audition information

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Auditions will be held July 20 and 21, 2026. You may choose either night. Call backs will be July 22, 2026. Dance call backs from  7-8:00pm,  and scene call backs from 8-10:00pm. 

 Lady Shakes is pleased to announce auditions for our all-women production of Measure For Measure. Lady Shakes will bring plenty of sizzle to Shakespeare's Measure for Measure with a 1920s Jazz Age cabaret setting for our 2026 full  length production. Performances will be September 18, 19 and 20, 2026 at Topeka Performing Arts Center, where we will transform the Black Box Theatre into a New York City speakeasy.  

While the setting is strictly the cat's meow of Manhattan in the 1920s, the language is the real McCoy—straight from the pen of William  Shakespeare. New York accents are not required but are preferred for  comic characters. There will be some dance choreography for select characters.

Directed by Alexandra Reilly. 

Stage managed by Melissa Escobar.

Auditions will be held July 20 and 21, starting at 7:00pm at Topeka  Civic Theatre (3028 SW 8th Ave, Topeka, KS.) You may attend either evening of auditions but do not need to attend both. We will have a  selection of scenes to read, and you do not need to have a monologue  prepared. 

When you arrive at TCT, enter through the main front doors. We will  be upstairs in the rehearsal hall, which is on the west side of the  building on the second floor. There will be Lady Shakes signage to  direct you to the audition area. We look forward to seeing you there!

Rehearsal location TBD. Rehearsals will be Monday–Thursday from 7 pm–10 pm and Sundays 1 pm–4 pm. 

Lady Shakes holds open auditions for women of all ages and experience levels. Casting for this production will be all women, and we are inclusive on the gender spectrum. Roles will be played in a traditional format, i.e. male roles will be played as men, female roles will be played as women, except the role of Escalus, which will be played as a woman. There will also be roles available for dancers. 

DUKE of Vienna, later called Friar Lodowick

Benevolent, entitled. He thinks he's a good guy. Avoids conflict. Uses his power to play with people, but he thinks he's doing good by it. 

ESCALUS, a judge

The Duke’s right hand advisor. Loyal, follows the law. No nonsense, but not hard-nosed like Angelo. Believes that mercy and compassion should play a part in government. 

ANGELO, deputy to the Duke

Righteous, self-righteous. Cold. Believes in the rule of law. Unmerciful. Unempathetic. Uninterested in women/sex until he meets Isabella.

ISABELLA, a novice in the Order of Saint Clare

Brilliant mind, devoted to God, truly good. She doesn't want to live in the corrupt and dangerous world where women have no power and authority. 

CLAUDIO, brother to Isabella

Isabella's brother. He's a player who knocked up his girlfriend and now must pay with his life. 

PROVOST

He runs the prison. Follows orders but is compassionate.

LUCIO, friend to Claudio

He's a playboy, pompous and stupid. Braggart. Doesn't know when to shut up. 

MISTRESS OVERDONE, a bawd

She runs a very busy brothel. Sassy, a survivor. Just a strong business woman trying to make an honest living. This role has been elevated to serve as a sort of Greek chorus/emcee.  

POMPEY the Clown, her servant, a tapster and a bawd

A bit of a drunk. Works for Mistress Overdone. 

**Supporting Roles**

There are a large number of supporting and minor characters in the play. Some actors may be assigned more than one of the following roles, including the addition of several dancing roles. 

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo, now a jilted woman

She has a surprise for the audience with her unusual voice (and maybe one for Angelo). 

FRANCISCA, a nun

JULIET, betrothed to Claudio

FRIAR THOMAS/FRIAR PETER

Two friars become one in our version. The friar follows the Duke's orders, believing that the Duke will make all things right in the end. 

FROTH, Pompey’s customer

A gentleman who enjoys good food, good drink and good women; a customer of Mistress Overdone and Pompey. 

BARNARDINE, a prisoner

Drunk all the time, refuses to be killed. 

KATE KEEPDOWN, she’s a “working girl”

Lucio is the father of her child and she wants to make him pay. 

ELBOW, a constable

He's a 1920s Barney-Fife-meets-Archie-Bunker. He gets it all wrong to great comic effect.

ABHORSON, an executioner

A very scary executioner who takes his job very seriously. 

+Various Gentlemen, Officers, Citizens, a Justice, Servants, Messengers and Attendants