AUDITION INFORMATION

Twelfth Night: A Musical Adaptation Of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah & Shaina Taub
Music & Lyrics by Shaina Taub
Directed by Ashton Botts
Music Direction by Ashley Jones Rivers
Choreography by Emara Neymour Jackson
May 29th-June 14th, 2026

AUDITION AND CALLBACK INFORMATION

Auditions will be held Saturday, March 7th from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Olathe Civic Theatre Association, 500 E. Loula.

Callbacks will be by invitation only on the evening of Sunday, March 8th from 6:00-9:00 pm at Olathe Civic Theatre Association, 500 E. Loula.  

If you want to audition, but are unable to attend on March 7th, please submit a video audition by following the directions below.

**Actors of all ethnicities, abilities*, and gender identities are welcome and encouraged to audition. We will only be considering actors ages 16+.**

**Please note that actors will be required to navigate stairs to the dressing room, as well as a spiral staircase leading to the stage.**

ABOUT THE SHOW

After a shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian, Viola disguises herself as Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who sends her to woo the countess Olivia on his behalf. Olivia falls for Cesario, Viola falls for Orsino, and when Sebastian arrives, mistaken identities erupt into comic chaos. Meanwhile, Olivia’s household—Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, Feste, and Malvolio—stirs up mischief that upends class, power, and self-importance.

Shaina Taub’s musical adaptation blends Shakespeare’s language with a contemporary, actor-driven score influenced by folk, pop, and indie musical theatre, featuring intimate ballads and playful ensemble numbers that celebrate gender fluidity and the joyful mess of love.

The cast original recording is available on Spotify and YouTube. 

WHAT TO PREPARE/BRING

Sign up for a vocal audition time and complete the audition form prior to auditions, using the links for each.

Please bring a copy of your resume and current headshot if available and provide all conflicts from April 26th through June 14th, 2026. If you do not have a headshot or resume, please do not let that stop you from auditioning!

General auditions will consist of a vocal audition and a dance audition.  

Vocal auditions should be about 32 measures or one minute long. Please bring marked sheet music with you for our accompanist. No tracks, please. Auditioners are ENCOURAGED to prepare a song from the show. 

ALL AUDITIONERS are expected to participate in the dance audition at 1:30 p.m., regardless of your vocal audition time. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothes you feel comfortable moving in. 

If you cannot attend auditions in person, please complete an audition form and submit your audition video via a link in the audition form. 

Callbacks will include additional cold readings from the script, vocal selections, and dance. All callback material can be found here. All auditioners may access and view in advance of callbacks. If you are invited to callbacks, please bring a copy of the applicable callback material with you. 

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Rehearsals will generally be Sunday afternoons from 2-6 p.m. and Monday-Thursday evenings from 6:30-10p.m. beginning April 26, 2026. All rehearsals will be held at OCTA, 500 E. Loula St. Olathe, KS. Please note that Tech Week begins during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and rehearsal will be held as usual. Rehearsals during Tech Week may extend until 11 p.m.

Performance dates are as follows: 

Friday, May 29th, 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 30th, 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 31st, 2 p.m.
Friday, June 5th, 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 6th, 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 7th, 2 p.m.
Friday, June 12th, 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 13th, 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 14th, 2 p.m.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Actors do not need prior Shakespeare experience. While TWELFTH NIGHT is rooted in Shakespeare’s story and language, this adaptation is not written in strict iambic pentameter. The text blends modern speech patterns with Shakespearean phrasing, making it highly accessible and conversational. 

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

All roles are open to actors of any race/ethnicity. Gender identities listed reflect character identity; casting is flexible and inclusive.

FESTE (any adult age, female presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano (folk/pop sensibility essential). Busking musician. The fool and truth-teller. Often functions as narrator/commentator. Strong musical instincts and connection with audience are important. Feste plays the piano and preferably the accordion.

VIOLA / CESARIO (20s-30s, female presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano (strong mix, expressive storyteller). A young woman. Smart, emotionally open, grounded. Requires ease with Shakespearean text and contemporary musical storytelling. 

SEBASTIAN (20s-30s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Tenor.  Viola’s twin. Warm, earnest, romantic; often mirrors Viola’s emotional openness.

DUKE ORSINO (30s-40s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Baritone. Duke in Illyria. Romantic, self-dramatizing, sincere. 

OLIVIA (30s-40s, female presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano. Countess in Illyria. Witty, controlled, passionate beneath the surface. Strong comedic timing and emotional clarity.

MALVOLIO (40s-60s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Tenor. Servant to Olivia. Rigid, self-serious, status-conscious. 

MARIA  (30s-40s, female presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano. Lady-in-waiting to Olivia. Clever, confident, socially sharp. Strong comedic presence and musical storytelling.

SIR TOBY BELCH  (40s-60s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Baritone or Bass.
Olivia’s uncle. Boisterous, indulgent, charismatic. Physical comedy and ensemble leadership important.

SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK (30s-50s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Bari-tenor. Friend to Toby. Earnest, foolish, endearing. Comic vulnerability over broad farce.

ANTONIO (20s-30s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Bari-tenor. A young man. Friend to Sebastian. Devoted, emotionally grounded. Often carries romantic or intimate subtext.

FABIAN (30s-50s, male presenting, any race/ethnicity) Vocal Type: Baritone or Tenor. A member of Olivia’s household. Wry, observant, and dryly comic rather than broad. 

ENSEMBLE – TWELFTH NIGHT requires ensemble members who will play a variety of featured roles and Illyrian townspeople. They are essential to the story and to bringing Illyria to life. 

QUESTIONS

Please email all questions to director Ashton Botts (ashton.j.botts@gmail.com).