Romeo & Juliet auditions

Shakespeare’s timeless tale of romance, blood feud, and tragic fate is perhaps one of his most well-known works. Romeo, infatuated with the unseen Rosaline, meets the daughter of his family’s sworn enemy at a party. Their whirlwind romance, subsequent secret marriage, and then ensuing fallout all create a cataclysmic storm of death, destruction, and disaster.

This inaugural production of the Gulf Coast Shakespeare Company, directed by Sarah Grammar Warnberg, will take us back in time to renaissance Verona where secrets, honor, and restrictive social expectation push and pull an ill-fated cast of characters toward tragedy.

SCHEDULING INFORMATION:

  • Audition dates: Friday, February 19; Saturday, February 20; and Sunday, February 21, 2027

  • Audition location: The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, 1600 Government St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (In-person audition encouraged; Virtual audition option available)

  • Rehearsals: February 27 - April 22, 2027

  • Performance dates: April 23 - 25, 2027

  • Performance location: The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, 1600 Government St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

In-person auditions will consist of cold reads from Romeo & Juliet. Actors wishing to audition for Juliet, Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, Friar Lawrence, or Nurse may prepare the appropriate monologues found below (encouraged but not required).

Prior Shakespeare experience is not required. We encourage everyone, especially newcomers to Elizabethan theater and of any experience level or background, to audition.

Complete the form below to sign up for auditions. Email virtual auditions to sarah@gulfcoastshakespeare.org. For virtual auditions, please film yourself performing one of the monologues found below.

MONOLOGUES:

  • Romeo - Act II, Scene II (“He jests at scars that never felt a wound…”)

  • Juliet - Act IV, Scene III (“Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again…”)

  • Mercutio - Act I, Scene IV (“O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you…”)

  • Benvolio - Act III, Scene I (“Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay…”)

  • Friar Lawrence - Act V, Scene III (“I will be brief, for my short date of breath…”)

  • Nurse - Act I, Scene III (“Even or odd, of all days in the year…”)

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

  • ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. 25-55, any gender.

  • MERCUTIO, kinsman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo. 17-25, male.

  • PARIS, a young Nobleman, kinsman to the Prince. 20-40, male.

    • Page to Paris. 14-30, any gender.

  • MONTAGUE, head of a Veronese family at feud with the Capulets. 35-65, male.

  • LADY MONTAGUE, wife to Montague. 25-45, female.

  • ROMEO, son to Montague. 15-19, male.

  • BENVOLIO, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo. 15-25, male.

  • ABRAM, servant to Montague. 15-35, any gender.

  • BALTHASAR, servant to Romeo. 15-35, any gender.

  • CAPULET, head of a Veronese family at feud with the Montagues. 35-65, male.

    • SAMPSON, servant to Capulet. 15-35, any gender.

    • GREGORY, servant to Capulet.15-35, any gender.

  • LADY CAPULET, wife to Capulet. 25-35, female.

  • JULIET, daughter to Capulet. 13-18, female.

  • TYBALT, nephew to Lady Capulet. 15-30, male.

  • CAPULET’S COUSIN, an old man. 40+, male.

  • NURSE to Juliet. 25-40, female.

    • PETER, servant to Juliet’s Nurse. 15-35, any gender.

  • Servants. All ages, any gender.

  • FRIAR LAWRENCE, a Franciscan. All ages, male.

  • FRIAR JOHN, of the same Order. All ages, any gender.

  • An Apothecary. All ages, any gender.

  • CHORUS. All ages, any gender.

  • Three Musicians. All ages, any gender.

  • An Officer. All ages, any gender.

  • Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen and Attendants. All ages, any gender.

DESIGN/TECHNICIAN FORM

Designers and technicians complete this form.

AUDITION FORM

Actors complete this form to audition.