Auditions for Litnet's Youtube Shakespeare Theatre!

[toni]

Dear Litnetters,

As our polls close, with Hamlet leading by 29.63%, it is clear that Hamlet, Prince of Denmark will be the play that will be performed for Litnet's Youtube Shakespeare Theatre!
We would like to thank you for your helpful inputs and participation.

It is therefore with excitement that I announce the start of the auditions! Now, here is the list of the main characters that you can audition for:

Hamlet
Claudius
Horatio
Laertes
Polonius
The Ghost
Ophelia
Queen Gertrude


Anyone who are interested in auditioning are recommended to record a reading of a monologue from the play itself, and send the audio file to NickAdams; our editor and co-director of photography at LuckyGodot@gmail.com

To quote the director, Daniel Benoit: "Feel free to audition for anything you like. Audition for as many roles as you desire. If we find more than one person auditioning for a role, we'll put a poll up. But this is certain; everyone will get a role, and probably everybody will have to play more than one."

After that, our casting director; Janine, will go through all the audio files and decide on the final cast list.

For any questions, don't hesitate to ask! We still need more actors so feel free to send in your audio file to NickAdams.


Don't forget to join our social group for updates!
Shakespeare Fan Club

Thank you very much for your time and looking forward to your participation!

[DanielBenoit]

So it begins!

Hello all, I am the director and co-director of photography and I will be auditioning for Hamlet and the Ghost.

[Janine]

Good job, Toni! This should be great fun. I hope you all help me decide who is the best in the final decision making. I don't want anyone to throw rocks at my computer or rotten tomatoes!

Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

So it begins!

Hello all, I am the director and co-director of photography and I will be auditioning for Hamlet and the Ghost.

I knew you were going for those two, Daniel. I think you would probably make an excellent Hamlet for sure; but I am not prejudging till I hear all the voices and performances. That is only fair, right?

[DanielBenoit]

Originally Posted by Janine

Good job, Toni! This should be great fun. I hope you all help me decide who is the best in the final decision making. I don't want anyone to throw rocks at my computer or rotten tomatoes!



I knew you were going for those two, Daniel. I think you would probably make an excellent Hamlet for sure; but I am not prejudging till I hear all the voices and performances. That is only fair, right?

Thanks! I'm sure you'll do just fine.

I've been listening to the final edit of my Ghost audition and it sounds quite uncanny and unlike me, I'm really excited!

[toni]

Aww, Janine, we have full trust in your judgment. But if you do, need help, I'd gladly assist you. Just say the word.
I, on the other hand am considering auditioning as Ophelia or Queen Gertrude.
(Though I secretly wish for a male role..)

[DanielBenoit]

Originally Posted by toni

Aww, Janine, we have full trust in your judgment. But if you do, need help, I'd gladly assist you. Just say the word.
I, on the other hand am considering auditioning as Ophelia or Queen Gertrude.
(Though I secretly wish for a male role..)

Play any role that your heart desires, it doesn't matter male or female.

[Janine]

Hey go for it Toni. I think you could be either one, even though you are very pretty; but you could also look very cool made up as a guy role....so who do you have inmind? Perhaps the male roles are more dynamic. Now we have to think of someone for Ophelia, that is if you don't take it; also Queen Gertrude. I would love to be her (probably just my fantasy and not reality), but I can't act and not sure I could recite well enough, though it is tempting to try it. We'll see...I am so familiar with her lines and I love what she says when Ophelia dies. I have the age/maturity behind me; but then again, someone young could easily play her and probably eons better than I can. I am getting a camera with a video on it; but not sure how long a vid it will take and besides I am camera shy...I better say in the background...I was just thinking outloud and fantasizing.

[DanielBenoit]

^Aww go for it Janine! I'm sure that you'll make a great Queen Gertude!

[Janine]

Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

^Aww go for it Janine! I'm sure that you'll make a great Queen Gertude!

Let me think about it. Let others please audition for the role. It was more a fantasy than reality; but thanks, Daniel, you are very sweet and flattering.

Now question - will the minor roles be played by the people in the major roles? I am thinking of the players and Rosencranz and Gildenstern and also the three guards and what about Fortenbras?

[DanielBenoit]

Originally Posted by Janine

Let me think about it. Let others please audition for the role. It was more a fantasy than reality; but thanks, Daniel, you are very sweet and flattering.

Now question - will the minor roles be played by the people in the major roles? I am thinking of the players and Rosencranz and Gildenstern and also the three guards and what about Fortenbras?

Minor roles will probably be played by the majors. I'll gladly audition for any minors, the ones that, in the end, are not taken.

[Janine]

Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

Minor roles will probably be played by the majors. I'll gladly audition for any minors, the ones that, in the end, are not taken.

OK, I might do well with a two liner........a small cameo role...

[NickAdams]

Just a thought, but what do I do with these audition clips? Do I pass them onto Janine?

[DanielBenoit]

What you should do is simply post them onto here. Janine will listen to them and make the decision. Sorry for the misunderstanding

By the way Nick, I'm e-mailing you my Ghost audition, but I'm holding off the photography for scene one and the Hamlet audition for a just a little bit.


By the way, for those who are still ambivelent on what role to play, here is what I'm looking for in each major role (this way already posted in the other thread, but it should be here as well):

Hamlet
Claudius
Horatio
Laertes
Polonius
The Ghost

We'll definitley need someone older to play Polonius, for he seems to be the only one in the play whose role simply cannot fit with a young actor.

We might be able to get away with having a young guy for Claudius, but the actor will have to have a ruff and jousty voice.

The uncanny effect of the ghost's voice can be achieved with special effects, but we'll still need someone who does not have in any way a soft voice.

Hamlet, Horatio and Laertes are great for any age and work easily with casting.

As for the female roles; it doesn't really matter how old or young our Gertude actress is, Gertude can also get away with being played by a young actress.

Ophelia again is great for any age and the actress auditioning should have a soft innocent voice.

[NickAdams]

Sounds good.

[DanielBenoit]

By the way, it is highly recommended that everyone involved in this production watch either or both the 1946 Lawrence Oliver version and 1996 Kenneth Branaugh film adaptions of Hamlet. Though I must warn you; stay away from the Ethan Hawke version at all costs!