As She Likes It is an anthology of plays that features women from Shakespeare's canon. The characters step outside of the male-dominated context of their original works, sometimes into another time and place. These familiar women from classic stories may have had muted voices in Shakespeare's plays, but here they take center stage to discuss the choices they have made and navigate the power structures that have controlled their lives. These plays offer great roles for women, opportunities for thoughtful scene study, educational exploration, and a larger conversation about how these women's stories resonate in our current era.
There are many roles available, and based on the number of people who audition, it's likely that actors will play more than one character.
The plays and roles featured are as follows:
The Shrew Must Go On by Lori M. Myers - based on The Taming of the Shrew
Melanie Gold - Somewhat insecure high-schooler with teenage angst
Katherine - The character straight out of Shakespeare's play, quick-tempered, insistent, droll, with a vulnerable side
Harriett - Stage manager, gruff, take-no-prisoners man who has a job to do and does it.
A Woman's Battle by Sean Adams - based on Troilus and Cressida
Cassandra
Andromache
Helen
Hecuba
Another Conversation by Marjorie Bicknell - based on Hamlet
Queen Gertrude
Ophelia
The Lear Sisters by Sue Lange - based on King Lear
Claudia (30s)
Reenie (40s)
Gordy (50s)
Haircuts by Barbara Trainin Blank - based on Henry VIII
Anne Boleyn - Queen of England, second wife of Henry VIII. Beautiful, strong-willed, and sharp-tongued. Early to mid-30s
Isabella - a novice and central character from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Sweet, attractive to men, morally principled. 20s
The Nurse's Rebellion by Sandra Fenichel Asher - based on Romeo and Juliet
Juliet
Nurse
Lady Capulet
Shakespeare
*********
Auditions
You must be 18+ to audition
This is a female-forward project with limited male roles. Due to the nature of the content, we will not be gender-swapping characters for this production.
Auditions will be on Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 6:30 pm at ACT I Inc. Please prepare a 1-2 minute monologue. *The monologue does not have to be from a Shakespearean play*
We will follow with cold readings from the script.
Rehearsals will be at ACT I Inc. on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30
Tech Week will be March 16-19, 2026
Performances will be on March 20th & 21st, 2026
Please email the director, Ashlee Bagnell, with any questions: ashleebagnell@gmail.com