The Wayne Theatre is excited to invite you to join us for our REGENCY ERA and audition for Jane Austen's Persuasion adapted by Melissa Leilani Larson. We are committed to working with local and regional talent. We look forward to connecting with you.
Director: Lesley Larsen (see bio below!)
Assistant Director: Garrett McCoy
Choreographer: Rhys McRoberts
Open to anyone 16 years or older
All races, body types, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds are encouraged to audition.
We especially welcome LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled performers, actors of diverse body types, and anyone historically underrepresented on stage.
1. Fill out the following audition form: Jane Austen's Persuasion adapted by Melissa Leilani Larson Audition Form
2. Sign up for a monologue time slot
3. Upload a headshot and resume, if available
- Two contrasting one-minute monologues (or text pieces) in the style of the show. We are looking for storytelling and bold character choices! Demonstrations of British accents are a plus but not a requirement.
- If there is a potential barrier that might prevent you from being able to audition, please let us know how we can work with you so you can still audition.
- All auditioners will be notified by email about casting decisions
- Notification date: by email by December 15
All performances are on the Main Stage at the Wayne Theatre (521 W Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980)
February 27-March 8
- Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays @ 7:00 PM
- Saturdays & Sundays @ 2:00 PM
- There is an additional performance school matinee (AEP Show) on Friday, February 27th at 10 am. Anticipated call time will be 8:00 AM.
- Start date: Sunday, January 4 @ 7:00 PM
- Rehearsals: Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays | 7:00–10:00 PM
The week before opening, performers are required to be present at all tech rehearsals. Every effort will be made to minimize rehearsals going over time. Flexibility is appreciated. The artistic staff reserve the right to make adjustments to the tech schedule based on the needs of the production and the venue restrictions.
- Press Dress: Thursday, February 19th *Required attendance
- Double Tech: Sunday, February 22 all day *Required attendance
- No conflicts allowed during tech rehearsals, press dress, or performances
- Please be flexible. Some rehearsals may run longer during tech rehearsals
Email: auditions@waynetheatre.org
Adapted from Jane Austen’s beloved final novel, PERSUASION is a bittersweet story of first love and second chances. Anne Elliot, persuaded by duty and title to give up marriage at a younger age, finds herself again face to face with the man she once refused. By turns heartbreaking and hilarious, this new take on Austen’s quiet masterpiece is refreshingly theatrical while remaining faithful to the original text.
CHARACTERS (9W, 7M): The cast should be diverse, and of a variety of ethnicities and body types. Family members may be of different races. Some roles may be doubled.
In order of appearance:
ANNE ELLIOT, 27. The daughter of a once wealthy family. Many, herself included, believe she has missed her chance at marriage. Reticent, introspective, selfless to a fault. **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Wentworth (a kiss, hand holds, linking arms, hugs); **There are moments of intimacy Anne and Lady Russell (a hug); **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Sir Walter (a forehead kiss); **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Mr. Elliot (hand kiss)
YOUNG ANNE, 19. Anne’s recollection of her younger self. Romantic, vibrant, grounded. **There are moments of intimacy between Young Anne and Young Frederick (a kiss, hand holds, face touches)
YOUNG FREDERICK,) 23. Wentworth as a young man. Idealistic, ambitious, sincere. **There are moments of intimacy between Young Anne and Young Frederick (a kiss, hand holds, face touches, etc.)
LADY RUSSELL, 40s/50s. A close friend of both Anne and her late mother. Elegant, well intentioned, pragmatic. **There are moments of intimacy Anne and Lady Russell (an embrace)
SIR WALTER ELLIOT, 50s. Anne’s widowed father. An aristocrat with sumptuous tastes and serious debts. Handsome, extravagant, vain. **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Sir Walter (a forehead kiss)
ELIZABETH ELLIOT, 29. Anne’s eldest sister, and the apple of her father’s eye.Beautiful, haughty, disdainful.
