Performances of Much Ado About Nothing Cancelled

August and September 2022

Shakespeare From the Ground theater ensemble is pleased to announce the casting call for our summer performances of 2022. Please join us as the love and intrigue of Messina plays out on several stages throughout the Coulee Region. We are excited to be working with our favorite summer partners, Ecker’s Apple Farm, and are thrilled to announce three new partnerships with performances of our show.

Not only will we be bringing the love, intrigue and scathing wit of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to life at Ecker’s Apple Farm, we will also be inviting our audiences to join us at Community Park in Onalaska in partnership with the Onalaska Art Keepers (OAK), for an evening of wine and merriment at Elmaro Vineyard, and finally, a more family focused production in partnership with the La Crosse Parks, Rec and Forestry department at Myrick Park.

CANCELLED

Characters with Expected Doubling:

Actor 1: DON PEDRO

Actor 2: DON JOHN, DOG BERRY

Actor 3: CLAUDIO

Actor 4: BENEDICK

Actor 5: LEONATO

Actor 6: CONRADE

Actor 7: BORACHIO

Actor 8: BALTHASAR, FRIAR FRANCIS, VERGES

Actor 9: ANTONIO

Actor 10: FIRST WATCHMAN, MESSENGER

Actor 11: HERO

Actor 12: BEATRICE

Actor 13: MARGARET

Actor 14: URSULA

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:

  1. Are you Available for the Important Dates?

    Read Through: 06/25/2022 - 6:30 PM location TBD
    Rehearsal: 08/06/2022
    Shows: 08/13, 08/20, 08/30, 09/17

  2. What Roles would you like to play and why?

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.

 
 

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.

VOLUNTEER!

Thank you to our summer partners for working with us on Much Ado About Nothing. We can’t wait to be back inside in a bar, where we belong!

We are currently looking for more bars and venues to partner with for our upcoming productions. Learn more by clicking Partner With Us.

One of Shakespeare's Plays, No Director, One Rehearsal, in a Bar.

Shakespeare from the Ground presents Much Ado About Nothing