2010 VARF Audition Dates

[Master James]

The faire makes use of a large cast of students, hobbyist, professionals, and volunteers each year to make Staffordshire, England come alive. It is time for you to join our cast with open call auditions. We are looking for guild members, musicians, and a variety of street characters to fill our ranks.

The Virginia Renaissance Faire provides classes in improvisational theater, dialect, and other skills.

But I've never done this before!

Auditioning is easy.

All you need to do is come in with about 90 seconds of memorized (or well-read) dialogue (poem, play soliloquy, or a joke). Then you will be asked to sing about 8 bars of a song (your choosing, and we have had people sing instrumental pieces). Singing well is not a requirement; you just have to be willing to do it anyway.

You never know what you can do until you try!

Then, if you are chosen for cast, you will be asked to return to be offered a position with the faire.

Audition Dates are:

March 6, 2010 from 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM at the Fredericksburg Library, HQ Branch
March 20, 2010 from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM at the Fredericksburg Library, HQ Branch

Come on out and join us!

[GoldenGoose]

"Oh, I'd LOVE to audition, but there is NO way I'm singing a song!"

Really? Is that what's been keeping you from auditioning?

Okay, FINE.

You're not going to have to sing. We have eliminated the song requirement for audition. (Although if you DO sing and enjoy it, we would still like to hear you.)

There. Now you have NO excuse.

[Master James]

Cast Auditions for the 2010 Virginia Renaissance Faire will be held Saturday March 6 from 11AM - 3:30 PM and Saturday March 20 from 9:30 AM until 12 noon at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, 1201 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA 22401.  All positions are volunteer and provide excellent character development, improv and street theater experience.

For 5 weekends each spring, the Virginia Renaissance Faire brings to life a 16th C English town on the grounds of the Lake Anna Winery. The faire focuses on interactive family entertainment with a solid grounding in history. No experience is required. All training is provided and anyone from 7yrs. to adult is encouraged audition.

There are openings in most performance areas of the faire including some positions in the following specialized areas: the Fight Cast, Minstrels, Education, Joust, Herald Trumpets, Yeomen of the Guard and the Royal Hounds.

General Cast:  Openings for  cast to play members of the town Militia, local merchants, farmers, skilled artisans, noble household staff, and 'characters'. (The town vicar, barber-surgeon, head master for example.)  This is an ensemble cast that creates a real sense of community, with all ages, cultures and occupations represented.

Education:  Historic Handworkers to demonstrate various historic techniques in sewing, needlework, woodworking, calligraphy, stone work, construction, animal husbandry, agriculture, herbs & healing, falconry, herd dogs etc.



Musicians:   String, percussion and wind players are needed to grow our period music ensemble, the Staffordshire Minstrels.  The Fanfare Brass and Drums is the royal, ceremonial group who attend the royal entourage, lead the parade and demonstrate the unique instruments used.  If auditioning for the Minstrels or the Fanfare Brass and Drums, please bring your instrument and be prepared to play.   Natural (valveless) trumpets and lessons are available for brass players willing to learn.

Knights of the Joust:   The faire knights are looking for a few good squires. Take your love of horses to a whole new level.  Hands-on experience with horses helpful but not required.  By squiring the joust you are taking the first step to becoming a jouster yourself.   Also need a 'ring announcer' - Think Paul Bettany as Chaucer in A Knight's Tale.

Royal Hounds: At any given time, Queen Elizabeth had hundreds of coursing hounds on her various estates. In addition to running the dogs, Her Majesty's Hounds imparts the history of the coursing hound while promoting greyhound rescue. If you have a greyhound this group is for you and your dog.

Yeomen of the Guard: Like the idea of looking mean and menacing without a lot of chit-chat? Maybe you're a Yeoman at heart. Yeomen guard the Queen, wear flashy red uniforms and carry swords and large pole arms but don't talk much. There's great camaraderie when 'off duty' but when escorting the queen, these fellows are ALL business.  It's a great way to be part of the faire experience and still 'be yourself'.

For more information about the Virginia Renaissance Faire or the auditions themselves, visit the website: www.VaRF.org, email comeplay@VaRF.org or call 705-508-5036.

[Steev]

Just curious, Master James, are auditions held in civvies or garb?  If one "lands" a role, is it assigned or do you bring your own persona and garb?

[Master James]

Yes auditions are held in civvies and you come with an idea as to what class of character you would like to play.  If you have a specific idea on the exact character you would like to play, have that ready too because once you go through the audition process you'll be talking to the Guild Managers of the various guilds you audition for and it will be very helpful if you already have a character in mind to play.  Now its possible you may have to change it if the character you were wanting to play is already taken but the GM can tell you that.  Hope to see you at auditions!