BREAKDOWN:
 

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Boston Court’s first-ever immersive play, utilizing the entire building, will take you on a journey behind the curtain to experience the layered and intimate complexities of creating theatre. In this play-within-a-play, a renowned director rehearses a spectacular new production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, “the original #metoo story.”  But backstage, there’s an even bigger drama playing out as the power dynamics of the play and the rehearsal blow up in the course of the night.

 

CASTING NOTE:

Where noted, roles are assigned genders designated M (male) or F (female). This means either Male or Male-Presenting, or Female or Female-Presenting, so actors who identify as Transgender, Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming, Gender Fluid, etc. are urged to audition. 

 

BRUCE ELLIOT NORTON

The Actor Playing Duke Vincentio; also the play’s Director (White Male, 40s-50s). Wonderful, charismatic Shakespearean actor, also a terrific director. Smart, inspiring, compassionate, deeply passionate, loves actors. Old-school touchy-feely, and occasionally demonstrates for actors when he’s not getting what he needs. A master manipulator (in the best way possible): able to inspire great performances and artistry. What he himself feels may be hidden even to him.

 

DIONNA:

The Actor Playing Isabella (BIPOC Female, 20-32). Passionate, charismatic, with hints of vulnerability, a really wonderful Shakespearean actor. Playing Isabella has been a bucket list item all her life. Outwardly she is feisty, intellectual, and not afraid to argue for things she believes in. Also guarded and tends to keep her own counsel. A young woman coming into her own, but secretly still unsure about her own abilities, and her outer calm belies her inner turmoil and insecurity. Occasionally we glimpse her vulnerability, but life has made it hard to trust people.

 

MARY:

The Actor Playing Escalus/Provost (Any Ethnicity, Female, late 40s to 60). A strong, smart woman, grounded, has been plausibly cast in formerly male roles, so capable of playing the gravitas and empathy of the Provost and Escalus. A woman who has been around many blocks in the course of her career and is happy to be in an excellent production (roles for older women ever diminishing as they are).  Solid Shakespearean actor.

 

GRIFFIN:

The Actor Playing Lucio (BIPOC Male, 30s to 40s). The actor, like the character he’s playing, can be snarky, witty, often the life of the party or the rehearsal room, happy to go where angels fear to tread. Solid Shakespearean actor.

 

J. TODD:

The Actor Playing Claudio (BIPOC Male, 25-32). Young, brash, passionate, THRILLED to be cast in this prestigious production. A really good Shakespearean actor eager to be educated and inspired by the more experienced company, occasionally saying very awkward things because he’s still learning rehearsal etiquette.

 

BROOKE:

The Actor Playing Marianna (Any ethnicity, Female, 20-32). “The newbie” thrilled to be stepping into this production, smart, curious, eager to be a team player, overjoyed to be covering Isabella and working with Bruce. A bright spirit. Solid Shakespearean actor.

 

FRANKIE:

The Assistant Director (BIPOC Female, 25-32). Really smart young woman on the cusp of being a great director, insightful, passionate, diplomatic (and also of course secretly insecure about her own directing skills), not afraid to have her own opinions and stand up to power, while still wrestling with secret imposter syndrome that she’s still a little kid trying to sit at the grown-ups’ table.

 

ALEXIS:

The Stage Manager (Any ethnicity, Female, 40-50s). Like all the best stage managers, she’s a fulcrum of calm in a storm, anticipates what is next, knows how to read a room and keep all participants good-humored. She has a wry, dry wit, and manages to get people to do all the things she needs them to do. She is loyal to people she loves.