Poster design by Tom McGregor and Mary Olson
Audition
Auditions for The Mikado
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company will hold auditions for its Spring 2019 production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Saturday, November 3, 2018 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and Sunday, November 4, 2018, 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Call Backs will be held on Monday, November 5, 2018, starting at 7:00 pm.
This production will be directed by Rick Shiomi and will be a presentation of his adaptation of the original version of The Mikado, with Choreography by Penelope Freeh and Music Direction by Dr. Randal Buikema.
The auditions will be held at Lake Harriet Methodist Church, at 4901 South Chowen Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55410.
Roles in The Mikado
Principals
His Majesty (The Mikado), The King of England (bass)
Franklyn Pool of Hanover, Franki-Poo, Son of the King (tenor)
Coleman Cole, Co Co, Lord High Executioner (baritone)
Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else (baritone)
Chris Tushington, Chris Tush, A Noble Lord (baritone)
Taylor Tarrington, Tum Tum, Ward of Co Co (soprano)
Patricia Sing, Patti Sing, Ward of Co Co (mezzo)
Barbara O. Peoples, Bow Peep, Ward of Co Co (soprano)
Lady Katherine Shaw, Katy Shaw, Lady of the Royal Court (contralto)
Ensemble
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, Schoolgirls, Guards and Servants
Casting
All principal roles for the production will be cast through these auditions. No principal roles are pre-cast.
While approximately a third of the Ensemble is already filled by performers who are company members, the remaining Ensemble vacancies, all voices, will be filled through these auditions.
All performers receive a stipend of $200.00.
To Audition
We ask you to bring a performance resume as well as a completed an audition form, which we will email to you. Those without performance resumes may simply submit a completed audition form. We also ask you to bring a copy of your head shot or another good photo of yourself.
Please audition with a song or aria in English (other languages are acceptable), which may be an opera or operetta piece, a Gilbert and Sullivan selection, a show tune, etc. No pop or rock music please.
An accompanist will be provided. We strongly recommend that all those auditioning prepare an accompanied piece rather than something unaccompanied
You do not need to prepare a monologue. The Directors may provide you with sides during your audition. If they do so, you will rehearse the sides privately with others who are auditioning and then present to the Directors.
Call Backs
Most of those being considered for a named role in the production will be asked to come to Call Backs, which will be held on Monday, November 5, 2018 starting at 7:00 pm. You will be notified via email if you are being called back. Those emails will be sent out on Sunday, November 4, 2018 after auditions are completed that evening.
You will be notified for which role or roles you’ll be asked to read and sing. The music and dialogue that will be used for specific roles is provided below.
In addition to singing and reading for a specific role or roles at Call Backs, you will be taught a dance routine and then will be asked to present it to the Directors.
Call Back Music
Call Back Dialogue
Franki-Poo / Tum Tum / Patti Sing / Bow Peep
Majesty / Katy Shaw / Co Co / Pooh Bah / Patti Sing
Rehearsal Schedule
Full Cast Introductory Rehearsal: Monday, January 21, 2019, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.
Ensemble rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 pm and run until 10:00 pm on Monday and Thursday nights. The Ensemble will be called to rehearse on Tuesdays, as necessary.
Principal rehearsals will be scheduled by the Directors, and will generally occur, as scheduled, on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 pm and Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Principals will be called on Mondays and Thursdays, as necessary.
Rehearsals are held at Lake Harriet Methodist Church, 4901 Chowen Avenue South, Minneapolis, from Monday, January 21, 2019 to Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Rehearsals will be held at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis from Monday, March 4, 2019 to the Thursday, March 14, 2019 Preview Performance.
Tech Week: Sunday, March 10, 2019 to Wednesday, March 12, 2019, with the night off on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Estimated call: 6:30 to 11:00 pm.
The Sunday, March 10, 2019 rehearsal is an Understudy Rehearsal. All cast members are called. Estimated call: 6:30 pm.
Preview Performance: Thursday, March 14, 2019. Estimated call: 6:30 pm.
Performance Schedule
Thursday, March 14, 7:30 pm, Preview Performance
Fridays, March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 7:30 pm, Evening Performances
Saturdays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 7:30 pm, Evening Performances
Saturdays, March 23, 30 2:00 pm, Matinee Performance
Sundays, March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 2:00 pm, Matinee Performances
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company performs at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis.
Notification
We intend for casting to be completed by Monday, November 19, 2018.
We will call those being offered principal roles first. They are given a limited amount of time to accept or decline the offer before the offer will go to the next candidate. After the principal roles have been filled, those being offered Ensemble roles will be called. Finally, we will notify via email those whom we are unable to cast. This process usually takes about two weeks, but everyone who auditions will be called or notified via email.
To Schedule an Audition
We are scheduling auditions now, with everyone scheduled for a specific audition date and time. If you would like to schedule an audition, you may do so on our The Mikado Audition Sign-Up page.
“They sing so nicely too!”
Princess Ida