Subject: Louisiana Tech University Announces Auditions for Richard IIIRelease: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rachael Pace or Holly Bricker (318) 257-2930
The Louisiana Tech University Stone Theatre announces open auditions to students and the community for its fall production of Richard III. Auditions will be held September 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm in the Stone Theatre, located in the Howard Center for the Performing Arts building on Tech’s campus. Those planning to audition are asked to prepare a one-minute Shakespearean monologue. Monologues will also be provided the night of the audition. A sign-up list will be posted, beginning September 8, on the theatre bulletin board, located upstairs in Howard Auditorium in the drama wing, next to Room 302.
Richard III will be directed by Paul B. Crook, Assistant Professor of Theatre. Scheduled performance dates are October 27-30 and November 3 – 6, 2010. All performances will be at 7:30 pm in Stone Theatre. No previous theatre experience is required and everyone is invited to audition.
Shakespeare tells of the evil Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is determined to gain England’s crown from his brother, Yorkist King Edward IV. His first plot is to woo and marry Lady Ann, meanwhile organizing the murder of his own brother George, Duke of Clarence. The King is ill and Richard, assisted by Lord Hastings, is appointed as regent. As regent he places Edward’s young sons in the Tower and consolidates his power with the help of Buckingham, who gains the support of the Lord Mayor of London and his followers on Richard's behalf. Richard is proclaimed king when the king dies and proceeds to execute Hastings and the king’s sons. Edward’s widow, Queen Elizabeth, flees with her sons from her first marriage. Buckingham becomes suspicious of Richard, but his efforts of confrontation are met with capture and execution. Richard then plans to marry Edward IV’s daughter Elizabeth, securing the throne.
However Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, makes war on Richard. On the eve of the battle Richard is haunted by the ghosts of his victims. He is killed in the battle and Henry Tudor succeeds him, becoming Henry VII of England. The play ends with Henry planning to marry Elizabeth of York, and so end the Wars of the Roses.