The Love Boat's Ted Lange is returning to African-American Shakespeare Company to produce one of his Shakespeare inspired pieces entitled, Shakespeare Over My Shoulder.

SYNOPSIS

For 400 years, scholars have debated this mystery and searched for the truth…who really wrote the Shakespearean plays? Some researchers believe that Christopher Marlowe was the sole playwright, while others propose that it is Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Still many English academics insist that Sir Francis Bacon, one of the great literary minds of Queen Elizabeth’s court wrote the plays. And, of course, there are also the intransigent Shakespearean intellectuals who vehemently contest that the plays are the works of just one man from Stratford upon Avon, William Shakspere.

Shakespeare Over My Shoulder ponders this mystery with the four likely contenders at center stage. They reconnoiter at the Mermaid Tavern in 1593, as the bubonic plaque rages through London. It is a pandemic and all the theatres have been closed. As playwrights, they muse their futures with practicality and comedy and lend an ear to the Shakespearean conundrum.

BREAKDOWN

Edward De Vere (Black, 45 years old, male) is a poet and playwright.

William Shakspere (White, 29 years old, male) is an actor from Stratford upon Avon.

Christopher Marlowe (Black, 29 years old, male or female) is a playwright and spy. Also plays Viola. *For this character, we are looking for someone comfortable in drag and experienced in drag performance. We are looking for either men or women to play this role.

Sir Francis Bacon (Black, 33 years old, male) a poet and playwright.

HOW TO SUBMIT

To be invited to the in-person audition, please submit your headshot, resume, character you'd like to audition for, and a link to your reel or an example of your work to james@african-americanshakes.org

Please label the subject line as such:
Shakespeare Shoulder_Actor Name_MARLOWE (or whatever character you'd like to submit for)

Actors who do not submit at least their headshot and resume will not be considered.
Submissions are due Saturday, October 4th at 11:59PM.