AUDITIONS
The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde
Produced by Katie Burlington
Directed by Jennifer Guitierre
Auditions January 11 and 14, 2026
Performances March 5-21, 2026
413 Repertory Theater is delighted to announce non-equity auditions for Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. This enduring favorite is a fast-paced, high-style satire of Victorian society, celebrated for its sharp wit, mistaken identities, and unforgettable characters.
ABOUT THE PLAY
The Importance of Being Earnest follows two fashionable gentlemen, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who invent fictional alter egos—both named “Ernest”—to escape social obligations and pursue romance. Their deceptions entangle them in a web of misunderstandings involving two eligible young women, a formidable aristocratic matron, and a series of increasingly absurd revelations. As social conventions collide with romantic ideals, Wilde skewers the seriousness of marriage, morality, and class, proving that earnestness is anything but simple.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
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Prepare one memorized comedic monologue (1–2 minutes)
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British dialects welcome but not required at auditions
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Cold readings from the script may be included
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Headshot and résumé welcome but not required
EQUITY STATUS
This is a NON-EQUITY production.All performers will be cast on a non-equity basis. 413 Repertory Theater encourages performers of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels to audition.
REHEARSALS
$350 gas stipends will be provided to each actor. In person rehearsals will be evening only and take place 6 weeks prior to performances in Escondido from 6:30pm - 10:00pm beginning the week of January 20th. Full rehearsal and performance calendar available below:
SIGN-UPS
We look forward to welcoming actors into Oscar Wilde’s world of elegance, absurdity, and impeccable wit. Audition appointments are encourage, however walkups will be seen as time allows. To make a appointment please click below:
Questions or concerns? Please email us at 413playersauditions@gmail.com
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS
(All roles are open. Age ranges are flexible and refer to playing age, not performer’s actual age.)
Jack Worthing (Playing age: 25–40)
A respectable gentleman with a secret double life. Earnest in the country, mischievous in the city. Sincere but prone to hypocrisy. Romantic lead with strong comedic instincts.
Algernon Moncrieff (Playing age: 25–40)
Jack’s charming, idle friend. A master of wit and indulgence who invents problems to avoid responsibility. Highly verbal, playful, and charismatic.
Gwendolen Fairfax (Playing age: 20–40)
Sophisticated, confident, and delightfully dramatic. Firm in her romantic ideals—especially her devotion to the name “Ernest.” Requires sharp comedic timing and elegance.
Cecily Cardew (Playing age: 18–25)
Jack’s ward. Youthful, imaginative, and romantically adventurous. Sweet but sly, with a vivid inner life and strong comic intelligence.
Lady Bracknell (Playing age: 45–70)
A towering figure of Victorian authority. Commanding, formidable, and hilariously judgmental. Exceptional presence and comedic authority required.
Miss Prism (Playing age: 40–95)
Cecily’s governess. Moralistic, absent-minded, and secretly romantic. A key comic role with major plot importance.
Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. (Playing age: 40–95)
A kindly, earnest clergyman. Gentle, proper, and sincere, with understated humor.
