Principal auditions for Macbeth are May 12

Something wicked this way comes...it's the first round of auditions for the fall 2026 production of Shakespeare's "Macbeth"!

Principal auditions are taking place Tuesday, May 12. Most roles will be cast in the first week of fall quarter.

About casting for Macbeth

Most roles in "Macbeth" will be cast at auditions in the first week of fall quarter. Because of the complexity of the text in this play, we will be casting a few principal roles this quarter to give our actors time to prepare.

Please note that every role in this play will be a significant and important part of this show!

Those not cast after the first round of auditions this spring can skip the first round of auditions in the fall and move directly to callbacks. Any questions? contact Evan at Evan.Mueller@wwu.edu.

About the play

"Macbeth" is a terrifying study of power, greed, fear, and human nature. Three mysterious witches deliver a cryptic prophecy to Macbeth, and along with his wife, Lady Macbeth, they begin a lethal power struggle that explores the line between free will and fate. We follow Macbeth’s rapid descent into a tyranny fueled by paranoia and blood. It is a visceral, high-stakes tragedy that asks if the crown is worth the price of one's soul.

Important Dates

Rehearsal

Daily Rehearsals start week of October 5, Monday through Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. on Mainstage
Tech Rehearsals: November 13 through 15
Dress Rehearsals: November 16 through 19

Performances

November 20 at 7:30 p.m.
November 21 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
November 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Character Breakdown

Below is our expected cast list, but please note that the doubling of roles may change depending upon our casting process. Those in smaller roles can expect to be playing roles in the ensemble such as ‘soldiers,’ and to understudy larger roles – but please note that every actor will be making a significant contribution to this production!

Macbeth – a warrior, the person who will do what’s necessary, plagued with indecision, ridden with guilt, psychologically unraveling
Lady Macbeth – strong, ambitious, ruthlessly focused, manipulative, but also charming, a powerful and magnetic personality
Ross – a leading Scottish nobleman, practical and resourceful, a loyal and dear friend to the Macduffs
Lennox – a nobleman and soldier, member of the royal entourage, observant and sarcastic
Angus - a nobleman and soldier, member of the royal entourage, patriotic, disillusioned
Duncan / Siward / Murderer 2 – Duncan is the King of Scotland: regal, fatherly, strong, his compassion makes him gullible / Siward is a British general: earthy, determined, battle-hardened
Malcolm – son of Duncan: young, alert, intelligent, cautious, but when he acts, he acts decisively
Donalbain / Murderer 1 / Young Siward – younger brother to Malcolm: young, inexperienced, fearful / Young Siward is a noble young soldier, anxious to be tested in battle
Banquo / Doctor – a friend to Macbeth: a soldier, principled, steadfast, dependable
Macduff – a leading nobleman, unwavering moral clarity, emotional, patriotic, heroic, a person of few words
Lady Macduff / Mentieth / soldier – A sharp wit, brave but fearful, strong and outspoken, a mother
*Young Macduff / Fleance / soldier – Young Macduff is a child, witty, precocious, brave
Gentlewoman (Lady McB’s waiting woman or servant), soldier – Professional, watchful, brave
Porter / Macbeth Servant – The Porter is drunkenly philosophical, raunchy, and clever
Bloody Captain / Seyton / Murderer 3 / soldier – Seyton is a cold & efficient ‘bodyguard’ to Macbeth
Witch 1 – sinister, unearthly, cryptic, mischievous and malevolent
Witch 2 - likewise
Witch 3 - ditto

Instructions for your audition

For the audition, please prepare a monologue - approximately one minute, and no longer than two minute - from a play by Shakespeare or other playwright from the Early Modern Verse era. Sides will be provided for callbacks.

Make sure to fill out the online form below, and sign up for an audition slot. Please note the rehearsal schedule of this play when you sign up. All conflicts must be listed.

The deadline to sign up is Friday, May 8 by 3 p.m. If you need to change your audition time, or if you missed the sign-up deadline, please email Production Manager Teylor Lowe to see what options might be available to you.

We ask that if you accept a role, you will maintain professionalism in all rehearsals and performances by arriving on time, prepared to rehearse and learn as a vital member of the production. Remember that, except for conflicts discussed during the audition process, all actors are expected to be available for all scheduled rehearsals and performances.

Behavior that is disruptive to the rehearsal process may result in a cast member being removed from the piece. Thanks for your work to ensure a safe and supportive rehearsal environment for all.

Content Disclosures

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have about the content of the play.

