Everyone sings on a first-come, first-heard basis. Call-backs for principal parts will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. on the stage at Amherst Senior High School.
Very few of our wonderful chorus had ever auditioned before they tried out that first time for VLO. We try our best to make the audition process as user-friendly as possible. This year we will audition at the Junior High, a room large enough for us to hear how big a voice you have yet small enough so that you won't feel like you are at Carnegie Hall.
To ease you into the audition process, we also offer an optional audition workshop for chorus and principals. Receive helpful suggestions on how best to present yourself, what to expect at an audition, how to deal with nerves, and much more. Bring a song to practice with an accompanist in a relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere. The date is Tuesday, May 7, at 7 pm. The place is the music room of Amherst Regional Senior High School. (The two schools are within view of each other.)
To get to the two schools from the center of Amherst where you'll find Fleet Bank and the Subway sandwich shop, go north on North Pleasant Street (Subway on your right) through two lights (not counting the one by Fleet Bank). At the second set of lights drive straight ahead (North Pleasant becomes East Pleasant at this point) and take the second right, Chestnut Street. (The first right, which is very easy to miss, is Chestnut Court.) Drive straight ahead on Chestnut Street until an intersection just before Chestnut curves right. The Junior High will be a turn to the left. We will be using the second set of doors in this rather long building. The Senior High will be a turn to the right. The entrance to the High School that we will be using is the main entrance which is on the other side as you approach the school.
Principals: Principal auditioners should make every effort to sing one verse of a song for the character for whom you are auditioning. If this is not possible, try to choose a similar G & S character from another operetta. Those trying out for principal roles may be asked to read from the script. Dialogue pages from the Schirmer edition of the piano/vocal score and some suggested songs that will be used for call-backs for each principal character are noted below.
Copies of the score and audio tapes of The Mikado are available at the Jones Library in Amherst. You may copy music for your audition use at the Library.
Because we depend on each other, we take our rehearsal policy very seriously. If you are asked to join the company, your obligation is to attend all your scheduled rehearsals (except for sickness and emergencies) and be ready to rehearse at the scheduled time. Everyone who auditions will be asked to agree to this policy in writing.
Costumes: We are famous for our costumes, which we construct at the high school during weekday and weekend rehearsals.
Sets: Construction happens mostly on weekends; painting starts as soon as set pieces have been built--we supply pizza and subs!
Lighting: Hanging and focusing take place in a frenzy of activity in the final 2 weeks before opening.
Make-up, publicity, ushers, tickets, programs, props, banner painting, souvenirs . . . (you get the idea). Join us for the whole fall or just a few hours.
David Kidwell, Music Director, is a composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist with a master's degree in composition from the Hartt School of Music. He serves as music director, teacher and keyboardist throughout the valley as well as being the assistant conductor of the Pioneer Valley Symphony. David has played in the VLO orchestra since 1991 and served as the VLO's principal accompanist. Last year he moved to the podium to direct the music for Princess Ida.
The Production Staff includes long-time producers Bob Graham and Elaine Walker who are in charge of sets and costumes, respectively, and second year veterans of the production team, Linda Patterson, in charge of most of the "fine arts" from painting to makeup and Steve Morgan who tries to coordinate everything.
The Mikado: Bass (low F - D) The emperor, henpecked by a future daughter-in-law, must be at once macabre, genial, imposing, and grotesque, should have a rich, powerful voice with a solid low F. Dialogue - pp. 188-189.
Nanki-Poo: Lyric Tenor (C - high A) Romantic lead; disguised son of the Mikado. Affable, comfortable with himself, self-assured, able to act with the voice. Should have a secure and unobtrusive high range, including a soft high G. Dialogue - p. 87.
Ko-Ko: Baritone (low G - E) Lord high Executioner, comic baritone, a commoner, incurably optimistic and resilient, full of himself but unable to escape his frivolous nature, plucky. He should have excellent diction and projection and needs to manage a single low G. Dialogue - pp. 164 and 207.
Pooh-Bah: Bass/baritone (B-flat - D) Lord High Everything Else. Born sneering, a symbol of pride, avarice, and graft, yet lovable for his candidness. He doesn't try to harm others, he merely looks after himself, constantly. Dialogue - pp. 41, 114-115.
Pish-Tush: Bass/baritone (low F - E) Opportunistic, a politician with all the attributes that go along with that position. Must have good diction, intonation and breath control with a sonorous low F. Sing #3; dialogue - p. 31.
Yum-Yum: Soprano (D - high B-flat) Romantic lead, a schoolgirl who shows skill at getting out of her wedding to Nanki-poo while retaining his affections with calculating endearments. Should have a pure, innocent voice with good intonation and breath control, especially in softer dynamics. Dialogue - p. 145 bot., p. 157 bot.; must be able to sing verse 2 of No. 13 softly.
Katisha: Contralto (low G# - F) Promised to Nanki-Poo, she must dominate the stage. Grotesque but able to grab the interest and sympathy of the audience. She should display wrath in her singing. Sing p. 205; Dialogue pp. 188, 207.
Pitti-Sing: Mezzo-soprano/soprano (B-flat - G#) Bubbly school girl chum of Yum-Yum; low range more important than high. Sing pp. 182 - 184; Dialogue p. 197.
Peep-bo: Soprano/mezzo-soprano (D - D) Bubbly school girl chum of Yum-Yum with few tiny solos. Dialogue p. 76.
In 1975, Mel Miller joined the chorus of VLO's first production, HMS Pinafore. Over the years he has served as occasional soloist, technical director, business manager, engineering consultant, and for many years, as Treasurer. He and Dorothy, who has often sung and accompanied for VLO, will soon be retiring to Florida. Jean Eysenbach, longtime chorister and board member will soon retire to Maine. All will be greatly missed!
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Send Questions/Comments to: info@vlo.org