Pinole Community Players announces auditions for Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead - August 9-10, 2026

[Gregg Klein - Production Manager]

Auditions for “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard

Directed by Jason Berner

Auditions: 

     August 9, 6:00PM - 9:00PM; August 10 7:30-10:00PM

To schedule an audition, click this link:

     https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAA2EA1F9C61-64622599-pinole

Callback:

     August 15, 11:00AM - 2:00PM

Auditions, Rehearsals and Performances will take place at:

     Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Avenue, Pinole, CA  94564

Rehearsals begin the week of November 9, and continue through January 21, with breaks for Thanksgiving and the Christmas to New Year’s period. Rehearsals are generally M-Th, 7:00 - 10:00PM.

(NOTE: If cast as Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, or the Player, you may be asked to come to 2-3 rehearsals in late-October/early November, before the full rehearsal schedule begins.)

Tech week: January 17 - 21

Performances January 22 - February 7, 2027

• Fridays at 7:30PM
• Saturdays at 7:30 PM (1/23 and 2/6) and 2:00PM (1/30)
• Sundays at 2:00PM

Synopsis:

By turns hilarious and poignant, Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is one of the greatest plays of the 20th century. The play follows two minor characters from “Hamlet,” as they try to make sense of their fate in a world beyond their control.

Character Breakdown:

     Characters (All roles are available):

     Please note: In keeping with the spirit of Shakespeare’s original production wherein         women’s roles were played by men—for this production, the roles of Rosencrantz and       Guildenstern will be played by women.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern:

•  Female, late 20’s - 30’s. 
• Any race or ethnicity. Courtiers to the Danish king. 
• They are the epitome of “everywomen” 
• Somewhat interchangeable, but both highly articulate and given to philosophical musings. Guildenstern is perhaps a bit smarter than Rosencrantz; Rosencrantz is perhaps a bit nicer.

The Player:

• 40’s and up. 
• Any race or ethnicity. 
• A “capital-A” Actor: Big. bombastic, somewhat demonic. 
• British accent preferred. 
• Male and female actors will be considered for this role.

Hamlet: 

•  Y’know, Hamlet. 
• Prince of Denmark. 
• Melancholy Dane. Do we really need a character description of Hamlet? 
• Hamlet will be played by a male-presenting actor.

The Ensemble:

• 5-8 people, male and female, any ages/ethnicities.

• The members of the ensemble will serve as the Player’s troupe of tragedians, as well as the characters from “Hamlet” that appear throughout the play (Claudius, Polonius, Ophelia, etc.).

• We are especially seeking performers with special skills: Musicians, dancers, jugglers, gymnasts, etc., etc. (The Ensemble will have a lot of fun, I promise.)

Audition Prep:

• For the audition, please prepare a 2-3 minute contemporary monologue, ideally one that demonstrates the ability to handle complex language.

• If interested in the Ensemble, please be prepared to demonstrate any special skills you care to share.