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Saturday, November 30, 2019

December 7 and 9: open auditions

URI Theatre sets auditions for ‘Richard III’
Image result for richard iii
Royal Shakespeare Company photo
The University of Rhode Island Theatre Department will hold auditions in early December for Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” the first production of the spring semester. Auditions are open to the public.

Auditions will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, and callbacks will be Monday, Dec. 9, with all sessions in G Studio at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus.

Written around 1593, “Richard III” is one of Shakespeare’s 10 history plays, chronicling the bloody, Machiavellian rise and short reign of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

As the play opens, Richard’s brother Edward IV is king. Richard manipulates Edward into imprisoning their older brother Clarence, and then has Clarence killed. 

When the ailing King Edward dies, Richard stages events to ascend to the throne, imprisoning both of Edward’s sons and having them killed. 

After he is king, Richard disposes of his wife, Lady Anne, to marry his niece Elizabeth of York. But rebellious nobles rally to the banner of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and threaten Richard’s hold on the crown.

Actors who plan to audition should read the play and prepare and memorize a one- to two-minute speech in verse from Shakespeare. Between 10 to 12 actors will be cast to play all the roles in the play.


On Dec. 7, auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in G Studio. The Dec. 9 callbacks will start at 7 p.m., also in G Studio. To sign up for an audition, call URI Theatre at (401) 874-5921, or register outside the URI Theatre Office on the second floor of the Fine Arts Center.

The first read-through of the play is set for Sunday, Dec. 15, and rehearsals are scheduled to begin Sunday, Jan. 12. “Richard III,” directed by Joe Short ’06 and Josh Short ’08, opens Feb. 20 in J Studio. The play runs Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 27-March 1.

URI Theatre is committed to equal opportunity and non-traditional casting. Productions strongly encourage any and all students, staff, faculty, or members of the community to audition and participate in URI productions. 

There is no discrimination based on sex, race, color, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran or disability status.