THE ARIA OF JULIE D'AUBIGNY, the cross-dressing, sword-fighting, opera singer, wherein she seduces men and women alike, wins numerous duels, must be twice pardoned by the King, and eventually finds true love. by Monica Cross

[Full-Length Historical/Biographical/Drama]
2021 O'Neill Semi-Finalist
2021 Shakesepare's New Contemporaries Semifinalist

UPDATED DRAFT: 11/11/23
Julie d’Aubigny was born with a talent for singing, but she was raised as a duelist. She is used to solving her problems with violence, which has gotten her some unwanted notoriety. While gaining acclaim in the Paris...
[Full-Length Historical/Biographical/Drama]
2021 O'Neill Semi-Finalist
2021 Shakesepare's New Contemporaries Semifinalist

UPDATED DRAFT: 11/11/23
Julie d’Aubigny was born with a talent for singing, but she was raised as a duelist. She is used to solving her problems with violence, which has gotten her some unwanted notoriety. While gaining acclaim in the Paris Opera, she is also getting attention for her complicated love life: a friend abroad who is an on-again-off-again lover, a doe-eyed man who shares her bed, and a woman she longingly pines for. With a long list of past conquests both in fighting and in romance, Julie, sometimes, has a difficulty keeping the two separate. As her love life spins out of control, she begins to feel as if she is fighting the whole world at once. But if she can find someone who understands her, maybe she can finally have the love she has been searching for.
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THE ARIA OF JULIE D'AUBIGNY, the cross-dressing, sword-fighting, opera singer, wherein she seduces men and women alike, wins numerous duels, must be twice pardoned by the King, and eventually finds true love.

Recommended by

  • Nora Louise Syran:
    8 Oct. 2022
    “ A "duelist [who has] never lost a duel. A lover ever attentive to [her] beloved [who has] hidden these features within the uncut gem of [her] wild and reckless behavior." A brilliant historical figure brought to life by Monica Cross in a fast-paced, action-filled, easy to stage historical romance. Well done! ”
  • Christopher Soucy:
    7 Oct. 2022
    “ D’Aubigny had always been one of my favorite historical figures! Monica Cross does a fantastic job of telling the incredible story of a most incredible human being. ”
  • Doug DeVita:
    30 Apr. 2021
    “ Julie D’Aubigny’s story is fascinating, a natural for stage and film; her 17th century exploits as a cross-dressing swords(wo)man lend themselves to epic, swashbuckling, and romantic storytelling. Monica Cross, like D'Aubigny, has a wonderfully individual style, and her ability to bring a sense of magical wonder to D’Aubigny’s already highly theatrical tale gives her work here an edge over most other iterations of this story. It’s long, yes, but endlessly fascinating, and moves so rapidly it makes for a most exciting read, and I imagine will be equally as exciting to see performed. ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

I believe in and support the use of identity conscious casting in an expansive and intersectional way throughout my work. I promote racial, ethnic, gender, ability, and size diversity in the casting choices used to produce this play.

This play can be produced with 20 actors and no doubling or may be doubled for a smaller cast.
For a cast of twelve, doubling might be as follows: (3 women, 4 men, 5 any gender)
ACTOR ONE: D’AUBIGNY
ACTOR TWO: D’ALBERT and IMPRESARIO
ACTOR THREE: FLORENSAC and ROCHOIS
ACTOR FOUR: INTENDANT and THEVENARD
ACTOR FIVE: D'ARMAGNAC, KING and GENTLEMAN
ACTOR SIX: MOUREAU, LADY, and MISTRESS
ACTOR SEVEN: DUMESNIL and DUKE
Leaving the Gossips un-doubled with anyone (ACTORS EIGHT through TWELVE)

  • Julie D’AUBIGNY, Mademoiselle de Maupin
    19-37,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Louis-Joseph, Comte D’ALBERT de Luynes
    30-45,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Marie-Thérèse-Louise, Marquise de FLORENSAC
    late 30s to early 40s,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gabriel-Vincent THEVENARD
    20-35,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Fanchon MOUREAU
    mid-30s,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • DUKE of Orleans
    30-45,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Marthe ROCHOIS
    mid-30s,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Comte D'ARMAGNAC
    40s to 50s,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • DUMESNIL
    40-55,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • KING Louis XIV, the Sun King
    50s,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Opera IMPRESSARIO
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Theatre INTENDANT
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Young LADY at the ball
    20-25,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gretchen, d’Albert’s MISTRESS
    25-35,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • GENTLEMAN
    40s to 50s,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • GOSSIP ONE
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • GOSSIP TWO
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • GOSSIP THREE
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • GOSSIP FOUR
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • GOSSIP FIVE
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Whiskey Theatre Factory
    ,
    2022

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Shakespeare's New Contemporaries
,
American Shakespeare Center
,
2021