2The Importance of Being Earnest
Directed by Rebekah Walendzak SlepskiA glittering comedy of manners, romance, invention, cucumber sandwiches, and absolute nonsense.All roles are open to performers of all genders, bodies, ethnicities, abilities, and experience levels. We are especially interested in actors with strong comedic instincts, specificity, playfulness, and bold physical choices.Audition InformationPlease prepare:- One contemporary or classical comedic monologue (2 minutes max)
- Physicality encouraged
- Be prepared to play and take adjustments
In person auditions are at the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, 4250 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Please note that LBSC is not an equity theater.
Audition Options:In-Person Auditions (Preferred)
In Person Audition Dates: 5/ 28 5 PM- 8 PM and 5/31 12:30- 4PM.
Zoom Auditions (Gas is expensive. We get it.)Date: 5/27
Time: 2- 6 PM
Self-TapesIn person auditions are prefered but self tapes will be accepted and emailed to Richard J. Martinez richard@theplayfulstage.com and Holly Leveque at hollyleveque@gmail.com by 5/28.
CallbacksTBA
Dates: Tech: 7/5 - 7/9
Performances: 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/17, 7/18, 7/19, 7/24, 7/25
Talk backs: 7/12 and 7/19
Please note that the rehearsal schedule will be based on the cast and directors availability.
Character Breakdown
Jack Worthing / “Ernest”Playing Age: 25–40
A seemingly responsible gentleman living a double life. Earnest (or earnest?) in the country, much less so in the city. Romantic, anxious, repressed, and increasingly absurd as the play spirals out of control. Needs someone who can stay emotionally truthful while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: deadpan panic, contained chaos.
Algernon MoncrieffPlaying Age: 25–40
Charming, decadent, witty, theatrical, and delightfully unserious. Treats life as an art form and inconvenience as tragedy. A master of avoidance and invention. Big comedic engine role.
Comedic vibe: charisma, precision, playful indulgence.
Gwendolen FairfaxPlaying Age: 20–40
Brilliant, stylish, composed, and laser-focused. She possesses total confidence in her romantic ideals and social intelligence. She knows exactly who she is and expects the room to catch up.
Comedic vibe: razor-sharp certainty.
Cecily CardewPlaying Age: 18–30
Imaginative, romantic, curious, and unexpectedly formidable. Cecily lives halfway between fantasy and reality and manipulates both with surprising skill. An imaginative romantic who may actually be smarter than everyone else in the room.
Comedic vibe: dreamer with hidden steel.
Lady BracknellPlaying Age: 35–70+
A comedic titan. The self-appointed guardian of society, propriety, and excellent judgment. Terrifyingly composed. The role benefits from actors with strong timing, vocal command, and willingness to embrace heightened theatricality.
Comedic vibe: absolute certainty weaponized.
Miss PrismPlaying Age: 35–70+
Cecily’s governess and moral instructor. Earnest, intellectual, deeply repressed, and carrying decades of romantic longing beneath rigid propriety.
Comedic vibe: emotional suppression at dangerous levels.
Reverend Canon Chasuble, D.D.Playing Age: 35–70+
A pleasant local clergyperson with intellectual pretensions and romantic vulnerability. Often trying to maintain dignity while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: gentle fluster.
Lane (played by actor playing Merriman)Playing Age: 20–70+
Algernon’s impeccably composed servant. Observes the chaos of the upper class with quiet judgment and surgical precision. Wonderful opportunities for dry wit, timing, and specificity.
Comedic vibe: restrained devastation.
Merriman (played by actor playing Lane)Playing Age: 20–70+
The country house butler. Efficient, formal, and perpetually trapped in increasingly absurd circumstances.
Comedic vibe: elegant endurance.
2The Importance of Being Earnest
Directed by Rebekah Walendzak Slepski
A glittering comedy of manners, romance, invention, cucumber sandwiches, and absolute nonsense.
All roles are open to performers of all genders, bodies, ethnicities, abilities, and experience levels. We are especially interested in actors with strong comedic instincts, specificity, playfulness, and bold physical choices.
Audition Information
Please prepare:
- One contemporary or classical comedic monologue (2 minutes max)
- Physicality encouraged
- Be prepared to play and take adjustments
In person auditions are at the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, 4250 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Please note that LBSC is not an equity theater.
Audition Options:
In-Person Auditions (Preferred)
In Person Audition Dates: 5/ 28 5 PM- 8 PM and 5/31 12:30- 4
PM.Zoom Auditions (Gas is expensive. We get it.)
Date: 5/27
Time: 2- 6 PM
Time: 2- 6 PM
Self-Tapes
In person auditions are prefered but self tapes will be accepted and emailed to Richard J. Martinez richard@theplayfulstage.com and Holly Leveque at hollyleveque@gmail.com by 5/28.
