Valley Light Opera 2009 The Pirates of Penzance Auditions May 9th and 10th

Welcome!

Valley Light Opera has been bringing exceptional productions of Gilbert & Sullivan and other operettas to the Pioneer Valley since 1975. Along the way we've developed some very special traditions -- an adventurous (and slightly irreverent) spirit, an emphasis on fun and community, and a wonderful mixture of newcomers and company veterans working together. Each year nearly a third of our cast and crews are new to the organization. Everyone volunteers his or her time, and everyone works together to create the best show possible. If you like to sing, come to auditions and try out for one of the principal roles or chorus. If you'd like to get involved behind the scenes, give us a call -- there are always plenty of jobs for every level of skill and time commitment. (See below for a list of crews and positions.) Join us for VLO's Fall 2009 annual autumn production -- you'll have a great time!

The Pirates of Penzance
or
The Slave of Duty

For our 35th annual fall production (performances on November 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15), the VLO is presenting Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty, which we last produced in 1999. Swashbuckling (but genteel) pirates, a bevy of beautiful maidens, stalwart (if bumbling) policemen -- all are thrown together in a series of predictably unpredictable plot turns in a comic romp along the rocky coast of Cornwall. The music includes some of the best and most memorable songs G&S ever wrote, including "Poor wandering one", "I am the very model of a modern major general", "A policeman's lot is not a happy one" and "Hail, poetry!"

Graham Christian is a scholar, teacher, writer, and musician, familiar to VLO audiences as the Duke of Plaza-Toro in VLO's latest Gondoliers. This year's Pirates will be his first time as stage director for the VLO, after several ventures as choreographer, for such shows as The Merry Widow (2005), The Gondoliers (2006), Ruddigore (2004), and Princess Ida (2008).

Joseph Sabol joins VLO for the first time as music director. He was most recently the conductor for LSSE's 2009 production of Seussical: the Musical. Since moving to Western Mass. in 1986, Joe has worked as an Educational Representative for music stores -- first for the former Gribbon's Music and currently for Gerry's Music. He has also toured throughout Massachusetts and New York as a freelance artist on trombone, which allowed him to perform with such Grammy winning artists as Jimmy Sturr, Bobby Vinton, The Temptations, and the O'Jays.

The producers for this year are Corinne Demas, Nina Pollard, Lucy Robinson, Elaine Walker, and Jim Walker, all veterans of many positions both on stage and off with Valley Light Opera shows.

Questions about Auditions? Call or e-mail us!

We will provide an accompanist, and will have vocal scores available for all G&S operas. If you wish to sing something else, please bring a copy for the accompanist and one for yourself. We will ask all auditioners to sing on the platform facing the audience.

A Pirates of Penzance vocal score and CD will be on reserve at the Jones Library in Amherst, and numbers from the score may be copied there.

Callbacks: If we feel we need more information in some cases to cast principals, we will hold a callback session on Monday evening, May 11, at a location to be announced to participants. We expect to notify all those auditioning for principal roles of the results of their auditions by Tuesday evening (May 12) at the latest. Chorus notifications may take a bit longer but should be completed by the end of the week.

Directions to First Congregational Church: From the traffic light in the center of Amherst (Bank of America on one corner, Subway sandwich shop diagonally across), take Main Street east two blocks. The church is on the right, just beyond the police station. You may park in the lot at the rear of the church, or on the street. You'll be greeted in the hallway near the sanctuary.

Frederic (tenor): Despite his upbringing among criminals, Frederic has somehow imbibed full-on Victorian values of candor, honesty, and duty. This is a vocally demanding title role, with numerous high G's and A-flats. Heroic singing but wonderfully naive acting.

Mabel (soprano): No less principled than Frederic, Mabel is a moral paragon, at least in her own mind. Her purity doesn't prevent her from loving Frederic deeply, and being perhaps the teeny-weeniest bit bloodthirsty. Considering there is much musical parody of Verdi's Violetta (in La Traviata) -- especially Mabel's Act I cadenzas -- she must have excellent coloratura and power, a soaring lyric soprano. There are numerous high B-flats throughout the score.

The Pirate King (bass/baritone): Virile and lively. Although his notions of piracy may come from heroic poetry, you never quite know if he might be a little dangerous after all. This is a physically and vocally challenging role.

Major General Stanley (tenor or baritone): Book-learned and perhaps a little foolish, he has many daughters and dowries to worry about; his morals, unlike Mabel's, come and go. His aria "I am the very model of a modern major general" is perhaps the most celebrated and parodied song in all G&S. With both patter and lyric songs, this role requires impeccable diction and good projection in both low and high ranges.

Ruth (alto): Pirate maid-of-all-work and the only woman Frederic has ever seen . . . until Mabel and her sisters appear. At 47, she is ready for her disciple Frederic to marry her, and if he proves uncooperative, some other strategy for her future must be found. This is a true alto role and needs excellent projection. Her aria "When Frederic was a little lad" requires a solid low register, especially since its most significant line (and an essential one for the plot) is delivered over an octave leap to a low G. A physically demanding role.

Samuel (baritone): Leader of the pirate chorus...often working at cross-purposes with his King.

Sergeant of Police (bass): He never really gives in to his cowardice, and has a wonderful chance to make a great impression in a fairly short period of time. A true bass role: must have a solid low G and the ability to project diction clearly in that register.

Edith (soprano): She sees the world with more complexity than Mabel does. A bit of a comedienne, she may be her father's favorite. She has a couple of short but important solos and a bit of dialogue in Act I. Requires a strong soprano voice. Also a member of the chorus.

Kate (mezzo): Like Edith, she has a sense of humor. She is unwilling to concede "father's favorite" to Edith. Has one short solo and a bit of dialogue. Also a member of the chorus.

Isabel: No solo singing, but a few lines of dialogue. She is unwilling to concede "father's favorite" to either Edith or Kate. Also a member of the chorus.

Chorus Women: Daughters of Major General Stanley, unattached young ladies, with perhaps a governess or two, and perhaps a Visiting Head of State.

Chorus Men: All sing Act I as members of the pirate band. In Act II, the tenors continue as pirates, while the basses become police!

Ta-ran-ta-ra! Ta-ran-ta-ra!

Behind the Scenes

"I'd like to do that! It looks like fun!"

It takes almost 200 people to put on a VLO show each year -- people who hammer and sew and paint and proofread and do all the other jobs that turn words and music on a page into glorious magic on the stage. Experience is not required, and you decide how much time you can give. Be a part of it!

Costumes -- We are famous for our dazzling costumes, which we construct during rehearsals and on weekends. There are tasks for those who do not sew as well as for experienced tailors!

Sets -- Help us turn plywood and paint into lavish scenery during weekend work sessions. Carpentry and painting skills are warmly welcomed, but are not required. Lunch is provided!

Make-up -- Transform the cast, starting about two hours before each dress rehearsal and performance.

and don't forget

Lobby decorators . . . Stage crew . . . Props Builders . . . Lighting Crew
Sound and Lighting Operators . . . Proofreaders . . . Ushers . . . Assistant Stage Managers
Souvenir Sales . . . Pianists . . . Orchestra Musicians . . . Dance Assistants
and many more

You may wish to return to the VLO Home Page.