Audition Announcement
Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Baron Kelly
AUDITION INFORMATION:
University Theatre auditions are open to all UW-Madison students, regardless of major.
Auditions: Friday, November 14 1-5 pm and 6-9 pm, Saturday, November 15 10 am – 2 pm; Vilas 1090
Note: November 14 1-5 pm and November 15 10 am – 2 pm priority for Little Women company.
Please sign up for a time via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D49AAA822AAF49-59916767-much#/
Callbacks: Sunday, November 16 10:00 – 11:30 am Vilas 1090
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Actors are encouraged to read the script prior to auditions. Perusal copies of the script are available in the Department of Theatre and Drama Main Office, 6173 Vilas, 821 University Ave, during regular hours 8 am-5 pm Monday to Friday. A digital copy may be accessed at the link here (note: not final script for performance – final script will be cut and edited).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15xv7uindQAFovgI8WdXKENZLYNXIt0Ln/view?usp=sharing
For Auditions:
Please prepare a 1-1.5 minute memorized Shakespearean monologue (not from Much Ado). Also, select one of the sonnets from this document to prepare (need not be memorized and hard copies will be available at auditions).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iT4hQdMKh7sv6iEFbBf3MvHzuKesod3p/view?usp=sharing
For Callbacks:
Actors called back will receive an email in advance with details.
THE PLAY:
The quintessential romantic comedy. Sparks fly when the mutually disdainful Beatrice and Benedick engage in their war of words against marriage and each other. Against the backdrop of the impending wedding of young lovers Hero and Claudio, the friends of Beatrice and Benedick scheme to bring the sharp-tongued antagonists into a “mountain of affection.” Deception, reversals, and outright villainy threaten to ruin the nuptials but love triumphs over all with wit, merriment, and charm.
Content advisory: This production contains themes of misogyny, emotional manipulation, and public shaming. It includes references to sex, deception, and staged death, as well as scenes of verbal aggression and implied threats of violence.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION:
Rehearsals begin: Table work December 2-5, 6-10 pm. Staging rehearsals begin Monday, February 23. Rehearsals for University Theatre will take place 6-10 pm Monday-Friday.
Performances: April 16-26, 2026 with a student matinee on Friday, April 24 at 10 am.
Venue: Mitchell Theatre
Student actors cast in this production must register for 1-3 credits of THEATRE 360.
For list of open roles, intimacy, violence, heightened content moments, go to https://theatre.wisc.edu/2025/10/24/university-theatre-auditions-for-much-ado-about-nothing-november-14-16/.
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Do you have questions?? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Artistic Director Aly Amidei at aramidei@wisc.edu or Director of Theatre Production Jahana Azodi at jazodi@wisc.edu