Geauga Center for the Arts<https://www.gcarts.org/> is excited to announce our next production: AS YOU LIKE IT By William Shakespeare Directed by Chris Bizub In As You Like It, witty words and romance play out as the recently banished Rosalind and her best friend Celia seek out her exiled Uncle, Duke Senior, in the Forest of Arden. Deftly disguised in male attire, Rosalind and Celia run into Orlando, a young admirer of Rosalind's, who would do anything to prove his love for her. In yet another of Shakespeare’s classic comedic conundrums, both ladies devise a scheme to mentor Orlando in how woo his lady Rosalind, while hoping that doesn't catch on to their deception. PERFORMANCES August 29th, 30th, 31st, and September 5th, 6th, 7th Fridays - Sundays at 6:30pm (outdoors at Big Creek Park<https://geaugaparkdistrict.org/park/big-creek-park/>) Frances Hall Amphitheater 9160 Robinson Road Chardon, OH 44024 AUDITIONS Saturday, February 8th, 2025 - 12:00PM-3:00PM Sunday, February 9th, 2025 - 7:00PM-9:30PM Looking for actors ages 16 and up (this is not a youth production) AUDITION APPOINTMENTS: Please sign-up for a 5-minute slot at the link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45AEAA28A1FCCE9-54177518-asyoulike<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45AEAA28A1FCCE9-54177518-asyoulike#/> Once you have a sign up slot, please also fill out our electronic audition form located here: https://forms.office.com/r/8NfEqk37W8<https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Dst_Si0Ar0SuUXmU0LkxbjKTylwC_KdAtg1TSeewpUVUMkRQWEZWUjdFTUc0NDZJREJWRkpJWkNZSi4u&route=shorturl> WHAT TO PREPARE *actors should bring a headshot or recent picture, and resume (if you have one) *a list of conflicts from July 20th to September 7th *prepare a one-minute Shakespearean monologue/sonnet *actors may be asked to read from the script AUDITION/REHEARSAL LOCATION The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 12455 Merritt Road, Chardon, OH 44024 CALLBACKS Sunday, February 16th from 7:00PM-9:30PM [if needed] VIDEO AUDITIONS Actors unable to attend in-person auditions are welcome to submit a video audition to the director! If you are planning to send in a video audition, please send an email to director Chris Bizub at cmb164@1870.uakron.edu<mailto:cmb164@1870.uakron.edu> by Sunday, February 9th, 2025 at 9:00pm. Please include the following information: *an unlisted Youtube link to your audition video *a current headshot/resume *which characters you are interested in portraying *a list of your conflicts from July 20th to September 7th CHARACTERS - Rosalind (Female, 20s-30s) - The play’s heroine, she falls in love with Orlando and shortly thereafter is exiled from the ducal court by Frederick. Accompanied by Celia and Touchstone, she goes to the Forest of Arden disguised as a young man, Ganymede. In the forest, she is wooed by Orlando, who is unaware that she is, in reality, his beloved Rosalind. - Orlando (Male, 20s-30s) - Noble and pure of heart. His constant concern and care for Adam, the old family servant, immediately makes the audience esteem him. When he learns that his brother Oliver is planning to kill him, he leaves home and goes to the Forest of Arden with old Adam. In the forest, he attaches love poems addressed to Rosalind on all the trees. Finally, he and Rosalind are united and wed. - Celia (Female, 20s-30s) - She is Rosalind’s cousin and closest friend. When Rosalind is exiled by Celia’s father, Celia accompanies Rosalind to the Forest of Arden. Since Celia isn’t in love at the time, her practical answers to Rosalind’s queries about love help to explore the depth of Rosalind’s love for Orlando. Celia goes to the forest disguised as Aliena. Eventually she meets Orlando’s brother Oliver and falls in love with him. - Oliver (Male, 20s-30s) - He is supposed to teach his younger brother Orlando to be a gentleman, but he does not do so; he is a treacherous youth and tries to have Orlando killed. Orlando, however, saves him from being killed by a deadly snake and, later, from