Actors Ensemble: Auditions for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - opens Oct. 2nd at Live Oak Theater

[Jerome Solberg]

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley (www.aeofberkeley.org) is holding open auditions for our Fall 2026 production in Live Oak Theater, Berkeley of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, directed by Jay Manley, assisted by Jane Goodwin.

After a long absence, Actors Ensemble of Berkeley (www.aeofberkeley.org) will return to the charming and intimate Live Oak Theatre for this reimagining of this theater classic. One of the most treasured comedies in English-speaking theater, Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST never fails to delight and amuse audiences - and it provides nine of the most delicious roles in the cannon. A madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret romantic engagements, and acute social class satire, EARNEST also contains one of the theater’s wittiest and most sophisticated texts.

Preliminary auditions are scheduled for the evenings of May 3 and 4, 6:30-9:30pm, and callbacks on Monday evening, May 11. Both auditions and callbacks will be at the Berkeley Oddfellows Lodge, 2288 Fulton Street, Berkeley, CA, United States, 94704, within walking distance of downtown Berkeley BART. In-person auditions are preferred, but video submissions will be accepted. Our auditions are open to all, and we actively embrace non-traditional casting. Role descriptions below are meant to describe the role itself, not necessarily the person playing the role.

EARNEST opens October 2nd and runs through Friday/Saturday and Sunday matinees through October 18th. Live Oak Theater is at 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, within a (longish) walking distance of downtown Berkeley BART. Rehearsals will begin mid to late August, weekday evenings and one weekend-rehearsal each week. Most rehearsals will be at Shotgun Studios, also in Berkeley within walking distance of north Berkeley BART.

You may sign up for an audition slot using the form below. In the form, there is another link to a sign-up genius form to choose a particular audition slot. In-person auditions will be scheduled in fifteen-minute blocks of 3; please arrive 15 minutes prior to your selected time. In the signup genius form, there is also a waiting list should all slots be filled, if you are on the waiting list please arrive as soon as you can and we will fit you in as best we are able. Should you need to submit a video audition, please follow the instructions within the form to submit your video(s). Don’t be a “no-show.” If your schedule changes, please let us know.

Non-AEA/no-pay. We provide up to $400 in expense reimbursements in alignment with AB5.

Audition Preparation: Please present a memorized, 2-3 minute comic monologue, either classic or contemporary. Because EARNEST is very much a play about words, ideally choose something that shows off your ability to speak clearly and distinctly, rather than a slang or street language piece. Sides will be provided for callbacks.

Roles in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST:

JACK WORTHING, aka “Earnest”: Jack is the protagonist, leading a double life as both the country guardian of his ward Cecily, and as a carefree rake in high-society London. Ultimately, he will discover that he is Algernon’s older brother. He is in love with Gwendolen. Late 20’s.

ALGERNON MONCRIEF: A second rogue with a double life - a witty, city dandy, but having created an alter ego: He has invented a fictional invalid friend named Bunbury, whom he must visit frequently to escape stuffy social obligations in town. He will fall in love with Cecily. Late 20’s.

GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX: The sophisticated and haughty daughter of Lady Bracknell, in love with Jack, specifically because she believes his real name to be Earnest. Late 20’s.

CECILY CARDEW: Jack’s inquisitive and adventurous ward who is obsessed with falling in love with a man named Earnest. Late 20’s.

LADY BRACKNELL: The formidable, larger-than-life, society gorgon, aunt to Algernon and mother to Gwendolen. This character may be portrayed by a woman, a man (as is often done) or a trans actor. 50’s-60’s, female presenting.

MISS PRISM: Cecily’s prissy and book-obsessed governess. She ultimately reveals the mystery of Jack’s origin: she inadvertently abandoned him as an infant, depositing him in a handbag in the cloakroom of London’s Victoria Station. She is secretly attracted to Rev. Chasuble. 50’s-60’s.

REV. CANON CHASUBLE: The local rector who harbors romantic feelings for Miss Prism. He becomes much in-demand as both Jack and Algernon seek him out to be re-baptised with the name of Earnest, in order to secure the love of Gwendolen and Cecily. 50’s-60’s.

LANE and MERRIMAN: Algernon and Jack’s butlers. While small roles, each has lovely opportunities to comment on class and social status. 50’s-60’s, any gender.

The Staff: Earnest is directed by Jay Manley and associate director, Jane Goodwin. Our producer is Jerome Solberg.

Resources: There are excellent films of Earnest available on Youtube, (you might check out the full Roundabout Theatre’s 2011 production or snippets from the current National Theatre Live offering). The complete text is readily available on-line.

Speech: We will not attempt authentic British accents; rather, we will go for very precise, clipped, “trippingly-on-the-tongue” speech. We are considering adjusting the time setting from 1890’s Victorian England to the 1930’s – think Noel Coward elegance.

Questions: Don’t hesitate to reach out to director Jay Manley with any questions you might have: jlma...@pacbell.net
Thank you for your interest in Actors Ensemble of Berkeley!

Fill out the form below. Video clips are only necessary if you cannot audition in-person. If you ARE auditioning in person, please also sign up for a specific slot using Signup-Genius linked also in the form below.

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdd10JFIBs.../viewform...

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Image of Oscar Wilde: By Napoleon Sarony / Adam Cuerden - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.07757. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=141158986
------------------Upcoming events-------------:
April 13th - Callbacks for our mini-production of Repossessed, by Greg Lam, directed by Gabriel A. Ross.
April 19th - Staged Reading of Truman vs. Israel, by William Spatz, directed by Gabriel A. Ross. Auditions by Submission.
April 26th - Auditions for a staged reading of Emperor of the Moon, by Behn, directed by Erin Perry.
May 3rd and 4th - Auditions for The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Jay Manley.
May 26th - Staged reading of Emperor of the Moon, LaVal's Subterranean Theater.
July 3rd - July 19th - Alice in Wonderland at John Hinkel Park
July 31st - August 9th - Repossessed, LaVal's Subterranean Theater.
August 22nd - September 7th - A Midsummer Night's Dream at John Hinkel Park
October 2nd - October 18th - The Importance of Being Earnest, Live Oak Theater.
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Actors Ensemble
P.O. Box 663
Berkeley, CA 94701
in...@aeofberkeley.org
www.aeofberkeley.org
A 501(3)(c) organization