Auditions

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead Auditions

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is now accepting auditions from equity and non-equity members for the 2026 Shakespeare Festival production, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, written by Tom Stoppard and directed by Tom Ridgely.

IN-PERSON AUDITIONS

Virtual submissions open now. In-person auditions and callbacks for video submissions will be held on January 23, 2026 at 3333 Washington Ave St. Louis, MO 63103 from 10 am to 6 pm. Please note, we will break for lunch from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

Callbacks will take place on January 24, 2026 from 10 am-6 pm with a lunch break from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

First Rehearsal – Feb 24, 2026
Opening – Mar 26, 2026
Closing – April 11, 2026

Audition Tips:

Read for only one role
Memorize the side, or at least get the point where you don’t need to constantly look at the paper
Research the play, role, and side. What’s happening in the larger story here?
Try and present a cohesive creative vision. Be the director of your own audition. Make choices about who your version of the character is. You want your audition to be distinct and to have a point of view.
No accents please. Please use your natural voice.

ACTOR BREAKDOWN

All characters may be played by actors of any race/ethnicity.

GUILDENSTERN (18-30, any gender)

A young gentleman, childhood friend of Hamlet. Ever so slightly alpha.

ROSENCRANTZ (18-30, any gender)

A young gentleman, childhood friend of Hamlet. Ever so slightly beta.

PLAYER/LUCIANUS (30-60, any gender)

The consummate showman and a man of the world. Has seen it all and then some. At the end of the day, a pragmatist and survivor. Has almost no principles other than dedication to his craft. A cynic and an idealist as it suits him.

HAMLET (18-30, male)

A prince, but mostly a college student. Brilliant, brooding, more tortured than melancholy. Thinks and feels intensely. Light on his feet, literally and figuratively.

CLAUDIUS (30-45, male)

Hamlet’s uncle and mighty opposite, now step-father and king. Charismatic, ruthless, in a little over his head.

POLONIUS/AMBASSADOR (35-50, male)

A chatterbox and a meddler. Advisor to the king.

GERTRUDE (35-50, female)

Graceful, elegant, nobody’s fool.

OPHELIA (18-30, female)

Intensely, operatically passionate; devoutly religious.

ALFRED/PLAYER QUEEN (14-21, male)

An apprentice player, still a boy. Intimacy required

PLAYER KING/SOLDIER/ENGLISH KING/HORATIO (21-35, male)

A versatile tragedian.

AUDITION PROCESS

Please sign up for an audition slot by using the form linked below.
Upload your resume and headshot here.

Questions? Email Megan Gooch at Megan@STLShakes.org

Audition Sign Up Audition Sides

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