AUDITION INFORMATION
We will offer combined audition dates for both of our 2026 plays on
THE SCARLET LETTER
By Kate Hamill
Directed by Emily Rogge Tzucker
Except where historical significance, age, gender or racial specificity are required by the narrative, all actors will be considered for open roles regardless of gender identity, age, race or ability. While casting decisions are subjective and driven by the vision of the director and the creative team, Civic Theatre is committed to a diverse and inclusive cast, crew and staff whenever possible.
Audition Dates
Auditions :
November 2 at 2:00PM or November 3 at 7:00PM
Please fill out the audition form completely including conflicts (required), headshot & resumé (not required). You will have the opportunity to select your audition date. 24 hours before your selected date you will be provided with a specific time. Video auditions will be accepted. In general, we cannot arrange for individual times outside of the scheduled auditions. Should we deem it necessary, we MAY schedule alternate dates at a later time.
Callbacks TBD
Details
Director: Emily Rogge Tzucker
Production Dates
Rehearsals – Read-through on January 25th. Regularly scheduled rehearsals begin in earnest on February 1st.
Performances – March 13 - 28, 2026
In general, rehearsals will be held Sunday 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm and Monday through Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm. All actors are not called for all rehearsals. Actual schedule will be determined once the show is cast.
Public performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM.
Student matinee performances are scheduled for February 18,19, 20 and 25, 26, 27 at 10:30AM.
A stipend will be offered for the matinee performances as compensation for travel and lost work. The stipend will be determined when the number of matinees is finalized.
What To Prepare:
Please plan to read sides provided for the character you’re interested in playing.
No puppeteering experience is necessary. However, if auditioning for 'Pearl' we may ask you to work with a provided puppet. If you have your own puppet, you may use it as part of your audition.
SHOW SYNOPSIS
A visceral exploration of “original sin,” Kate Hamill’s highly-theatrical, vital reimagining of THE SCARLET LETTER follows strong-willed, intelligent Hester Prynne as she tries to find her own moral compass and raise her daughter in a society that harshly punishes women for independent thought, sexuality, or defiance. Hester and the other Massachusetts Bay colonists—including her guilt-ridden lover and her estranged husband—struggle with their own deeply-ingrained shame, as they debate what transgressions might truly be “unforgivable”… and learn how violence, superstition, repression, and uncomfortable truths may shape the land that will become America.
THE SCARLET LETTER
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
An Intimacy Choreographer and Fight Choreographer will be present to stage these moments with the actors’ consent and safety as their priority. Fake blood will be used.
HESTER PRYNNE
Mid 20s-late 30s. Female Id. Intelligent, strong-willed. A survivor under extreme circumstances. Capable of standing up to extreme pressure. Passionate. Eventually learns to overcome the mores of her time, at great personal cost; brave but not perfect.
Violence: Back is whipped (no contact) and has physical interaction with Chillingsworth.
Intimacy: Kisses Dimmesdale multiple times and is kissed by Goody Hibbins once. Bare back exposed twice.
GOODY HIBBINS
40s. Female Id. The governor’s wife. Quite unhappy. Very religious. Fearful of the new country and dark Satanic forces, which she believes are all around her. She loses a baby at the beginning of the play (offstage). Tries hard to be GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS. Quite obsessed with Hester Prynne.
Intimacy: Kisses Hester Prynne
PEARL
Adult Actor, Character is 4-5 years old Female Id. Pearl will be a child size puppet with the actor voicing and manipulating her onstage. The actor’s face and body will be seen at all times and be a part of the world of the play. Not so much a ‘cute’ child as a child who takes an almost disturbing, otherworldly-level of delight in being bad or disobedient.
The puppet is hugged, kissed, and grabbed at by characters. The actor working the puppet will be in close physical proximity to those characters and may engage in some small part of those actions.
REVEREND DIMMESDALE
Mid 20s to late 30s. Male Id. A man raised to the clergy, of very deep and genuine faith. Passionate. Believes that he has sinned irrevocably, and that God will punish those sins. In love with Hester.
Violence: Whips himself (no contact) and is slapped by Chillingsworth
Intimacy: Kisses Hester Prynne multiple times. Shirtless twice, will have fake blood on the body.
ROGER CHILLINGSWORTH
late 30s-40s. Male Id. Deeply intelligent, with a wicked sense of humor. Dark; often wry. A good physician. A very dangerous man, but you wouldn't know it to look at him–he’s got the air of a completely ordinary man, or even a very harmless one.
Violence: Physical interactions with Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale
GOVERNOR HIBBINS
40s-50s Male id. The governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Believes that he has been chosen to rule by God; this is not always pleasant or easy for him. Frightened of his wife. Fairly clueless, really.
Violence: Whips (no contact) Hester Prynne
Operating Partners
