ALL ROLES OPEN

"A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

THE HUMAN COURT:

Theseus - Duke of Athens, recently returned from conquering the Amazons, a race of warrior women and is about to marry the conquered Amazon Queen Hippolyta.

Lysander - Young nobleman of Athens. In love with Hermia. Hermia’s father is against her marrying him, he persuades Hermia to run away from home & family into the forest.  

Demetrius – A young nobleman of Athens. In the past he acted as if he loved Helena, but after Helena fell in love with him, he changed his mind and having the approval of Egeus, he pursues Hermia. (But she’s not interested)

Egeus - An Athenian upper-class respected gentleman who wants his daughter Hermia to marry Demetrius, his choice for her.

Philostrate - Theseus’s Master of the Revels (party planner) who is responsible for organizing the entertainment for the Duke’s marriage celebration.  

Hippolyta - The legendary Queen of the Amazons engaged to marry Theseus.  

Hermia - Egeus’s daughter. Both Demetrius and Lysander are in love with her. She is in love with Lysander. Very strong-willed and independent. Helena - A good friend of Hermia’s and is in love with Demetrius. She tends to be more self-pitying and puts herself in dangerous and humiliating situations, running after Demetrius through the forest even though he wants nothing to do with her.

THE FAIRY COURT:

Puck – (AKA Robin Goodfellow) A mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks on mortals; he is Oberon’s servant. He has a connection not only to the fairy and human worlds of the play, but also to the world of the audience.  

Oberon - The King of the Fairies who rules with Titania

Titania - Queen of the Fairies who rules with Oberon

Changeling - young Indian prince whom Titania has kidnapped (child role) Thistleweed - featured in dialogue; needs to move well (dances) Peasebottom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed – Fairies with lines. 

THE MECHANICALS – Aspiring Thespians who provide comic relief

Nick Bottom - The overconfident weaver chosen to play Pyramus in the play that a group of craftsmen have decided to put on for the wedding celebration.  

Peter Quince - A carpenter and the writer/director of the play

Francis Flute - The bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the play. Forced to play a young girl in love.

Robin Starveling - The tailor chosen to play Thisbe’s mother in the play/ends up playing the part of Moonshine

Snug - The joiner (a tradesperson who builds things by joining wood) chosen to play the lion in the play.  

Tom Snout - The tinker (someone who does odd jobs) chosen to play Pyramus’s father in the play. Ends up playing the part of the Wall, dividing the two lovers in the play. 

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"MACBETH" CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

DUNCAN:  The good-natured, honest and trustworthy King of Scotland; he is also politically naive, in  part because he trusts Macbeth, who ends up murdering him.  Macbeth is his cousin and one of his most trusted generals.

MACBETH:  One of Duncan's most courageous generals.  His driving ambition to become King of  Scotland, and the encouragement of his wife corrupt him and cause him to murder Duncan.

LADY MACBETH:  As ambitious as her husband, she taunts Macbeth’s courage to insure that he will  murder Duncan and become king.  Her power of language is famous.

BANQUO:  A general in Duncan's army, he is Macbeth's closest friend. When Macbeth fears Banquo  suspects him of murdering Duncan, he arranges to have Banquo murdered.

MACDUFF:  A Scottish general who strongly suspects Macbeth of murdering Duncan. Macduff swears  vengeance.

MALCOM:  Duncan's elder son, named as their heir to the throne of Scotland; he flees to England  after his father's assassination.

DONALBAIN:  Duncan’s younger son; he flees to Ireland after his father is murdered.

LENNOX:  One of Duncan’s nobles, he functions largely as an observer in the play. He accompanies  Macbeth to the dead king’s chamber and, suspicious of what he sees, he grows increasingly sarcastic and fearful for the fate of Scotland.

ROSS:  A cousin of Macduff, he acts as a messenger in the play, bringing good news of Macbeth’s  victory and bad news about Macduff's family.

OLD SIWARD:  Earl of Northumberland; an English ally of Malcolm and Macduff.

YOUNG SIWARD:  Siward's son; slain by Macbeth in hand-to-hand combat

SEYTON:  Macbeth’s lieutenant / assistant late in the play

HECATE:  Sometimes referred to as the queen of the witches, she presides over all nocturnal  horrors; it is who she directs the supernatural happenings and appearances of the mystical apparitions.

THE THREE WITCHES:  Supernatural agents of fate who prophecy that Macbeth will become the king  of Scotland; they also predict his fall. PORTER:  The keeper of Macbeth's castle who drunkenly imagines that he’s gatekeeper to Hell.

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