January 22, 2023

Shakespeare From the Ground theater ensemble is pleased to announce the casting call for our first performances of of 2023. Please join us as the ghosts, intrigues, and madness of Denmark makes its way to the stages of La Crosse.

Characters with Expected Doubling:

Actor 1: Claudius, Ghost

Actor 2: Hamlet

Actor 3: Polonius

Actor 4: Laertes, Player King

Actor 5: Voltemand, Norwegian Captain, Messenger, Player Prologue

Actor 6: Player Lucianus, Fortinbras, Clown

Actor 7: Rosencrantz, Francisco, Ambassador

Actor 8: Guildenstern, Bernardo,

Actor 9: Osric, Marcellus, Player Queen

Actor 10: Horatio

Actor 11: Gertrude

Actor 12: Ophelia

We don’t believe in auditions.

We believe that auditions set the wrong working relationship and deeply disempower actors by limiting the opportunities for the performers.

The whole premise behind our ensemble is the enablement of our performers. We would rather cast a performer who is passionate about a role than one who fits some sort of "Right" mold.

Theatre from the Ground will always attempt to cast inclusively; just because someone has discouraged you from a role in the past does not mean you cannot, or should not, do it.

The way we work is much easier. We have a list of everyone who has worked with us or said that they’d like to. Every time we produce a show, we will publish a Character and Scene Breakdown and a sign up sheet.

Before you sign up for a role, we ask that you seriously consider:

Are you Available for the Important Dates?
Read Through: 11/09/2022
Rehearsals: Wednesday Nights, 11/09 - Show 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Show: 01/22/2023
What Roles would you like to play and why?

CASTING IS CLOSED

Read Through and Rehearsals will take place at:

Cappella Performing Arts Center
721 King Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

We are also looking for volunteers to join our bridge crew. These are the people that work behind the scenes to help make the magic happen.

VOLUNTEER!

Bridge Crew

First Mate

The First Mate sets the Captain up for Success.
The First Mate supports the Captain.
In her charge, to do or delegate:
• Collecting of Script Changes
• providing the prompt script
• checking in at least once a week
• identifying problems the Captain is missing
• follow-up and follow-through on problems
Chuck Charbeneau

The Captain sets the Players up for success
The Captain is in charge.
The Captain is not a director.

In his charge, to do or delegate:
• The Big Picture
• drafting the Charter
• how the group uses time
• first draft of the cutting
• casting
• making decisions
• a lot of miscellaneous bullshit
Not in his charge:
• anyone else's creative choices
• the script (after the first cutting)
Chief Engineer

The Engineer sets the Event up for success
The Chief Engineer is in charge of all the things that are a part of the event, but not a part of the play.
In her charge, to do or delegate:
• Venue Relations
• pre-show
• post show
• partnerships with outside forces (fundraiser, caterer, DJ, etc.)
• decor
• furniture setup
• designing and running bear-baiting
• etc.
The Engineer does not wait around for the Captain to ask for help. She makes the container that delivers every else's work to the audience
Privateer

A Specialist Willing to Help Make the Magic Happen by donating their skills and/or time..
For example:
• music
• fights
• blood
• ghosts
• makeup
• empanadas
• burnam wood
• costume contests
• intimacy choreography
• photographing the event
• cartographer: The Cutting
• metatheatrical social media campaigns
• flooding the space with bubbles at the exact right moment
• partnering with the venue to create themed cocktails that come out timed to toast with lord Capulet, drink a roofie with Juliet, and drink to Romeo’s sad last toast.
A Privateer does not wait around for someone else to check in. She checks in with whoever she needs to, and someone on Bridge Crew: could be Captain, the First Mate or the Chief Engineer.