Written by two of America’s renowned Shakespearean actors, whose combined careers span over sixty years, Shakespeare Alive is the must-have audition book for young actors auditioning for Shakespeare festivals or graduate schools. It contains 155 two-minutes or under monologues, many of which are new cuttings or combined speeches that have never been heard before. Olster and Hamilton’s innovative side-by-side vernacular translation/original language format enables quick comprehension, and paragraph groupings for verse selections provide thought groupings for better presentation. A special section is included with insightful auditioning advice from highly regarded actors, directors, and casting agents.

original Act 3 scene 1, lines 123–137

Servant: Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; And being prostrate, thus he bade me say: Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Say I love Brutus and I honor him; Say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him. If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony May safely come to him and be resolved How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead So well as Brutus living; but will follow The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus Thorough the hazards of this untrod state With all true faith. So says my master Antony.

vernacular Act 3 scene 1, lines 123–137

Servant: In this fashion, Brutus, my master instructed me to kneel; in this fashion Mark Antony instructed me to fall down and being prostrate, he told me to say this: Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Say I love Brutus and I honor him; say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him. If Brutus will deign to allow Antony to safely come to him and be convinced to his satisfaction that Caesar deserved to lie here dead, Mark Antony shall not love dead Caesar as well as he will love living Brutus; and he will align himself on the side of noble Brutus to face the dangers of this uncertain state of affairs with all faithfulness. So says my master Antony.

thought groupings Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; and being prostrate, thus he bade me say: Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Say I love Brutus and I honor him; say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him. If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony may safely come to him and be resolved how Caesar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead so well as Brutus living; but will follow the fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus thorough the hazards of this untrod state with all true faith. So says my master Antony.