Audition and Casting Information

We are excited for all upcoming auditions and to see the growth of our student performers. We encourage you to remember that while it's always nice to be cast, performing in the theatre season is not the only pathway to valuable growth and demonstration of your talent. It is important to note that students enrolled in the Theatre Performance concentration are not guaranteed to be cast in a Main Stage or Stage One production while studying at Wagner College. Throughout your time with WCT, you can expect world class education with industry professionals in the classroom, performances attached to courses in which you are enrolled, and the final Senior Showcase capstone presentation. We encourage all of our students to consider every opportunity to work on their craft as a performance and growth opportunity as important as any casting assignment.

Audition Schedule For Much Ado About Nothing 

 

Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

 

Auditions and callbacks for Much Ado About Nothing will be January 23-25.

Audition signups have now closed. If  you wish to audition please see stage management.

Upload headshot and resume here

Much Ado About Nothing will start rehearsals January 26, and they will be Monday through Friday, and Sundays. Tech/Dress is March 8-11. The production runs March 12-15.

Weekday hours will be 6:30-10:30pm and Sundays 12-6pm. Saturday will be the day off except for performance.

Please note any conflicts with these dates on your audition signup sheet.

Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

Auditions and callbacks for Much Ado About Nothing will be January 23-25.

Audition signups have now closed. If  you wish to audition please see stage management.

Upload headshot and resume here

 

THIS IS GOVERNMENT READING

Submissions for our staged reading of THIS IS GOVERNMENT are now closed. Callbacks will be held on January 24th from 12-3pm. Please find callback sides in the linked folder. 

Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

 

THIS IS GOVERNMENT will be presented in Stage One on April 11, 2026. This reading will be directed by Joey Donnelly. The rehearsal schedule is to-be-determined but is anticipated to only require a commitment from April 6-11, with possible preparatory meetings.

 

Auditions

 

Auditions and callbacks for Much Ado About Nothing will be January 23-25.

Audition signups have now closed. If  you wish to audition please see stage management.

Upload headshot and resume here

Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

 

Much Ado About Nothing Casting Notice

With love, intrigue and mischief in the air, William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing blends equally comedic and deeply vulnerable moments in this classic love story. Join us for a summer in modern day Messina as love blossoms, tensions rise and sparks fly. For auditions, please bring a printed headshot and resume and prepare a 1-2 minute Shakespeare monologue in the style of the show. If you have yet to encounter this play, it is highly recommended that you either read or watch it before auditioning. Feel free to reach out to Sierra Friday if you have any questions about appropriate audition material or the show itself. 

 

Character Descriptions

Beatrice – a highly independent woman. Possesses an intellect that few can match. Quick and witty. Niece to Leonato and fiercely protective of her cousin, Hero.

Benedick – a lord and soldier in Don Pedro’s army. A good time and can always be counted on for entertainment. Sharp and humorous. Swears adamantly that he will never marry. 

Leonato – governor of Messina. A rather jolly older man. Father to Hero and uncle/guardian of Beatrice.

Hero – Leonato’s daughter. A “sweet lady”. Becomes engaged to Claudio. Cousin and close friend to Beatrice.

Don Pedro – Prince of Aragon and leader of an army. Friends with Benedick and Claudio, despite holding authority over them. Half brother to Don John.

Claudio – a count and a soldier in Don Pedro’s army. Falls in love with Hero. Rather young and easily swayed by others.

Don John – the “bastard” half brother to Don Pedro. Delights in causing mischief as a distraction from his melancholy. 

Borachio – attendant to Don John. Loud and boisterous, his name is derived from the Latin “burrus” meaning flushed with drink. Lover to Margaret.

Conrade – attendant to Don John. A gentleman. Deeply loyal and ready to assist Don John in any way. Often the voice of reason.

Ursula – attendant to Hero and a member of Leonato’s household.

Margaret – attendant to Hero and member of Leonato’s household. Lover to Borachio.

Dogberry – Master Constable. Head of Leonato’s personal watch. Sees his job, and therefore himself, as very important. What he lacks in competence he makes up for in enthusiasm.

Verges – Deputy Constable. Dogberry’s second in command. Deeply loyal to Dogberry. Perhaps the small amount of brains in the operation.

The Watch – a bumbling crew of night watchmen who observe Leonato’s estate in Messina. Simple folks who accidentally discover Don John’s complex plot against Hero.

Sexton – oversees the hearing of Borachio and Conrade vs. Dogberry and his watch.

Friar Francis – a priest. 

Balthasar – a servant to Leonato.

 

Casting Breakdown

Beatrice*

Benedick°

Prince (Don Pedro)°/Second Watchman°

Leonato°/Sexton°

Claudio°/First Watchman°

Hero*/Additional Watch°

Dogberry^/Messenger^/Servant^/Balthasar^

Don John°/Verges^

Borachio°/Ursula*

Conrade°/Friar^/Margaret*

 

°Denotes characters that will be played as Male

*Denotes characters that will be played as Female

^Denotes a character whose presentation will be discussed in rehearsals

Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

 

Auditions and callbacks for Much Ado About Nothing will be January 23-25.

Audition signups have now closed. If  you wish to audition please see stage management.

Upload headshot and resume here

 

Auditions

This is Government

Wagner College Theatre Spring 2026, April 11th

Director: Joey Donnelly

This is Government was the 2025 Stanley Drama Award winning play, written by Nina Kissinger. It received its first Off-Broadway production this fall.

It’s summer in Washington, DC and three congressional interns are fielding constituent calls before yet another workplace lockdown begins. While everyone outside investigates a suspicious red Camry, they find themselves stuck in the one place no one has ever wanted to work overtime: the US government.

As their patience and snack supply runs out, they follow clues and evidence to get to the bottom of how this situation unfolded and why. A comedy with heart, This is Government grapples with the real-time consequences of political disarray.

Auditions:

  • Submissions for our staged reading of THIS IS GOVERNMENT are now closed. Callbacks will be held on January 24th from 12-3pm. Please find callback sides in the linked folder. 

    Make sure you’re signed into your Wagner College gmail account, since only members of Wagner College have access.

     

    THIS IS GOVERNMENT will be presented in Stage One on April 11, 2026. This reading will be directed by Joey Donnelly. The rehearsal schedule is to-be-determined but is anticipated to only require a commitment from April 6-11, with possible preparatory meetings.

All roles are open to all races/ethnicities.   

CASTING BREAKDOWN: 

Emi: 

  • Summer Intern. A recent college graduate (22). An optimist with an anxiety disorder. She/her.

Tip: 

  • Summer Intern. A college student (21). An idealist who moonlights as a slam poet. He/him.

Kaz:

  • Staff Assistant and former intern (24). A realist because they’ve had to be. They/them.