Skip navigation

Calling all actors

Shakespeare in the Grove sign and a blue sky.

It’s time to get ready for Shakespeare in the Grove.

Tidewater Community College and the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission are presenting Shakespeare’s “Tartuffe” and open auditions are available for cast members.

Actors who would like to be part of the summer festival can attend:

  • Auditions – Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre in the Academic Building on TCC’s Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.
  • Callbacks (if needed): will take place on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. – noon. in the Black Box Theatre in the Academic Building on Chesapeake Campus.

The story of “Tartuffe:” The play takes place in the home of the wealthy Orgon, where Tartuffe—a fraud and a pious imposter—has insinuated himself. He succeeds magnificently in winning the respect and devotion of the head of the house and then tries to marry his daughter and seduce his wife and scrounge the deed to the property. He nearly gets away with it, but an emissary from King Louis XIV arrives in time to recover the property, free Monsieur Orgon, and haul Tartuffe off to jail. And so his duplicity is finally exposed and punished. But not before the author has mercilessly examined the evil that men can commit in the guise of religious fervor and the dangers that imperil those who would believe only what they choose to believe despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

Cast and Preparation:  Twelve roles are open to all genders and ethnicity. Please prepare a 1–2-minute monologue that shows your range.  The monologue does not need to be from “Tartuffe” and please no accents. 

Rehearsals and Show Information: A read-through will be held on Thursday, May 4 from 7 – 10 p.m. Rehearsals begin Monday, May 8 from 7 – 10 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled from May 8 – June 20, Monday – Thursday from 7-10 p.m. 

Production Dates:  Shakespeare in the Grove and the story of “Tartuffe” will be presented Wednesday, June 21 – Sunday, June 25 at 8 p.m., weather permitting.

This is an open call, so come anytime between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on April 8, and showcase your talents. If you have any additional questions, please contact Matthew Gorris at mgorris@tcc.edu.