Announcing auditions for the March 2025 production of... 

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Directed by Tish Gamez
Assistant Directed by Claire Rock

ABOUT THE PLAY
Falstaff decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on Falstaff when he comes calling. Tricks that include but are not limited to putting him in a river, dressing him as a woman, and sending him to a haunted forest. With the help of their husbands and friends, the wives play one last trick in the woods to put Falstaff's mischief to an end.

AUDITION DATES

Auditions will be held in 1-hour time blocks on Saturday December 14 from 10 AM to 1 PM and Sunday December 15 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment click the link below.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Please be prepared to cold read from the script

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT 

esonline.org/auditions 

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15332038&appointmentType=71570962 

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will take place Monday through Thursday from  6:30pm - 9:30pm starting February 1, 2025 through March 6, 2025, with extended hours for tech week March 10 through 13.

PERFORMANCES

Performances for this production will be Fridays and Saturdays, March 14 through 22 at 8 PM, with a Sunday matinee on March 16 at 2 PM and a Thursday performance March 21 at 8PM.

ROLES TO BE CAST

Please refer to the breakdown below. Unless race/ethnicity is specific to the character and listed below, we are actively seeking ALL races and ethnicities for ALL roles. In addition, we strongly encourage gender non-conforming, gender fluid, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. 

MISTRESS FORD: (20s-40s) Honest and mischievous woman who, along with her friend, Mrs. Page, decides to teach Falstaff a lesson for attempting to seduce them while also proving her husband that his jealousy is unwarranted.

MISTRESS PAGE: (40s-60s) A strong equal to Mrs. Ford and having also received a love letter from Falstaff, agrees to trick him for his audacity. Mrs. Page disagrees with her husband’s choice for their daughter and conspires to set up another match.

FORD: (20s-40s) Mistress Ford’s husband, irritable and jealous spouse who disguises himself in order to expose his wife’s deceit, eventually learning the error of his ways.

PAGE: (40s-60s) Mistress Page’s husband. Satisfied and secure in his own marriage, Page is preoccupied with arranging a good match for his daughter, Anne, though he does not take into account her own wishes.

ANNE: (20s) the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Page, she is not easily lead. Anne resists the suitors approved by her parents and follows her heart.

Sir John FALSTAFF: (40s-50s) an eloquent yet pompous and impoverished knight. He attempts to seduce Mrs Ford and Mrs Page in an attempt to gain access to their husbands’ funds. The wives conspire against him and he ends up humbled and humiliated.

DOCTOR CAIUS: (20s-30s) a French doctor, suitor to Anne Page approved by Mrs. Page. Highly excitable, he challenges Sir Hugh to a duel when he feels he has been exposed to ridicule. (French accent required)

FENTON: (20s-30s) suitor to Anne Page, Mr. and Mrs. Page deny him their blessing but Anne chooses him for his honesty and kindness.

MISTRESS QUICKLY: (Any age) talkative and friendly, Miss Quickly uses her friendship with Anne to turn a profit with each of her suitors by passing along their messages.

SIR HUGH Evans: (40s-60s) a self-righteous clergymen with a fery thick accent that others find amusing. (East Texas accent required)

HOST: (Any age) Hotelier of the Garter Inn, friendly and easygoing influence to all.

Robert SHALLOW: (40s-60s)  a visiting justice of the peace, he encourages his nephew Abraham Slender to court Anne Page. 

Abraham SLENDER: (20s-30s) Shallow’s nephew, a young gentleman suitor to Anne Page. Self-effacing, always defers to his uncle who wants him to marry Anne Page, though he is not particularly interested in her. 

Assistants and Attendants: (any age)

Peter SIMPLE, Abraham Slender’s servant

John RUGBY, the doctor’s servant

JOHN, servant to the Fords

ROBERT, servant to the Fords

ROBIN, Falstaff’s page

BARDOLPH, servant to Falstaff, loves to drink, ends up working for Host to pay off Falstaff’s room and board.

PISTOL, servant to Falstaff until fired for insubordination, righteous and disgruntled 

NYM, servant to Falstaff until fired for insubordination, plucky and poetic