:30PM to ≤10:30PM
PERFORMANCES
Performances will be held at Unity House at 245 Porter Lake Dr. in Springfield, MA on:
Friday, November 6 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, November 7 @ 2:00PM
Saturday, November 7 @ 7:30PM
Sunday, November 8 @ 2:00PM
Thursday, November 12 @ 7:30PM
Friday, November 13 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, November 14 @ 2:00PM
Saturday, November 14 @ 7:30PM
Please note that Saturdays have afternoon and evening performances.
Call time for performances is 90-minutes before the start of any performance.
POLICIES
Per WIGB Bylaws, all WIGB designated cast, production team members, and event staff must sign all relevant WIGB policies and agreements prior to beginning work on any WIGB event. At this time, this includes:
WIGB-1 (Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policy)
WIGB-2 (Drug and Alcohol Policy)
WIGB-3 (Production and Event Safety, Understanding, and Expectations)
Anyone aged eighteen (18) or older who would be involved in any Why's It Gotta Be? Theater Group production must also complete a background before beginning work on any production. Individuals will provide any information needed on a CORI form before beginning work on any Why's It Gotta Be? Theater Group production. Failure to comply will result in exclusion from working on any Why's It Gotta Be? Theater Group production until compliance is met.
An optional Consent to Use of Image and Likeness form is also provided for consent to publish any photos taken by WIGB during rehearsals and the production.
Policies will be provided upon arrival at early rehearsals. Failure to comply will result in exclusion from working on any WIGB production or event until compliance is met.
Please visit www.wigbtheater.org/policies if you would like to view these policies.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Directed by Isabella Bonavita
Dramaturgy by Mal Sillars
Costume Design by Giganta Smalls
Produced by Why’s It Gotta Be? Theater Group
Please contact admin@wigbtheater.org with any inquiries or encounter any errors.