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]
2024 Wisconsin Wrights Finalist
2021 O'Neill Semi-Finalist
2021 Shakesepare's New Contemporaries Semifinalist

UPDATED DRAFT: 6/24/26
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...

[Full-Length Historical/Biographical/Drama]
2024 Wisconsin Wrights Finalist
2021 O'Neill Semi-Finalist
2021 Shakesepare's New Contemporaries Semifinalist

UPDATED DRAFT: 6/24/26
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

  • Dave Osmundsen: 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
    “

    Julie d’Aubigny’s life has become fodder for half-truths, exaggerations, and outright fabrications. Monica Cross acknowledges the myths and legends through five gadfly gossips who act as an incorrigible and unruly Greek Chorus, and then returns the narrative to the flawed, yet deeply principled human at its center. While lengthy, the play consistently intrigues and entertains, then wallops you with one of the most emotionally intimate, vulnerable, and moving love stories I have read in quite some time. A perfect play for colleges and universities.

    Julie d’Aubigny’s life has become fodder for half-truths, exaggerations, and outright fabrications. Monica Cross acknowledges the myths and legends through five gadfly gossips who act as an incorrigible and unruly Greek Chorus, and then returns the narrative to the flawed, yet deeply principled human at its center. While lengthy, the play consistently intrigues and entertains, then wallops you with one of the most emotionally intimate, vulnerable, and moving love stories I have read in quite some time. A perfect play for colleges and universities.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: 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
    “

    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!

    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: 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
    “

    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.

    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.

    ”
View all 9 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)
  • GOSSIP ONE
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • GOSSIP TWO
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • GOSSIP THREE
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • GOSSIP FOUR
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • GENTLEMAN
    40s to 50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • GOSSIP FIVE
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Julie D’AUBIGNY, Mademoiselle de Maupin
    19-37
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Louis-Joseph, Comte D’ALBERT de Luynes
    30-45
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Marie-Thérèse-Louise, Marquise de FLORENSAC
    late 30s to early 40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Gabriel-Vincent THEVENARD
    20-35
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • DUKE of Orleans
    30-45
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Fanchon MOUREAU
    mid-30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Marthe ROCHOIS
    mid-30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • DUMESNIL
    40-55
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Comte D'ARMAGNAC
    40s to 50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • KING Louis XIV, the Sun King
    50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s
  • Theatre INTENDANT
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Opera IMPRESSARIO
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Young LADY at the ball
    20-25
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Gretchen, d’Albert’s MISTRESS
    25-35
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Workshop, Mary Baldwin University, Shakespeare and Performance program , 2023
  • Reading, Whiskey Theatre Factory, 2022

Production History

  • Community Theater, Theatre@First, 2026

Awards

  • Wisconsin Wrights
    Forward Theatre
    Finalist
    2024
  • Shakespeare's New Contemporaries
    American Shakespeare Center
    Semi-Finalist
    2021