No Fear Shakespeare: Much ado about nothing

No Fear Shakespeare: Much ado about nothing

Project Overview

"Much ado about nothing" is one of William Shakespeare's most famous comedies. Taking place in Messina, Italy, the story starts off with the return of a group of soldiers to the court of Leonato, the king of the city. Amongst those soldiers there's Claudio, a young, naive man that falls in love with Leonato's daughter, Hero, and Benedick, a witty womanizer apparently linked to Beatrice, Leonato's niece, “a pleasant-spirited lady” with a very sharp tongue. From that moment on the two couples are entwined in a series of intrigues and grotesque situations that eventually lead to an obvious happy ending... Not after some obvious shakesperian drama.
No Fear Shakespeare is a service created by Sparknotes, to make the dialogue in his plays more like modern English. This project will be an audio-book that will be uploaded to YouTube based off that adaptation. The audiobook will be divided in scenes and will (hopefully) consists of all the five acts in the play.


WARNING! The play contains some innuendos and sexual material. Nothing that 16th century would censor, but still, if you don't feel comfortable don't audition.


RULES:

1) If you audition, please consider you might be chosen and that in that case you'll have to be fully committed to this project. So please, don't abandon it if there's not a real, serious reason. If you have to abandon for any reason, talk to me privately and tell me, don't abandon me in the middle of the process without saying anything, please.

2) Show emotions: I'll try to give context about the lines you'll have to say, and you'll have to convey all the emotions you can in your auditions. I won't choose people that sound to me like robots. Consider this is a theatrical text and that it needs to be delivered with some heart and ability.

3) You must have Discord: we'll communicate through it. If you want to talk to me privately, you are free to contact me on my mail.

4) I don't pretend perfect microphones, but I'd prefer ones with little to no noise and no unexpected clicks.

5) If you're chosen, you'll have to give me some online name to credit, since I (of course) want to recognize each one's job.

6) Be respectful to anyone involved in the project: that can be obvious, but I want everyone that is chosen to be extremely respectful to anyone. If there are any problems (even with me and\or the way I'm directing the project) please tell me and I'll try sorting them out.

7) Consider that I might ask you to re-record lyrics: I have a certain idea about how lines should be told or how characters should behave. I'll try let you having your turn on the character, of course, but if I think that it doesn't fit the character at all I'll have to tell you.

8) Have fun! That's not quite a rule as much as an indication: I want people that are passionate and that like this project, and I hope we'll all get along and that I'll have the chance to meet people that like this story as much as I do.

I hope you'll get interested in this project and that many of you audition! Good luck and have fun!

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Latest Updates

  • Role decision

    To everyone that has auditioned or has been following this project... As you may notice the auditions have been closed but I've only casted the female roles+Don John. I'll soon start casting the other characters, I promise. I think Benedick and Claudio will be the most difficult, since Benedick is a character I personally love so much and I have a certain idea about how Claudio should sound. Some roles may be kept open, so if after the casting you have not been chosen and there are roles still available, please consider auditioning for them. Thank you again!
Project Roles: Benedick Claudio Hero Don Pedro Leonato Don John Dogberry Margaret Borachio Conrad Verges Antonio Balthasar Ursula Extras
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Benedick
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Schnerder

An aristocratic soldier who has recently been fighting under Don Pedro, and a friend of Don Pedro and Claudio. Benedick is very witty, always making jokes and puns. He carries on a “merry war” of wits with Beatrice. He's a serial womanizer, that at the beginning of the play swears he will never fall in love or marry, leading his friends to make him fall in love with Beatrice. He's intelligent, but unable to commit to anything or find anything serious, always trying to find the bright side and the easy way to do things, trying to deny his feelings. He changes after he falls for Beatrice, becoming more dedicated and able to take on his duties. He should have a mid ranged voice, and the actor playing him should be able to carry both his wittier manners and his most serious, corageous ways.

  • All ladies love me, except you. It’s too bad I’m so hard-hearted, because I really don’t love anyone.

  • I knew him when he would’ve walked ten miles to see a well-crafted suit of armor; now he spends ten nights awake in his room designing himself a fancy new jacket. He used to speak plainly and to the point, like an honorable man and soldier; now his speech is elaborate and flowery. His words are like a miraculous banquet, full of strange new dishes. Will I be changed like that, and see the world through a lover’s eyes? I’m not sure, but I don’t think so.

  • I’ll swear by my sword that you love me, too, and I’ll make any man who says that I don’t love you eat it. I swear. I love you.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 8 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Claudio
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

A young soldier who has won great acclaim fighting under Don Pedro during the recent wars. Claudio falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. His unfortunately suspicious nature makes him quick to believe evil rumors and hasty to despair and take revenge. He is a naive, innocent guy that believes over and over that Hero betrayed him, which causes multiple conflicts. His actions are not caused by wickedness, though, but by his sincere innocence and the fear to be betrayed by the ones he loves, and he's lead to violent reactions. He should sound younger than Benedick, being a younger companion of his, and he should sound able to carry out his innocent side. He should have a mid to high ranged voice.

