Auditions for the historical drama
Ada & The Engine
by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Anne McEvoy

Audition Dates: Tues., December 6 and Wed., December 7 at 7:00 pm

Show Dates:  March 17 - April 8, 2023  Performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm (no performance on Easter)  Rehearsals will begin early February and be held Sundays - Thursday evenings, with the possible exception of tech week. 

Story:  As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soul mate Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada envisions a whole new world where art and information converge—a world she might not live to see. A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest dreams of the future. Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant pre-tech romance heralding the computer age.
"...succinct and pithy, moving story and emotions along at the clip of an electronically infused calculation.” —RepeatPerformances.org.
“What Gunderson achieves...is quite remarkable…a rare and special artistic achievement: an intelligent play about intelligent historical people that has been crafted by intelligent theatre artists for an intelligent audience.” —MyCulturalLandscape.com.

Cast:  We are seeking actors from all races/ethnicities for all roles.  
ADA BYRON LOVELACE: A curious, funny, brilliant British mathematician credited with writing the first computer program...in 1830. The fiery daughter of  Lord Byron...yes, THAT Lord Byron...befriends Charles Babbage and together they imagine a world where a thinking engine can have applications far beyond complicated calculations...including writing music. A woman of our time stuck in hers. Age 18 - 36. 

LADY ANABELLA BYRON: Ada's mother, late 40's. Since Lord Byron abandoned her and their one-month-old daughter, she's convinced the world is out to humiliate her. She is harsh, jealous, practical to a fault. 

CHARLES BABBAGE: 50's. A much respected polymath and gentleman, he is the perfect mentor and match for Ada. His salons are the hot ticket in London and he can be both charming and competitive. He respects Ada's non-traditional interest in "science" and is more than a little fond of her. 

LORD BYRON: Plays mid 30's. Proud and highly sensitive, Ada's father is adventurous, artistic, impetuous, brooding, and passionate. While he regrets abandoning his daughter, he has a history of running away from people he truly cares about...his capacity for love overwhelming him. 

MARY SOMMERVILLE:  40-50's. A well-respected science writer, Mary is pragmatic, sharply friendly, someone who will tell you when you're wrong. A mentor to Ada. 

LORD LOVELACE: 30's. Ada's husband...a proud, wanting man. Not madly in love with Ada but she'll do. 

Please prepare a one to two minute monologue using a British dialect (BP/Queen's English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPZkrRpJ4Zc).  Please bring a resume and headshot, if available. If you don't have a headshot, one of the Clague audition staff will take one at the auditions.  Please complete our online Audition Form.   When completed, please print and bring with you to the audition.  Additional information can be found on our Audition Page.  

For the safety of all involved, those wishing to audition must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  No appointment is necessary.  Auditions will be held at Clague Playhouse.  

Clague Playhouse is located at 1371 Clague Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145.  

For more information, call the Clague Playhouse Box Office, 440-331-0403 Wednesday - Saturday 1:00-6:00pm and leave a message for the director.