MRS. CLAY, 30s. Elizabeth’s companion and a widow whose father is in Sir Walter’s employ. Opportunistic, designing, and a wee bit awkward.
MARY MUSGROVE, 20s. The youngest of the Elliot sisters and, as she is first to point out, the only married one. A habitual snacker and mild hypochondriac. Oblivious, stubborn, uppity. **There are moments of intimacy between Mary and Charles (handholds, hugs, and kisses)
HENRIETTA and LOUISA MUSGROVE, 20s. Charles’s younger sisters and the best of friends. There is a parallel in personality between Henrietta and Young Anne whileLouisa is spirited, insistent, and crafty. **There are moments of intimacy between Wentworth and Louisa (Wentworth catches Louisa by the waist)
CHARLES MUSGROVE, 30s. Mary’s husband and the heir to a substantial country estate. An avid hunter. Cheerful, amiable, care-free. **There are moments of intimacy between Mary and Charles (handholds, hugs, and kisses)
CAPTAIN WENTWORTH, 30s. Once a young man without money or prospects, he is now a successful and admired naval officer. Reserved, discerning, constant. **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Wentworth (a kiss, hand holds, linking arms, hugs), **There are moments of intimacy between Wentworth and Louisa (Wentworth catches Louisa by the waist)
WILLIAM ELLIOT, 30s. Sir Walter’s nephew and heir. The very picture of good breeding. Genteel, suave, self-preserving. **There are moments of intimacy between Anne and Mr. Elliot (hand kiss)
CAPTAIN HARVILLE, 30s. Wentworth’s dear friend and fellow naval officer. He was relatively recently injured in battle and walks with a cane. Direct, unpretentious, affable.
CAPTAIN BENWICK, 30s. Friend to both Wentworth and Harville. He knows heartbreak too well and needs help to see beyond it. Pensive, melancholy, sincere.
MRS. SMITH, late 20s/early 30s. Anne’s friend from school. Recently widowed and impoverished, she is recovering from a serious illness that has left her bedridden. She has a particular fondness for gossip. Optimistic, inquisitive, candid.
Lesley Larsen (Artistic Director) is the Artistic Director of the Historic Wayne Theatre. Lesley holds a BFA in Acting from Brigham Young University as well as an Masters of Literature (MLITT) and MFA in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance (ACTING) from Mary Baldwin University/The American Shakespeare Center. On the Teaching Artist roster for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Lesley has been working professionally in the theatre for more than 20 years as a director, actor, improv comedian, and voice actor. A collaborator and advocate for consent-based theatre, Lesley is fiercely committed to filling the rehearsal room and stage with elevated, vulnerable, playful work. Lesley is the founder of the Improvisators: a Teen-Improv troupe specializing in long-form improv. Serving on the Virginia Theatre Association (VTA) Board, Lesley is the Co-Chair of Community Theatre. Alongside her colleague, Corey Holmes, Lesley has created Professional Development for educators on the topics of: "Improv to Improve Classroom Culture for the Gen Ed Space.” Lesley and her colleagues were presenters for the 2024 National Conference for the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) on “Mindful Collaboration for the Non-Profit Theatre.” Lesley has taught acting and theatre at James Madison University, Mary Baldwin University, and Washington & Lee University.
Favorite companies she has performed with include the American Shakespeare Center (Blackfriars Playhouse), and the Actor’s Repertory Theatre Ensemble (ARTE) . Lesley’s selected directing credits include The Tempest (Southern Virginia University), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Washington and Lee University), Into the Woods (FAIR), and The History Boys (540). Wayne Theatre Directing Credits include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Wayne at Wintergreen), Nickelodeon the SpongeBob Musical, Something Rotten, Deep Into the Darkness: An Adaptation of Poe’s Works (adapted by Lesley Larsen & Whitney Larsen), Deathtrap, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, the Musical, The Importance of Being Earnest: Boy Band Edition, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Elf the Musical, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice adapted by Melissa Leilani Larson, as well as various children’s productions.
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