Pride and Prejudice Audition Notice
Auditions for Pride and Prejudice will be held by video submission only. Specific details regarding video submission are below.
Videos must be received no later than 11:59 PM on Monday, February 9, 2026, to be considered for callbacks.
All roles are paid. Out of towners are welcome to audition, but please know that housing or transportation is not provided.
Full of distinct characters, sparkling wit, and timeless romance that has never gone out of print, Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice comes alive on stage in this crisp adaptation. Almost from their first meeting, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself at odds with the reticent Mr. Darcy. She finds him cold and arrogant, while he disapproves of her family and social standing. Despite his pride and her prejudice—or is it her pride, and his prejudice?—Elizabeth and Darcy can’t seem to avoid each other’s company. Brought together by a series of events beyond their control, both must reconsider their first impressions.
Adapted for the stage by Melissa Leilani Larson from the novel by Jane Austen, this “stage version is a sharp, funny, and clear retelling of a familiar story which isn’t afraid to make some bold choices with its storytelling – and to also try to resist some of the book’s more dated sensibilities."
Video Submission Details
YouTube links and non-secured Google Drive links are required. Many people will be watching your audition video. Open links make your audition available for everyone to access easily.
Please film yourself performing the side(s) listed in the instruction sheet. If there are multiple sides requested for a character, please combine the recordings into a single video with a single link. Do not submit for more than two characters.
Film yourself in landscape mode (horizontally), and frame your shot from the thighs up. Please use a plain, neutral-colored background to avoid distractions. Use a live reader for the other character in the scene if possible. Position the reader just to the side of the camera lens, so your eyeline is close to the lens but not directly into it.
All characters speak in a British Received Pronunciation accent. Make your best attempt. The show is set in 1811-1812. We will be honoring the gender expectations, period movement, and customs of that time period.
Additional Info
Callbacks -
Callbacks will be held in-person and are scheduled for the Saturday, February 21, 2026, and will be by invitation only.
This page will be updated when callback invitations and casting have been sent. For any additional questions, please contact us at auditions@theruth.org.
Rehearsals & Performances -
Rehearsals will begin on or around May 25, 2026, with technical rehearsals between July 30 and August 13, 2026.
Pride and Prejudice runs August 14, 2026 – November 7, 2026.
Production Team -
Directed by Kymberly Mellen
A Note About Casting -
At The Ruth & Nathan Hale Theater, we seek to honor the intentions of the works we produce. If nothing specific is given by the original playwright regarding the characteristics of any given role, and/or if those characteristics do not affect the intended story in any significant way, we will not consider any certain person or type over others when casting.
We invite anyone and everyone to audition for any and all of our productions, regardless of any physical attribute, gender, race, age, ability, ethnicity, orientation, or experience. All are welcome at The Ruth.
Our company traditionally works with a double-cast system. Moving forward, we are looking to increase the number of performers who are single-cast (performing in all scheduled performances). This will help maintain consistency and streamline the rehearsal/performance process.
If you can commit to a single cast role, please indicate that on your audition form.
We understand that not everyone can make this level of commitment. If you are only available for double-casting, we still welcome and encourage you to audition.
Character Descriptions
(All roles are available. We are looking for a diverse cast with a variety of body types and ethnicities. Family members may be of different races.)
Elizabeth Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 20s
Character Notes: Elizabeth is well-read and quick-witted, though sometimes her wit can get ahead of her sense. She is warm and sensible but can be stubborn to a fault. Loves a good laugh.
** Intimacy required: A rather intense and prolonged kiss with Darcy.
Jane Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 20s
Character Notes: The eldest of the Bennet sisters, Jane, is beautiful and refined; she is also reserved and non-confrontational. She looks for the best in everyone but does not brook nonsense. Kind.
** Intimacy required: A simple kiss with Bingley.
Mary Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: Teenager
Character Notes: The middle sister, Mary, is awkward and finds respite in books, scripture, and music. She is loyal to her sisters even if she doesn't always understand them. The odd one out. Not the best singer.
Kitty Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: Teenager
Character Notes: Kitty, short for Catherine, is finding herself as a person. She admires her older sisters but often finds herself enthralled by the more exuberant influence of her younger sister, Lydia. Kitty loves to dance and laugh, but she desperately wants to be taken seriously.