Callbacks
TBA
Dates:
Tech: 7/5 - 7/9
Performances: 7/10, 7/11, 7/12, 7/17, 7/18, 7/19, 7/24, 7/25
Talk backs: 7/12 and 7/19
Please note that the rehearsal schedule will be based on the cast and directors availability.
Character Breakdown
Jack Worthing / “Ernest”
Playing Age: 25–40
A seemingly responsible gentleman living a double life. Earnest (or earnest?) in the country, much less so in the city. Romantic, anxious, repressed, and increasingly absurd as the play spirals out of control. Needs someone who can stay emotionally truthful while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: deadpan panic, contained chaos.
A seemingly responsible gentleman living a double life. Earnest (or earnest?) in the country, much less so in the city. Romantic, anxious, repressed, and increasingly absurd as the play spirals out of control. Needs someone who can stay emotionally truthful while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: deadpan panic, contained chaos.
Algernon Moncrieff
Playing Age: 25–40
Charming, decadent, witty, theatrical, and delightfully unserious. Treats life as an art form and inconvenience as tragedy. A master of avoidance and invention. Big comedic engine role.
Comedic vibe: charisma, precision, playful indulgence.
Charming, decadent, witty, theatrical, and delightfully unserious. Treats life as an art form and inconvenience as tragedy. A master of avoidance and invention. Big comedic engine role.
Comedic vibe: charisma, precision, playful indulgence.
Gwendolen Fairfax
Playing Age: 20–40
Brilliant, stylish, composed, and laser-focused. She possesses total confidence in her romantic ideals and social intelligence. She knows exactly who she is and expects the room to catch up.
Comedic vibe: razor-sharp certainty.
Brilliant, stylish, composed, and laser-focused. She possesses total confidence in her romantic ideals and social intelligence. She knows exactly who she is and expects the room to catch up.
Comedic vibe: razor-sharp certainty.
Cecily Cardew
Playing Age: 18–30
Imaginative, romantic, curious, and unexpectedly formidable. Cecily lives halfway between fantasy and reality and manipulates both with surprising skill. An imaginative romantic who may actually be smarter than everyone else in the room.
Comedic vibe: dreamer with hidden steel.
Imaginative, romantic, curious, and unexpectedly formidable. Cecily lives halfway between fantasy and reality and manipulates both with surprising skill. An imaginative romantic who may actually be smarter than everyone else in the room.
Comedic vibe: dreamer with hidden steel.
Lady Bracknell
Playing Age: 35–70+
A comedic titan. The self-appointed guardian of society, propriety, and excellent judgment. Terrifyingly composed. The role benefits from actors with strong timing, vocal command, and willingness to embrace heightened theatricality.
Comedic vibe: absolute certainty weaponized.
A comedic titan. The self-appointed guardian of society, propriety, and excellent judgment. Terrifyingly composed. The role benefits from actors with strong timing, vocal command, and willingness to embrace heightened theatricality.
Comedic vibe: absolute certainty weaponized.
Miss Prism
Playing Age: 35–70+
Cecily’s governess and moral instructor. Earnest, intellectual, deeply repressed, and carrying decades of romantic longing beneath rigid propriety.
Comedic vibe: emotional suppression at dangerous levels.
Cecily’s governess and moral instructor. Earnest, intellectual, deeply repressed, and carrying decades of romantic longing beneath rigid propriety.
Comedic vibe: emotional suppression at dangerous levels.
Reverend Canon Chasuble, D.D.
Playing Age: 35–70+
A pleasant local clergyperson with intellectual pretensions and romantic vulnerability. Often trying to maintain dignity while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: gentle fluster.
A pleasant local clergyperson with intellectual pretensions and romantic vulnerability. Often trying to maintain dignity while the world around them becomes increasingly ridiculous.
Comedic vibe: gentle fluster.
Lane (played by actor playing Merriman)
Playing Age: 20–70+
Algernon’s impeccably composed servant. Observes the chaos of the upper class with quiet judgment and surgical precision. Wonderful opportunities for dry wit, timing, and specificity.
Comedic vibe: restrained devastation.
Algernon’s impeccably composed servant. Observes the chaos of the upper class with quiet judgment and surgical precision. Wonderful opportunities for dry wit, timing, and specificity.
Comedic vibe: restrained devastation.
Merriman (played by actor playing Lane)
Playing Age: 20–70+
The country house butler. Efficient, formal, and perpetually trapped in increasingly absurd circumstances.
Comedic vibe: elegant endurance.
The country house butler. Efficient, formal, and perpetually trapped in increasingly absurd circumstances.
Comedic vibe: elegant endurance.