Auditions

CSC2 2026 Production: Romeo & Juliet

By William Shakespeare

Directed By: Bryn Boice

Please review the following carefully!

AUDITIONS

In-person audition:

Boston non-Equity in-person auditions will be held by appointment on Monday, January 5 from 6:00-10:00PM, and Sunday, January 11 from 11AM-5PM at The Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215. Please prepare a 1-2 minute Shakespeare monologue, and in case we need to see more, please have a second, short contrasting monologue on hand – either contemporary or Shakespeare is fine.

Submission form coming soon!

Virtual Submission:

You may prepare a video of a Shakespeare monologue of two (2) minutes or less. Please remember to include an introduction with your name, pronouns, and which play your monologue is from. We can only guarantee watching the first 200 videos received, so if you choose this option, choose early!** 

Virtual submission form coming soon!

**Please submit all video materials by Thursday, January 8th at 5pm. Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered. Again, we can only guarantee watching the first 200 submissions, so please submit early! Please make sure the video is  accessible to “anyone with the link” so that our full team can have access. Thank you!

CALLBACKS:

In Person: Monday, January 12th, with appointments to be scheduled 3:00-7:30PM at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215. 

Virtual: January 13th, TBD by appointment, daytime. 

RESPONSE TIME: ALL performers who submit through this listing or attend the in-person audition will receive a response by February 27, 2026 whether or not they are invited to a callback round (which may be held in person or on Zoom.)

This year’s CSC2 company will take place in two (2) phases:

*Phase 1: Stage2 Romeo and Juliet directed by Bryn Boice

First Rehearsal: Saturday, April 18th, 2026 (Full rehearsal schedule detailed below)

Performances: May 21-30, 2026 at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester, MA

10 Performers needed

*Phase 2: Shakespeare on the Common: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Founding Artistic Director, Steven Maler. Performers will be cast in smaller/ensemble roles and will understudy the AEA company for a ~seven-week engagement.

First Rehearsal: Tentatively scheduled the week of June 21, 2026

Production Dates: Tentatively July 22 – August 9, 2026

Additionally, the performers who continue to Phase 2 will also serve as monologue coaches for our 2026 Apprentice Program students tentatively scheduled to begin around June 15, 2026.

Note: Many but not all CSC2 performers will be asked to continue to this phase dependent on number of available roles. 

Compensation:

• For performers who participate in Phase 1, Romeo and Juliet only: $15 per hour on a W-2 for an estimated $2,115.00 total (OT eligible)
• For performers who participate in the full engagement, Phases 1 & 2: Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare on the Common’s Midsummer, and Monologue Coaching: $15 per hour on a W-2 for an estimated $6,050.00 total (OT eligible)

Actors will be asked to indicate their interest/availability for the partial (Phase 1 only) or whole (Phase 1 and 2) CSC2 engagement on their audition form. Many but not all performers will be asked to sign on for all phases, though individuals only available for Phase 1 are still encouraged to audition! There is no Phase 2-only option. 

Note: No actors enrolled in any kind of undergraduate or graduate program in the Spring of 2026 will be seen at auditions unless this is cleared by your advisor or head of department beforehand. Additionally, only non-equity performers are eligible for CSC2/Stage2.

The Stage2 production will be rehearsed at Boston Center for the Arts’ Arts Resource Room (ARR) and then will transfer to Boston’s historic Strand Theatre for tech and performances. Please review the below tentative rehearsal and production schedule against your schedule thoroughly before applying: 

First Read-Through: April 18, 2026 6-10pm

Rehearsals: These will run at the BCA from April 18-May 16, Tuesdays through Fridays from 6:00-9:45pm and Saturdays 12:30-8:00pm. Sundays and Mondays are off until tech. Tech/Dresses: May 18, 19, and 20 at the Strand (one shorter day, and two 8 out of 10s)

Performances: May 21-30, 2026 at the Strand. These are weekday student matinee performances with talkbacks immediately after, at 10:00am Tuesdays-Thursdays, and 11:00am on Fridays. There are also two public performances: Saturday May 30 at 2pm and 7pm (closing). NOTE: There are no shows on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday of Memorial Day weekend (5/23 – 5/25).

Shakespeare on the Common will be rehearsed at a location in Boston TBA, starting mid June, then will transfer to our outdoor mainstage on the Boston Common. (Tech and Performances span mid-July to August 9th, 2026.)  Full casting of CSC2 for this production will take place in the spring, likely after Stage2 closes. Roles will include ensemble and smaller speaking parts, as well as understudying the AEA cast. Please note: outside work and conflicts are discouraged during this window.

During this time, CSC2 also fulfills a monologue coaching and mentoring role with our Apprentice Program, beginning approximately June 16, 2026. (Training for this coaching/mentorship takes place during the Stage2 rehearsal process.)

Transportation, parking, and housing will not be provided. We anticipate most roles for this production to be local-hire. Please indicate if you have local housing in the Boston area on your audition form.

Roles Available:

NOTE: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is an equal opportunity employer. Actors of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, gender expressions, and people with disabilities are encouraged to audition.

All actors will also play ensemble roles throughout. 

ROMEO – In love with love and ready to dive in. Feels disappointment and pain very deeply, as he does friendship, revenge, and bliss. (M or NB)

JULIET – She is youthful and spritely, slightly more careful in love than Romeo, but once it’s truly reciprocated, ready to dive in. (F)

LORD CAPULET  – A forceful presence, hard to argue with. (M or NB)

LADY CAPULET – Tries to be motherly, but lacks a certain skill. Is more into social hierarchy and getting her daughter married than further nurturing. (F)

FRIAR LAURENCE/LORD MONTAGUE – As Friar, a wise soul who preaches moderation, but ultimately gives bad advice. Gardening skills a plus! As Lord Mont., a worker who cares deeply for their son. Should not be in this feud, but does nothing to shut it down. (Any)

NURSE/LADY MONTAGUE – A Nurse, a bit of softness and fun in the otherwise stern Capulet household. Has a motherly feel. Grieves deeply. As Lady Montague, a quiet, worried soul who doesn’t do enough to shut the feud down. (F or NB)

MERCUTIO/PRINCE ESCALUS – As Mercutio, a rogue who likes a good time. Friend of Romeo. As Prince, the beleaguered ruler in the midst of crisis, and our guide through much of the play. Strong presence. (Any)

BENVOLIO – a bookish, more careful, friend of Romeo. Honest, funny, and caring. (Any)

PARIS – The possible future betrothed of Juliet, who never really gets a chance to woo. Perhaps a dude-bro. (Any)

TYBALT/APOTHECARY —  The fiery, upstart cousin of Juliet with something to prove. As Apothecary, a drugs & poison dealer who needs to have a sandwich. (Any)

DIRECTOR’S NOTE: For the entire group, we are looking for folks with inventive movement capability, text clarity, and a good combination of light and dark/comedy and tragedy in your work. Stage combat experience, dance, and even gardening ability a plus!  – BB

Please review our CSC2 page before signing up for an audition. Further questions?  Please reach out to us at: auditions@commshakes.org