  • You can see that I’m sick with love, and you’re taking care of me in just the right way! But I didn’t want you to think that I’m hasty in my emotions. I was going to explain my feelings with a longer story.

  • (deluded after he thinks Hero betrayed him with a friend of his) Friendship is enduring except when love is involved. Therefore, all lovers should speak for themselves. They should look for themselves, without asking someone else to get involved in their affairs. Beauty is a witch whose spells can turn loyalty into passion. This happens a lot, but it didn’t occur to me that it would happen to me. Goodbye then, Hero.

  • (after he thinks Hero betrayed him... Again) 

    Because of you, I’ll keep myself away from love. I’ll hang suspicion on my eyelids, so that all the beautiful things I see are transformed into dangers and are never able to trick me again.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 3 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Hero
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Victoria Stam

The beautiful young daughter of Leonato and the cousin of Beatrice. Hero is lovely, gentle, and kind. She falls in love with Claudio when he falls for her, but when Don John slanders her and Claudio rashly takes revenge, she suffers terribly. She has few lines but she's able to express her frailty, which contrasts with Beatrice's self awarness. She's the classic romantic "damsel in distress", a foil that suffers greatly from others' actions but hardly does something. Nevertheless, she has some moments in which she demonstrates some wit. She should have a sweet, Disney princess-y voice, something that can easily express her caring and innocent nature.

  • As long as you move gracefully, look handsome, and say nothing, I’m yours for the dance. And I’ll even linger after I’ve gone.

  • It’ll be my job to talk about how Benedick is sick with love for Beatrice. We’ll make our arrows the same way Cupid does: with gossip and rumor.

  • (to Beatrice who is sick) Why do you sound so odd? Are you ill? You sound out of tune.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 5 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Don Pedro
open
Unpaid

An important nobleman from Aragon, sometimes referred to as “Prince.” Don Pedro is a longtime friend of Leonato, Hero’s father, and is also close to the soldiers who have been fighting under him—the younger Benedick and the very young Claudio. Don Pedro is generous, courteous, intelligent, and loving to his friends, but he is also quick to believe evil of others and hasty to take revenge. He is the most politically and socially powerful character in the play. He's the one that starts off the plan to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love. He expects others to do as he says but he's never tyrannical towards his companions. He should have a mid to deep ranged voice, something that sounds commending but amiable at the same time.

  • (talking about Hero) The lady resembles Leonato so much that there can be no doubt about who her father is. Congratulations, lady: you resemble a most honorable man.

  • While we’re waiting for the wedding, I’m going to take on an impossible task: to make Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice fall in love with each other. I aim to see them matched, and with all of your help, I’m sure we can make it happen.

  • I swear on my honor that we saw and heard Hero talking to a brute at her window last night. And that man confessed at length how he has secretly come to her bedroom thousands of times.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 3 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Leonato
open
Unpaid

A respected, well-to-do, elderly noble at whose home, in Messina, Italy, the action is set. Leonato is the father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. As governor of Messina, he is second in social power only to Don Pedro. He loves his daughter very much but he's quick to believe the bad things others say about her. He's welcoming and caring for both Beatrice and Hero, and a good, caring friend of Don Pedro. He should have a deep voice, but still able to sound vivid and cheerful.

  • (welcoming Don Pedro) You are never trouble to this house, your Grace. It’s comforting when trouble departs. But when you leave, you take happiness with you and leave sorrow in its place.

  • (talking to Beatrice, a bit teasing) Really, niece, you’ll never get a husband if you keep saying such harsh things about people.

  • If they have spoken the truth about Hero, I will tear her apart with my bare hands. But if they have accused her falsely, even the greatest of them will have to deal with me.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 4 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Don John
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

The illegitimate brother of Don Pedro; sometimes called “the Bastard.” Don John is melancholy and sullen by nature, and he creates a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio. He is the villain of the play; his evil actions are motivated by his envy of his brother’s social authority. I'm looking for a gloomy voice, able to convey a sense of unhappiness and evilness, something similar to a sublte Disney villain voice. I don't really care about the range as long as it meets these standards.

  • Thank you. I’m not a man who talks a lot, but I thank you.

  • I can’t hide what I am. I’ll be sad when I have reason to be sad and won’t smile at anybody’s jokes. I’ll eat when I’m hungry and won’t wait until it’s convenient. I’ll sleep when I’m tired and won’t rouse myself for anything. I’ll laugh when I’m happy and won’t flatter and fawn over anyone.

  • Any obstacle or barrier to Claudio’s happiness will be like medicine to me. I hate him so much it makes me sick, and whoever can ruin his happiness will make me happy.

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Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Dogberry
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: deleted133530

The constable in charge of the Watch, or chief policeman, of Messina. Dogberry is very sincere and takes his job seriously, but he has a habit of using exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning. Dogberry is one of the few “middling sort,” or middle-class characters, in the play, though his desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noblemen becomes an occasion for parody. He's not really intelligent, even if he tries to sound as he is. He should have a mid to high ranged voice, and have a natural comedic, even a bit pathetic, voice.

