Auditions for The Taming of the Shrew
The Gazebo Players of Medfield are excited to announce open auditions for their Summer 2026 production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.
Auditions will be held on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 PM at the T. A. Blake Middle School, 24 Pound Street, Medfield. Callbacks, if needed, will be held Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 PM at the Blake Middle School. Rehearsals will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings starting Monday, May 18. Rehearsals will be at the Blake Middle School until school closes in June, at which time rehearsals will move outside (or to rain space).
Performances will be on July 18 and 19 at the Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield, July 25 and 26 at the Paul Revere Heritage Site in Canton, and on August 1 and 2 at Bird Park in Walpole. All performances start at 5:00 PM and are free to the public.
This 24th annual summer Shakespeare in the Park production will be directed by Gazebo Players Treasurer Steve Small. Steve previously directed our 2024 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, as well as indoor productions of Spider’s Web and Rumors with TCAN Players.
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” because many of Petruchio’s actions towards Kate would be considered abusive today. The play will be staged as a modern-day reality TV dating show; the problematic moments in the play are all part of the push for ratings. While the time period has been updated, Shakespeare’s original language will be preserved.
Auditioners should prepare a 1-2 minute monologue from any of Shakespeare’s comedies except The Taming of the Shrew. In addition to presenting your monologue, auditioners will do cold readings from the script in pairs or small groups.
You can make an audition appointment by visiting https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084EAEAA2BA5FD0-63042775-auditions. An appointment is not required, but auditioners are welcome to make one if they prefer to have their audition date planned in advance. Be prepared to fill out an audition form (including any previous experience) and to let us know your conflicts when you arrive. Or better yet, download the documents here and fill them out in advance.
Audition Form
Conflict Calendar
For more information about The Taming of the Shrew please contact producer Amy Klesert at 781-223-0651 or [email protected].
CHARACTER BRIEFS
The production will require 13 actors. Twelve of them will have one role, and the 13th member of the cast will have 4 small roles. The roles generally fall into two age ranges, those young enough to be contemplating marriage for the first time and those old enough to be their parents. The genders listed are those assigned by Shakespeare; non-traditional casting will be considered.
Baptista Male, older – Baptista is the father of both Katherine and Bianca. In this production he’s also the Producer of the reality TV show, setting the rules (Kate must be married before Bianca) and encouraging questionable behavior in the pursuit of ratings.
Katherine Female, younger – Kate is Bianca’s older sister and the titular shrew. She rebuffs all suitors and has no idea how she ended up on a reality TV show or why she has to participate.
Bianca Female, younger – Bianca is the younger, better-behaved (by 1590s standards) sister. She has multiple suitors, making her The Bachelorette.
Lucentio Male, younger – Newly arrived in Padua, he falls instantly in love with Bianca and becomes one of her suitors. He disguises himself as Cambio, a tutor, to gain access to Bianca and woo her.
Tranio Male, younger – Tranio is Lucentio’s servant. He spends much of the play disguised as Lucentio because Lucentio has disguised himself as Cambio.
Hortensio Male, younger – Hortensio is another one of Bianca’s suitors. He eventually disguises himself as Litio, another of Bianca’s tutors, to keep up with Lucentio. Hortensio is also a longtime friend of Petruchio’s and introduces him to Baptista as a suitor for Katherine.
Petruchio Male, younger – Petruchio arrives in Padua to find a wife but is more interested in a large dowry than falling in love. He agrees to woo Katherine when Bianca’s suitors pool their resources and promise to pay him if he marries her.
Gremio Male, older – Gremio is a contemporary of Baptista and the most hideously inappropriate of Bianca’s suitors. He is convinced his wealth and friendship with Baptista will prevail in the contest for Bianca.
Biondello Male but could be played by an actor of any gender, any age – Biondello is another of Lucentio’s servants. His duties are expanded when Tranio is disguised as Lucentio.
Grumio Male but could be played by an actor of any gender, any age – Grumio is Petruchio’s servant. He is another of Shakespeare’s servants who deliberately misunderstand their master to comic effect.
Merchant Male, older – Lucentio needs to present his father to Baptista to seal his engagement to Bianca, so Tranio and Biondello recruit a Merchant to impersonate Lucentio’s father.
Vincentio Male, older – Vincentio is Lucentio’s actual father, which leads to a comic confrontation with the Merchant when he arrives in Padua seeking Lucentio.
Servant/Curtis/Tailor/Widow Female preferred, any age – The Servant works in Baptista’s household and attends to Katherine and Bianca. Curtis is one of Petruchio’s servants, charged with keeping up his home while he’s away and preparing it for the arrival of Petruchio and Katherine after their wedding. The Tailor presents fashions for Katherine after the wedding, but Petruchio insists the clothes aren’t good enough for Katherine. After losing out in the Bianca competition, Hortensio marries a local widow who proves to be strong willed.
