AUDITIONS

AUDITIONS FOR PIRATES OF PENZANCE

          Vallejo Music Theatre will hold auditions for Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty, July 21, 22 with callbacks July 23 at 7 PM at 823 Marin Street , Vallejo.  For information call 707.649.2787.   Auditioners are asked to bring sheet music for a song other than in the show and prepare a “patter” (fast-talking) song.  The opera is being directed by Donald and Sheila Atwater.  Performances are set for weekends October 3-19.

          The Pirates of Penzance is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert.  It is one of the Savoy Operas.  The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on December 31, 1879, where the show was a hit with audiences and critics.  The London premiere was on April 3, 1880, at the Opera Comique, where it ran for 363 performances, having already been playing successfully for over three months in New York .

Pirates remains popular today, taking its place along with The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore as one of the most frequently played Gilbert & Sullivan operas.  Its 1981 Broadway revival by Joseph Papp ran for 787 performances and spawned many imitations.  The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a well known touring repertory which performed Gilbert & Sullivan’s works at various times through to the company's 1982 closure.

All roles in the opera are open and include the Major-General Stanley (comic baritone), The Pirate King (bass-baritone), Samuel, his Lieutenant (baritone), Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice (tenor), Sergeant of Police (bass), Mabel (soprano), Edith (mezzo-soprano), Kate (mezzo-soprano), Isabel (speaking), General Stanley's Daughters, Ruth, a Piratical Maid of all work (contralto), Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters.  Plans are for a small but enthusiastic and talented cast (approximately 21). 

If you need more information, call 707 649-2787

or email: info@vallejomusictheatre.org