“…indisputably the best Shakespeare festival in Texas.”   Austin American Statesman
The Texas Shakespeare Festival is in residence on the Kilgore College campus located in Kilgore, Texas

2008 Summer Season
Texas Shakespeare Festival
in residence at Kilgore College - Kilgore, TX
May 25 –August 5
Beijing, China Tour • August 8–August 26

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
1776 by Peter Stone, Music & Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer
Children's Show to be announced

Audition / Interview Schedule

Audition Singing Information

The Texas Shakespeare Festival, in its twenty-third season, is a non-Equity, not-for-profit summer repertory theatre providing an opportunity for theatre artists to work with some of the greatest plays in dramatic literature in a nurturing and humane environment that creates a spirit of trust, collaboration and mutual respect.

Positions are available for non-Equity actors, scenic designer, sound designer and technician, technical director, stage managers, assistant stage managers, master carpenter, carpenters, scenic artist, assistant scenic artist, master electrician, assistant master electrician, costume shop supervisor, cutter/drapers, first hands, stitchers/wardrobe, properties supervisor, properties artisan, ticket office manager and assistant/house manager, technical interns in lighting, scenic painting, properties, sound, ticket office, and concessions.

The 2008 acting company and a few members of the technical company will also tour the four-show repertory to Beijing, China (departing on August 8 and returning August 26) during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

TO REQUEST AN AUDITION APPOINTMENT send picture, résumé (all applications must contain a current E-mail address in order to be considered) and letter of interest to TSF, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, TX 75662. Auditions should consist of two one-minute, contrasting Shakespearean monologues, and sixteen bars of appropriate music. All actors will be cast in 1776 and at least two other shows in the repertory season. Taped auditions (Video or DVD) are acceptable. Taped auditions should arrive in the Festival offices by January 19, 2008.

TECHNICIANS’ APPLICATIONS must contain a résumé, mailing address, E-mail address, a cover letter specifying area of interest, and two letters of recommendation or reference contact numbers. Materials should arrive in the Festival offices by February 4, 2008.

STIPENDS, HOUSING and ELEVEN MEALS A WEEK are provided for all company members.

TRANSPORTATION or TRAVEL reimbursement is available for major actors, directors, designers, and department heads.

For more information contact the Festival office at:
PHONE: 903-983-8119 / FAX (903) 983-8124
Email: info@TexasShakespeare.com;
or contact Raymond Caldwell
TSF Artistic Director
1100 Broadway
Kilgore, TX 75662

PERFORMANCES
Opening nights are Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6. Performances are in rotating repertory with matinee and evening performances Thursday through Sunday July 10 through August 3.

DAILY SCHEDULE

CONTRACTS
All company members will be placed under written contracts which will specify dates of commitment and roles to be played or area(s) of technical responsibility. Actors are not expected to perform technical duties other than full company strike on August 4 and 5.

BEIJING, CHINA TOUR
The entire acting company and a few members of the technical company will travel to Beijing, China, from
August 8-26, during the Beijing Summer Olympics, to perform all four shows in Centennial Hall at Beijing University. An additional $1,000 stipend, shared hotel room, meal allowance, travel visa and airfare will be provided. Company members are responsible for providing a valid passport.

HOUSING AND MEALS
Dormitory housing is provided for all company members on the campus of Kilgore College. The company is also provided a continental breakfast Tuesday through Sunday and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Families and organizations participating in either the Adopt-An-Artist Dinner Program or the Monday Event Program may provide other meals.

FESTIVAL LOCATION
The Texas Shakespeare Festival is located on the campus of Kilgore College in Kilgore, TX, a community with a population of approximately 11,000 located in Gregg County in the northeast section of the state, 110 miles east of Dallas on I-20. Our audiences consist of patrons from the East Texas region as well as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Shreveport, Louisiana, and beyond.

AUDITIONS
Auditions are scheduled throughout the country. Actors’ audition should include two one-minute Shakespearean monologues and sixteen bars of appropriate music. All actors will be cast in 1776 and at least two other shows in the repertory season. If you cannot attend one of the scheduled auditions a videotaped audition is acceptable. Tapes should be received by January 19, 2008. For dates and locations of auditions, see Audition / Interview Schedule above.

ACTORS' STIPEND & TRAVEL
Total stipend for actors is $3,850 for leading actors and an additional stipend of $1,000 for the Beijing, China Tour. Actors’ contracts run from May 25–August 26. Travel reimbursement of $350 is provided.

TECHNICAL POSITIONS
The Festival is searching for qualified technical theatre artists. To apply send a résumé with mailing address, E-mail address, telephone number, and two letters of recommendations or references. Positions available for the 2008 season include both six-week (May 25–July 7) and ten-week (May 25–August 5) contracts. Travel reimbursement is available for directors, designers, and department heads. Applications should be received by February 4, 2008.

Six Week Contract Positions
Four Directors @ $4,000; Scenic and Properties Designer @ $6,000; Costume Designers @ $4,000; Sound Designer @ $3,500; Costume Cutter/Drapers @ $3,500; Costume First Hands @ $3,000; Properties Supervisor - $3,300; Scenic Artist - $3,000; Master Electrician @ $4,400 plus travel. All positions include limited travel reimbursement.

Ten Week Contract Positions
Technical Director @ $7,000 plus travel; two Stage Managers @ $4,000 plus travel; Ticket Office Manager @ $4,000 plus travel; Properties Artisan @ 3,000 plus travel; Master Carpenter @ $4,400 plus travel; five Carpenters @ $3,300; Stitcher/Wardrobe @ $3,000; Assistant Stage Manager @ $2,000; Assistant Master Electrician @ $2,500; Scenic Artist Technician @ $2,000; Sound Technician @ $2,000; Technical Internships @ $1,250 in Lighting, Properties, Sound, Scenic Painting, Ticket Office, Administration and Concessions.

FITNESS CENTER MEMBERSHIP
Each company member is welcome to use the Parks Fitness Center, which includes an indoor pool, courts for racquetball, basketball and volleyball, Nautilus machines, free weights, and an indoor running track.

APPRENTICES / INTERNS
Technical internships are available in Lighting, Properties, Sound, Scenic Painting, Ticket Office, Administration and Concessions. Technical Interns are not cast in the shows, but will be assigned specific duties, serve on running and change-over crews, attend all calls and classes, and perform other duties that may be deemed appropriate. Interns will be enrolled for six hours of college credit on scholarship.

MONDAY EVENTS
The company works approximately 10 hours a day, Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays are usually the day off except for the following: May 26 (production meetings), June 16 (selected members for Media Day), June 30 (technical/dress), July 21 (technical rehearsal for the children’s show) and August 4 (company strike). In order to provide entertainment and a needed diversion, people in the community host barbecues, swimming parties and other events for the company on Mondays. These Monday Events are a nice way for the company to see some of the countryside and to enjoy East Texas hospitality.

WORKSHOP CLASSES
Classes in voice, movement, text, auditioning, combat, etc., will be conducted by specialists from the company each Wednesday morning from 8-9:20 a.m. All company members are welcome. All interns are required to attend.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Teachers are selected from qualified TSF Company Members to teach intern/apprentice workshop classes, the Shakespeare Acting Workshops, and Children’s Theatre Day Camps, and are provided a small stipend for their efforts. For more information contact Raymond Caldwell, TSF Artistic Director, at 903-983-8117 or info@TexasShakespeare.com.

Read comments from past TSF company members