Auditions for
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen, adapted by Christina Calvit
Silver Spring Stage is holding auditions for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as adapted by Christina Calvit. The production will be directed by Madeleine Smith and produced by Maura Suilebhan.
This production of Pride and Prejudice was originally slated for our 2019/20 season and was in rehearsals before being shut down by the pandemic. We are thrilled to get a chance to finally bring this story to life and delighted that many original cast members and designers were able to return. Auditions are being held for the roles that remain to be filled.
Auditions will be held at Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD) Saturday, February 4 from 12:00pm-5:00pm and Sunday, February 5 from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Callbacks will be held on the evening of Monday, February 6. NOTE: It is possible callbacks will not be held for all roles due to the large cast size. The final cast will include 8-12 women and 8-10 men. Auditions will be held for the open roles for which a breakdown is provided below. All roles are open and unpaid.
To audition, actors need to Sign-Up HERE for a half hour slot. If slots fill up, please email prideandprejudice@ssstage.org. Walk-ups are encouraged but can only be accommodated as time permits.
Actors should prepare a one-minute, memorized monologue to perform at auditions. Please choose a monologue that best shows your talent, rather than one that best suits the play. All characters in Pride and Prejudice speak with an English accent. There will be a dialect coach available to the cast, however if you have a British accent in your acting arsenal, please be prepared to showcase it, if asked, in auditions. You may also be asked to cold read sides from the scripts. For callbacks, sides will be provided in advance.
Actors will need to fill out an audition form and submit a resume and headshot if available. The form may be downloaded HERE to print and fill out. Actors will need to note conflicts for the rehearsal process and run of the show, February 12 – May 14 (with the option to extend for an additional weekend). Rehearsals will be at Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901) and held 3-4 times a week on both weeknights and weekends, depending on cast availability. Due to ongoing construction in the theater, this production will perform at The Writer’s Center (4508 Walsh St, Chevy Chase, MD 20815). Tech and dress rehearsals will be April 22 – 28. Performances will run 4 weekends from April 28 – May 14, 2023 (with the option to extend for an additional weekend). Performances will be Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and three Sunday matinees at 2pm on April 30, May 7, and 14, and one Saturday matinee at 2pm on May 6. Brush up rehearsals will be held Thursday evenings before Friday performances. Cast attendance is required at all rehearsals as called by the director unless a conflict has been previously indicated. Cast must be available for tech and dress rehearsals, performances, and brush ups.
** If you have any questions, please email us at prideandprejudice@ssstage.org**
SHOW SYNOPSIS
A delightful adaptation of the story surrounding the Bennet sisters and their attempts to make their way in a society that deems them unsuitable. Our heroine, Lizzy, takes us along with her as she narrates the story while a chorus of townspeople help to create the atmosphere of gossip in which Lizzy and her family are attempting to hold their own. With a large cast and some intentional doubling of roles, this production promises to enchant Jane Austen lovers both on stage and off.
SETTING
English country towns in the early 19th century.
CHARACTERS
Actors may be asked to play multiple roles.
Mr. Bingley – (Mid-20s) A handsome, amiable, wealthy young gentleman from the north of England who leases Netherfield Park, an estate three miles from Longbourn, with the hopes of purchasing it. He is contrasted with Mr. Darcy for having more generally pleasing manners, although he is reliant on his more experienced friend for advice. He lacks resolve and is easily influenced by others.
Mr. Bennet – (50s/60s) Patriarch of the Bennet family and father of five daughters. A late-middle-aged, dryly sarcastic, kind, and level-headed man.
Mrs. Bennet – (Late 40s – early 50s) Wife to Mr. Bennet and mother of five daughters. A middle-aged, jovial, energetic, social climbing, faux hypochondriac who imagines herself susceptible to her “poor nerves” whenever things are not going her way. Her main ambition in life is to marry her daughters off to wealthy men. Whether or not any such matches will give her daughters happiness is of little concern to her.
Caroline Bingley – (20s) The vainglorious, snobbish sister of Charles Bingley.
Sir William Lucas – (mid-40s-60s) Father of Charlotte Lucas. He is inoffensive, friendly, and obliging by Nature.
Charlotte Lucas – (late 20s) Elizabeth’s friend who, at 27 years old (and thus very much beyond what was then considered prime marriageable age), fears becoming a burden to her family and therefore agrees to marry Mr. Collins to gain financial security. Charlotte is the daughter of Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas, neighbours of the Bennet family.
Mr. Collins – (20s/30s) Mr. Bennet’s distant second cousin, a clergyman, and the current heir presumptive to his estate of Longbourn House. He is an obsequious, ridiculous, and pompous man who is unreasonably devoted to his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Mr. Wickham – (Early 20s) Wickham has been acquainted with Mr. Darcy since infancy, being the son of Mr. Darcy’s father’s steward. An officer in the militia, he is superficially charming and rapidly forms an attachment with Elizabeth Bennet. He later runs off with Lydia with no intention of marriage, which would have resulted in her and her family’s complete disgrace, but for Darcy’s intervention to bribe Wickham to marry her by paying off his immediate debts.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh – (50s/60s) The overbearing aunt of Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine is the wealthy owner of Rosings Park, where she resides with her daughter Anne. She is haughty, pompous, domineering, and condescending, and has long planned to marry off her sickly daughter to Darcy.
Mr. Gardiner – (40s/50s) is Mrs. Bennet’s brother and a successful tradesman of sensible and gentlemanly character. The Gardiners are instrumental in bringing about the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth.
Mrs. Gardiner – (40s/50s) is genteel and elegant and is close to her nieces Jane and Elizabeth. The Gardiners are instrumental in bringing about the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth.
Townspersons A & B – Both function as the main town gossips.
Servants – Will double with other characters.
Militia – Will double with other characters.
Actors do not need to be the exact ages of the characters. Any actors under 18 are asked to have a guardian check them in at auditions or send an email to prideandprejudice@ssstage.org giving permission to audition.
Roles are open to actors of all ethnicities and genders, and actors should audition for roles that best fit their gender identity and expression. Additionally, actors of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are strongly encouraged to audition. The Pride and Prejudice team is committed to inclusive casting, and an actor’s race or ethnicity will not bar them from being considered for a family role alongside a cast member who does not share their racial or ethnic background.
If you have any questions, please email us at prideandprejudice@ssstage.org.
Silver Spring Stage is an all-volunteer community theatre. Roles listed above are open, and all roles are unpaid.
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