** Probably doubling with Georgiana.
Lydia Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: Teenager
Character Notes: The youngest Bennet in years and temperament, Lydia is blithe, lively, and irrepressible. Lydia can be rather short-sighted when it comes to either care or consequence. She lives life to the fullest. Boy crazy. Obnoxious. Mrs. Bennet's favorite child (there are clear parallels between them in personality).
** Intimacy required: Kissing and choreographed seduction sequences with Wickham.
Mr. Bennet
Gender: Male presenting
Age: 40s-50s
Character Notes: The patriarch of the Bennet family and a gentleman of modest income. He loves his daughters, but would rather hide in the library than be involved in their romantic shenanigans.
Mrs. Bennet
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 40s-50s
Character Notes: A woman of little understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. Her only goal in life is to see her daughters married. It's important that she play levels other than shrill. Her concerns are valid, although her expression of them is often inappropriate.
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Gender: Male presenting
Age: Late 20s to Mid 30s
Character Notes: Darcy is honest, well-mannered, and proud. He has lived with great wealth his whole life and can be aloof and haughty, but he does not go out of his way to demonstrate it as others of his class might. He is intent on rules and tradition and does not do things by halves. He does not react well to change or to strangers.
** Intimacy required: A rather intense and prolonged kiss with Elizabeth.
** Stage Combat: Altercations with Wickham and Bingley.
Charlotte Lucas
Gender: Female presenting
Age: Late 20s
Character Notes: Elizabeth's good friend and neighbor, Charlotte, is on the brink of spinsterhood and knows it. Intelligent, grounded, and pragmatic, she is well aware of society's expectations and has a plan to meet them. For Charlotte, the business of marriage trumps the dream of romance.
Charles Bingley
Gender: Male presenting
Age: 20s
Character Notes: A genuine, modest, sweet-tempered, and exuberant gentleman. Like Jane, he tends to see the good in everyone. He is not always the most confident fellow. Darcy's best friend.
** Intimacy required: A simple kiss with Jane.
**Stage Combat: Altercation with Darcy.
Caroline Bingley
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 20s
Character Notes: Unlike her brother, Caroline is not slow to advertise their wealth and status. Proud, aloof, conceited. Beautiful and knows it. Can be sweet if she wants to. She wants what is best for herself and her brother—quite literally.
Anne de Bourgh
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 20s
Character Notes: Lady Catherine's daughter and heir, Anne cowers under the gaze of her powerful mother. Left on her own, she is practically invisible.
** A non-speaking role, probably double with Caroline.
William Collins
Gender: Male presenting
Age: 20-30s
Character Notes: A middle-aged clergyman who is earnest and socially awkward. Well-intentioned and educated, his sentences are unnecessarily complicated. Rather in awe of the wealthy and popular. A keen gardener. Maybe physically not the most graceful.
George Wickham
Gender: Male presenting
Age: Late 20s to Early 30s
Character Notes: A handsome gent who manages to turn just about every conversation to himself or flirting. Self-preserving, prodigal, scheming. A narcissistic predator under his charm, but if you haven't read the book, no one should know that.
** Intimacy required: Kissing and choreographed seduction sequences with both Lydia and Georgiana.
** Stage Combat: Altercation with Darcy.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Gender: Female presenting
Age: 50s-60s
Character Notes: A noblewoman possessing incredible wealth and influence, Lady Catherine is the very picture of upper-class snobbishness. As Darcy's aunt, she is very possessive of him. She speaks her mind, and her word is law. The kind of person who feels that she is doing you a favor by glancing in your direction.
Colonel Fitzwilliam
Gender: Male presenting
Age: 20s-30s
Character Notes: A clever, thoughtful, upright gentleman. A decorated and admired military officer. Darcy's cousin and good friend. Single and currently unattached. The most "normal" behaving man in our cast of characters.
Georgiana Darcy
Gender: Female presenting
Age: Teenager
Character Notes: Darcy's younger sister. A bright, sweet girl with considerable talent for the piano. Like her brother, she throws her heart into things fully, though she is less likely to approach situations with the same care he might.
** A non-speaking role, probably doubling with Kitty.
** Intimacy required: Kissing and choreographed seduction sequences with Wickham.