SHADOWLANDS
a play
by William Nicholson
Directed by Keith Stevens
Description:
The Western Reserve Playhouse is pleased to announce auditions for Shadowlands by William Nicholson (known for screenplays: Les Miserables, Gladiator, and Unbroken). Shadowlands is the unlikely true-life love story between noted British Christian author C.S. (Jack) Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) and American writer Joy Gresham, who happens to be both Jewish and divorced. Before Joy and her son unexpectedly drop into Jack's life, he led a comfortable bachelor existence, teaching, writing, and lecturing at Oxford. Once Joy appears, things dramatically change. He is forced to approach everything, including his personal faith in God, from his heart, not his mind.
Audition Dates:
Tuesday: 11/07/23 From 6 pm -9 pm
Wednesday: 11/08/23 from 6 pm - 9pm
Audition Location:
The Western Reserve Playhouse
3326 Everett Road
Bath, Ohio 44286
Callbacks: As Needed
Performances: Only Seven Shows - January 26-February 10, 2024 (Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM and February 3, 2024, Sunday at 2PM)
Rehearsals: Will begin around Rehearsals will run Sunday-Thursday (evenings) based on cast availability. This is a 5 week rehearsal process 6:30-9PM or 7:00-10PM
Audition Requirements:
Auditions will be composed purely of cold read from the script.
How to sign up:
Please sign up here:
for a 10-minute audition slot. Please bring a headshot and resume if you have one. We also are asking for all conflicts at this time from_11/29/23 - 02/10/24_. Tech week starts January 21, 2024 and no conflicts will be accepted.
Video submissions are also accepted, they are due by midnight_11/08/23_. Please include a one minute monologue, please attach to the email a resume, headshot or photo, preferred roles auditioning for and all conflicts to August Scarpelli at_august@thewrp.org_. Please put in the subject Shadowlands Video Auditions
If you are unavailable to attend and do not have the capability of sending in a video - Please email
august@thewrp.org for further inquiry.
No equity contracts available at this time. All positions are volunteer.
Roles are open to all races, ethnicities, gender/gender identities, body types, ages, and abilities, unless directly specified by the playwright as integral to their storytelling. Age range/gender listed below are the recommended ages/genders in the script, but are flexible to the interpretation. None of these parts are precast.
Roles that are available.
CS (Jack) Lewis - Precast
Major W H (Warnie) Lewis - Jack's older brother and housemate, who is also a confirmed bachelor who has shared Jack's life and the family house for years. He is quiet, unassuming, but always there for Jack.
Professor Christopher Riley - a colleague of Jack's at Oxford and a devout atheist. He is diffident, arrogant, and more than a bit sarcastic. He enjoys verbal jousts with Jack about any and all issues including Jack's writings and Christianity.
Reverend "Harry" Harrington - Anglican priest at Oxford who is part of Jack's inner circle, and with whom Jack exchanges ideas about his faith.
Joy Gresham, nee Davidman - PreCast
Douglas Gresham - 8-year-old son of Joy, who accompanies her on her trip to England.
Other roles will be combined as follows:
Male presenting- Alan Gregg/Doctor
Male presenting- Dr. Maurice Oakley/waiter in tea room/priest
Male presenting- Registrar's clerk/waiter in hotel
Female presenting- Registrar/nurse
During your audition prep, the director encourages all potential auditioners to consider as many roles as possible.
** If you have any questions, or would like to audition but are unavailable at the prescribed times please contact August Scarpelli at
August@thewrp.org