Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Announces Auditions for 2026 Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) is seeking Equity actors for its 2026 production of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Auditions will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a break from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Actors interested in participating are encouraged to request an audition slot via the CSC website: https://commshakes.org/auditions.
The production, contracted under a League of Resident Theatres (LORT) agreement with a weekly minimum of $710, will rehearse indoors in Boston, Massachusetts, before transferring to the CSC’s outdoor performance space on the Boston Common for technical rehearsals and performances. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin between June 22nd and 29th, 2026, with performances running from July 22nd to August 9th, 2026, and potentially extending through August 13th, 2026.
Auditionees are asked to prepare a 2-minute Shakespeare monologue, preferably in verse, and may be asked to present a second, short contemporary contrasting monologue. According to a company release, the production team is particularly interested in seeing diverse talent. “Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition,” the notice states.
The creative team includes Founding Artistic Director and Production Director Steven Maler, Associate Artistic Director and Text Coach Bryn Boice, and Artistic Programs Manager Victoria Townsend. An Equity monitor will not be present, with the producer overseeing all aspects of the audition process.
Role Breakdown
CSC is seeking actors for the following roles:
- Theseus/Oberon: (Male, 30s-40) Theseus, the Duke of Athens, is portrayed as a compassionate leader, though somewhat preoccupied with his upcoming nuptials. Oberon, the King of the Fairies, is characterized by his quick temper, jealousy, and mischievous humor.
- Hippolyta/Titania: (Female, 30s-40) Hippolyta, set to marry Theseus, is depicted as his equal in wit and strength, a former Queen of the Amazons with a warrior’s background. Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, is strong, resilient, and deeply caring for her fairies and the forest, loving Oberon but fiercely independent.
- Puck/Philostrate: (Any gender, any age) This role requires an actor who moves well and embodies mischief and inventiveness. Puck, assistant to Oberon, is a playful storyteller with a strong sense of dance and movement.
- Bottom: (Any gender, any age) Bottom, the self-proclaimed “star” of the Mechanicals, is a performer whose ambition may exceed his skill. The role demands an actor who moves well and undergoes a humbling experience in the forest.
- Peter Quince: (Any gender, 30s plus) Quince, the director of the Mechanicals’ play, is an earnest visionary attempting to manage the ensemble’s chaos.
- Flute: (Likely male, 20s-30s) A strong-willed performer who is arguably more suited for the lead role, Flute serves as a foil to Bottom and plays “Thisbe” in the play-within-a-play.
- Helena: (Female, 20-30s) Helena is a passionate, often self-deprecating young woman consumed by her unrequited love and follows her affections into the forest.
- Hermia: (Female, 20-30s) A strong-willed young woman, Hermia defies her father and the Duke to elope with her beloved Lysander.
- Demetrius: (Male, 20s-30s) Demetrius is a proud and somewhat arrogant young man whose affections waver between Hermia and Helena due to the intervention of fairy magic. The role requires an actor who moves well.
Actors should bring their Equity Membership cards to the audition. This production promises a vibrant and inclusive theatrical experience, bringing Shakespeare’s timeless comedy to life for audiences in Boston and beyond.