Macbeth depicts, through descriptions in language and depictions on stage, graphic violence, warfare, suicide, killing (including the killing of children).

Many or most actors in the play will engage in stage combat depicting warfare. The roles of Macbeth, Macduff, and Young Siward may engage in extended sequences of fighting. The roles of Banquo, Young Macduff, Lady Macduff, and Murderers 1, 2, and 3 will feature stage combat depicting killing. In your audition, please let the director know if you have any questions, or would like to share information regarding stage combat, and if you have any experience in stage combat or martial arts.

Intimacy Content

The characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are a married couple, and our staging will include romantic interaction between them including consensual physical closeness such as hugging, hand-holding, kissing on the cheek. Staging may explore romantic kissing if it is within the bounds of actors’ comfort and consent. In your call back, please let the director know if you have any questions.

GPA Policy

In order to work on Department of Theatre and Dance productions you must maintain a minimum 2.8 GPA. See GPA Requirement document for details.

Audition Form

Questions on this form include opportunities to share information about your identity, including gender, race and cultural background. Your answers help WWU prioritize authentic, appropriate casting as called for in each script. Please share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Our department is committed to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices in all areas, including casting. Our goal is to create a casting process that is welcoming, absent of intimidation, and serves those auditioning as well as the creative team in the full exploration of the material in an environment of mutual trust.
In reference to the character descriptions – these are descriptions of the characters as identified in the script and in collaboration with the creative team. They are not meant to be exhaustive of who should play these roles and we seek to cast expansively and intentionally. We are striving to make our production and audition practices inclusive of performers of all races, ethnicities, national origins, gender expressions, body types, and abilities. We also recognize that these characters are written on the binary (use he/him or she/her pronouns) and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for any roles they identify with. We also welcome performers of all abilities and are prepared to provide any reasonable accommodations and resources needed in order to cast performers with disabilities. (Thanks to the Actors Theatre of Louisville for their language and inspiration in this statement.)
Some questions on this form involve disclosing what you are comfortable with as a performer. Show-specific questions are below and you may also be given a longer, more detailed disclosure form to fill out the morning of auditions. You will be asked to return this form by the end of Audition Day.

Additionally, there are some resources made available here to inform you of Western Washington University’s procedures and protocols for moments of intimacy in our productions.

Audition Resources

Below are links to very useful Word documents which are resources to inform you of Western Washington University’s procedures and protocols for moments of intimacy in our productions.

Sign up to Audition by Friday, May 8 at 3 p.m.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Pronouns

We recognize that some students might use different pronouns in the audition/rehearsal space that they do for public purposes in a production. If cast, students involved in the production will have the opportunity to indicate what pronouns they’d like used publicly.

W Number

Email

Phone

Race and Cultural Background

Gender

Major/Minor and/or Concentration

Please enter your major. If you have more than one, enter both. Please also enter your minor and concentration if you have either/both. If you are undeclared, write "undeclared."

What year are you at Western?

Current GPA

As a liberal arts university focused on academics and a department that prioritizes personal, professional, and academic health, our department requires a 2.8 overall GPA in order to participate in our productions.

Please list your current GPA in the drop down box below.

GPA Appeal

If your GPA is currently below 2.8 and you believe you can make a legitimate argument for why your GPA is lower than 2.8, and/or show that you have been significantly improving your GPA over recent quarters, please write your appeal, requesting an exemption to the requirement, in the dialogue box below.

The department chair, head of design, and production director will evaluate your appeal and make a decision to approve or deny as a committee.

Do you have food allergies?

If none, enter "none."

Do you have any accessibility needs?

If none, enter "none."

Type of role

What genders are you open to playing?

Are there any roles you will not accept, including townsperson/understudy?

Your answer to this question will not affect how you are considered for other roles.

Are there any roles in this play in which you are particularly interested?

You will still be considered for all roles, except those you identify below.

Audition Slot

If you need to change your time after you submit your form, please contact Teylor Lowe to see what options may be available.

Auditon time

Please select a three-minute slot for your audition.

Please describe your performing experience and roles you have played.

Optionally, you may attach a resume.

If listing productions below, please state the:
Show, Role, Theatre Company/Location

Resume

One file only.
32 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.

Scheduling Conflicts

Please refer to the schedule of rehearsals and performances at the top of this webpage. List any conflicts (and potential conflicts). The entire cast must be available for every rehearsal except those conflicts you list here. You must list all conflicts on the audition form.