a fierce lioness, and finally the two brothers are reconciled. Oliver eventually falls in love with Celia. - Touchstone (Male, 20s-40s) - The court clown, he accompanies Rosalind and Celia to the Forest of Arden. There he falls in love with Audrey, a country woman. Touchstone is one of Shakespeare’s greatest “fools.” Yet he is very realistic in his philosophy, and he serves as a norm by which we can view the other characters. - Jaques (Male/Female, 20s-40s) - He is a man of the world, a free spirit. In his travels, he has affected Continental mannerisms of speech and dress, and he believes that his ideas are terribly profound when actually they are very shallow and very generalized. Jaques is satirized by almost everyone with whom he holds “deep discussions.” - Duke Senior (Male/Female, 40s-60s) - His ducal rights are usurped, and he is banished to the Forest of Arden by his younger brother, Frederick. Ultimately, his lands and his possessions are returned to him. - Duke Frederick (Male/Female, 40s-60s) - The “villain” of this comedy, he banishes his elder brother, and eventually he also exiles his brother’s daughter, Rosalind, from the ducal palace. - Silvius (Male, 20s-30s) - This shepherd represents the romantic lover in the pastoral genre of Elizabethan literature. He loves the shepherdess Phoebe, but she constantly rejects him; despite this fact, however, he pines for her throughout the play. - Phoebe (Female, 20s-30s) - As the pastoral girl who is the beloved of Silvius, she is a stock figure of this type of romance — that is, she rejects the advances of Silvius, while he suffers from the woes of love-sickness. Surprisingly, she falls wildly in love with Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise), yet finally she weds Silvius. - Adam (Male/Female, 50s+) - He is the de Boys’ old family retainer. He is dismissed by the nasty Oliver, and later he relates to Orlando that Oliver plans to kill Orlando while he sleeps. He accompanies Orlando to the Forest of Arden. - Corin (Male/Female, 40s+) - In contrast to Silvius, Corin is a real shepherd; he is quite knowledgeable about sheep and their care. His lines serve as a contrast to the courtly wit of Touchstone. - Audrey (Female, 20-30s) - This simple country woman serves as a contrast to the “town” characters. She has trouble expressing her thoughts and cannot fathom the wit of Touchstone, but their love is so rapturous that eventually they are wed. - Le Beau (Male/Female, 20s-40s) - She represents the court gossip, with a talent for propaganda and spin. - Amiens (Male/Female, 20s-40s) - An attendant of Duke Senior; they have has a light, delightful role, and in this role, they sing some of the most beautiful lyrics that Shakespeare ever wrote. - Charles (Male, 20s-40s) - A professional wrestler whom Oliver tells to kill — or at least, maim — Orlando. Ironically, Orlando wins the match. - William (Male, 20s-30s) - He is a stock country character who serves as a contrast to the pastoral lovers, Silvius and Phebe, and also as a contrast to the “town characters.” - Sir Oliver Martext (Male, 30s-60s) - This vicar is not too knowledgeable; he almost joins Touchstone and Audrey in wedlock, but Touchstone is dissuaded at the last moment by Jaques. - Jacques de Boys (Male, 20s-30s) The 2nd son of Old Sir Rowland de Boys…has been off at school for most of the play. - Dennis (Male/Female, 30s-60s) Servant of Duke Fredrick. - Ensemble Roles (Male/Female, Any Age) - Hymen, Pages and musicians, Lords in Duke Senior's forest court, Lords and ladies in Duke Frederick's court OTHER DETAILS: Geauga Center for the Arts is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. All actors cast are strictly volunteers. No AEA Contract(s) available. If you have any questions or would like to audition for this production, but are unable to attend regular auditions, please contact the director at cmb164@1870.uakron.edu<mailto:cmb164@1870.uakron.edu>. Also feel free to reach out with any questions you may have regarding the production.