Casting Call
Open Auditions - Casting Call!
The Sarasota Medieval Fair invites one and all to open auditions!
The Annual Sarasota Medieval Fair is having open auditions for all ages. Novices and experienced players are encouraged to come out for the General Cast and the Human Combat Chess match.
Auditions for the 2026 festival will be August 1 & 2, 2026 at the Woods of Mallaranny (29847 FL-70 E, Myakka City, FL 34251). The auditions will start promptly at 10am each audition day (you only need to come one day, not both).
CASTING CALL ANNOUNCEMENT - 4/17/2026
Come Join the Fun! This year, be more than just an observer…become part of the family that brings the Sarasota Medieval Fair to life! We are looking for performers who interact well with others, can follow instructions and enjoy entertaining. Please expect that your character will be outgoing, interesting and entertaining to the visitors of the Sarasota Medieval Fair. Following the auditions and the first few rehearsals, you will be cast in a historical role that is best suited to the needs of the scenario.
General Cast. Auditions for the 2026 season will be held on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd, beginning promptly at 10:00 am at The Woods of Mallaranny. Be prepared to be there until approximately 12pm, but possibly longer depending on turnout. Wear comfortable clothing (costumes and garb are NOT required for auditions) and closed toe shoes. We suggest bringing water, a notebook and pen. General Cast auditions will consist of a series of previously unrehearsed, individual and group activities; however no experience is required.
Individuals selected to join the General Cast will need to be available to attend all rehearsals for the show as well as every Fair day. Rehearsals will be every Sunday from 12pm-4pm from August 23 to November 1st. The Fair runs every Saturday and Sunday from November 7 - December 6, rain or shine.
Human Combat Chessmatch Cast. If you are interested in performing in the Human Combat Chessmatch, you must be at least 16 years old. You are required to participate in the General Cast auditions on either Saturday, August 1st or Sunday, August 2nd, beginning promptly at 10:00 am and then at noon, we will take a short break and then proceed with the Chessmatch auditions. For this portion, you MUST be wearing closed toe shoes. No experience is necessary however the Chessmatch Cast is capped at 40 participants so bring your A-game as we will be seeing how you move and follow directions. Bring water and wear sunscreen!
Please Note. Individuals selected to return for the Human Combat Chessmatch Cast will need to be available to attend ALL rehearsals for the show. Rehearsals will be every Saturday & Sunday from 9am - 4pm beginning on August 8th and then once General Cast rehearsals begin on Sunday, August 23rd, we will finish Chessmatch rehearsal at noon and join the General Cast rehearsals from 1pm-4pm. You cannot do chessmatch cast only. You must also be there for every Fair day - this year the Fair runs every Saturday and Sunday from November 7 - December 6, rain or shine. We realize that this is a HUGE time commitment, however it is necessary for safety reasons. If you have any pre-scheduled conflicts during the rehearsal process, please let us know ASAP and we will discuss.
Any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Artistic Director, Tara Connelly at artdirectorsmf@gmail.com
Please read the attachments listed below for all the information. Please complete the below “Audition Form” and bring to the audition.
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For casting inquiries, please contact: Tara Connelly (Artistic Director) at: ArtDirectorSMF@gmail.com
