Switch Theatre Company is holding auditions for its 2024-25 Season:
| SHOW | Helen’s History Hop | Shakespeare in the Parks: Othello |
| DIRECTED BY | Aurelia Belfield | Dan J Decker |
| FORMAT | Staged reading with sound/light effects | Full outdoor production |
| REHEARSALS | Jan. 16 – Feb. 6, 2025 Hayti Heritage Center | Mar. 1 – May 2, 2025 Hayti Heritage Center |
| PERFORMANCES | Feb. 7-8, 2025 | May 3 – Jun. 16, 2025 |
| LOCATION | Hayti Heritage Center, Performance Hall | Fred Fletcher Park, Raleigh Durham Central Park, Durham Sertoma Amphitheatre, Cary Halle Cultural Arts Center, Apex Town Common, Tarboro 1-2 additional TBD |
Auditions will be held in person on Monday 12/9, Wednesday 12/11 and Thursday 12/12, from 6-9pm at: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27701 . Alternatively, actors may submit a video audition, uploaded to YouTube or other video hosting service. Performers only need to sign up for one audition slot.
To be considered for SITP:Othello, please prepare a 30-60 second Shakespeare monologue of your choice, preferably memorized. For Helen’s History Hop, bring a contemporary comedic monologue or one of the character monologues available here. In person auditionees may be asked to do cold readings as well.
Stipends are available for all roles. For SITP:Othello, actors will be mic’ed for all outdoor performances, and receive an additional stipend for travel.
Callbacks:
Callbacks, if needed, will be held in person on Saturday, 12/14, from 2-5pm at the Hayti Heritage Center. Actors will be provided sides at callbacks. We anticipate announcing the casts for each production by 12/31.
Casting breakdowns
Switch Theatre Company encourages actors of any ethnicity, identity, and ability to audition for any role. If the production requires strict adherence to any characteristic(s), those will be listed in the character description.
Helen’s History Hop:
Seeking strong readers, quick learners, and strong voices! Actors will be carrying scripts for this production, so memorization will not be required.
BESSIE COLEMAN – Female, Black, 25-35. First African-American female pilot. Also plays:
– Harriet Tubman: African American abolitionist and slave liberator
– Principal Pratt: Junior high school principal
– Grandma: grandmother of Sonia
– Police officer
– Lab tech 2: a scientist at a space station on Mars.
JACK – Male, Black, 21-40. 1860s African American slave escaping to the North. Also plays:
– Robert Abbot: 1910s newspaper publisher.
– D-Man: a young drug runner (VO only)
– Lab tech 1: a scientist at a space station on Mars.
HELEN THOMAS – Female, Black, 12-15 (can be cast older to play younger). Junior high school student who travels through time. Creative thinker, loves sci-fi and technology.
JAMAR – Male, Black/Hispanic, 12-15 (can be cast older to play younger). Helen’s friend and classmate. Future brilliant scientist, loveable but currently a bit clueless.
BILLY – Any gender, any ethnicity, 12-15 (can be cast older to play younger). Helen’s friend and classmate. Quirky musician. Also plays:
– Time minion 1: One of the time queen’s assistants
SONIA – Female, Hispanic, 12-15 (can be cast older to play younger). Future Supreme Court justice. Loves solving mysteries. Also plays:
– Teacher’s Assistant: young teacher at the junior high school
– Time minion 2: One of the time queen’s assistants
Casting breakdown – Othello
Seeking performers with strong classical acting skills. All roles are open except where noted – we are seeking swings/understudies and may double-cast based on actor availability.
DESDEMONA – Female, plays 18-24. A young daughter of the nobility, a naive and sweet pickme who is proud to have attracted the attention of the army General.
CASSIO – Male, Black, plays 25. Youthful, dashing, officer material. Immature and headstrong, egotistical. Stage combat experience a plus.
RODERIGO – Male, plays 25-30. Foolishly in unrequited love with Desdemona and out of control, needy and easily suckered. Stage combat experience a plus.
BIANCA – Female, plays 20-30. A strong, independent woman, a sex worker who experiences a wide range of feelings.
IAGO (understudy/swing) – Male, white, 35-40. Military lifer, a sergeant, the go-to guy in his unit. Enjoys a special friendship with the General, until one day that all goes away. He is filled with jealousy, anger, and spite directed at everyone.
OTHELLO (understudy/swing) – Male, Black, 40-50. Military lifer, a North African, intelligent and charming, has mastered life among the Europeans. Stage combat experience a plus.
EMILIA (understudy/swing) – Female, 35-40. The pragmatic wife of misogynist Iago, confidante to Desdemona.
Rehearsal information:
Rehearsals will take place on three weeknights and Saturday afternoons weekly, depending on actor availability. All rehearsals will take place at the Hayti Heritage Center.
Additional information:
Email info@switchyardtc.org , or call 919-926-9906 with any questions!