  • Sleeping on the watch shouldn’t be a problem; just make sure that your weapons don’t get stolen. Also, you’re supposed to visit all the bars and tell anyone who’s drunk to go home and go to bed.

  • Write down that they hope they serve God. Oh, and write “God” first—for God forbid we put these criminals before God!

  • Come, take away the plaintiffs. By now the sexton will have reformed Signior Leonato of the matter. (to CLAUDIO and DON PEDRO) And, gentlemen, please do not forget to specify, whenever it is convenient, that I am an ass.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 2 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Margaret
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

Hero’s serving woman, who unwittingly helps Borachio and Don John deceive Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful. Though she is honest, she does have some dealings with the villainous world of Don John: her lover is the mistrustful and easily bribed Borachio. Also unlike Ursula, Margaret loves to break decorum, especially with bawdy jokes and teases. In the second part of the play she becomes a sort of foil to Beatrice, teasing her and Hero before the latter's wedding. She should have a tipically feminine voice, contrasting with her bawdy nature. In the first part of the play she should also be also able to express a servile nature. 

  • What’s wrong with admitting your husband’s going to lie on you? Nothing, as long as it’s the right husband with the right wife. That’s right and proper—anything else is frivolous and immoral.

  • Maybe you think that I think you’re in love. No, by Our Lady, I’m not such a fool to think what I please, and I don’t please to think what I can, and in fact I cannot think, even if I could think my heart right past thinking, that you are in love or that you will be in love or even that you can be in love.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 3 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Borachio
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Paul Hikari

An associate of Don John. Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. He conspires with Don John to trick Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking that Hero is unfaithful to Claudio. He is the one that actually thinks about the whole plan to trick Hero and Claudio, but at the end he feels sorry about what he did. He should have a mid ranged voice.

  • Go to the Prince, your brother, and tell him that he has done a terrible thing by matching the renowned Claudio—whom you greatly admire—with such a tainted whore as Hero.

  • (sorry about what he did) The lady has died because of the false accusations of me and my master. I desire nothing now but a criminal’s punishment.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 2 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Conrad
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

One of Don John’s more intimate associates, entirely devoted to Don John. He's depicted in some productions as his male lover. He's entirely devoted to his master and would help him in any way. He should have a mid to high ranged voice

  • You should listen to reason. Then you’d stop being so gloomy.

  • (talking about Don Pedro) You need to act carefully if you’re going to stay in his good graces. You have to wait for the appropriate time to let loose.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 1 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Verges
closed
Unpaid
Role assigned to: Paul Hikari

The deputy to Dogberry, chief policeman of Messina. He's unable to take full advantage of Dogberry because, although he is quite ignorant, he's able to be commending over him. He should have a mid to high ranged voice, a sort of nerdy, submissive voice. 

  • (to Dogberry) You have always been known as a merciful man, partner.

  • Yes, yes, we’ve been exhibitioned to examine this case.

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Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Antonio
open
Unpaid

Leonato’s elderly brother and Hero's uncle. He is Beatrice’s father. He helps Leonato when Hero is accused and is freqently present on the scene with him. He should have a deep, tipically elderly voice.

  • A servant of mine overheard the Prince and Claudio talking as they walked through my orchard. The Prince said that he is in love with Hero, your daughter, and that he is going to tell her so at the dance tonight. If he she wants to marry him, too, he’s going to find you and ask for her hand immediately.

  • If you keep on the way you’ve been going, you’ll kill yourself. There’s no point in adding to your grief.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 4 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Balthasar
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

A waiting man in Leonato’s household and a musician. Balthasar flirts with Margaret at the masked party and helps Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice. Balthasar sings the song, “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more” about accepting men’s infidelity as natural. The voice actor for this role should also be able to sing, therefor. 

  • (sing a section of "Sigh no more" -use any melody you prefer, I personally like the one used in Tennant's version of the show but you can invent your own-) 

    Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,

     Men were deceivers ever,

     One foot in sea and one on shore,

     To one thing constant never.

     Then sigh not so, but let them go,

     And be you blithe and bonny,

     Converting all your sounds of woe

     Into Hey, nonny nonny.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 0 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Ursula
closed
Unpaid
cast offsite

One of Hero's waiting women. She helps Hero making Beatrice fall in love with Benedick. She is older than both Hero and Margaret and has a deeper voice than them.

  • It would be bad if she knew about Benedick’s love and teased him about it.

  • Oh, don’t injure your cousin like that! With the quick, intelligent wit she’s rumored to have, she can’t really be such a bad judge of character that she’d refuse a man as exceptional as Signior Benedick.

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Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Extras
open
Unpaid

There are some extras in the play, including messangers, a child and watchmen. Just present yourself, let me hear your voice and I'll decide if you fit any character. If you're interested in the play, audition anyway for other roles.

  • Say something you think would fit.

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