Valley Light Opera Community Theater at its Best! Fall 2002 production The Yeomen of the Guard   Auditions Saturday, May 11, 11 am - 4 pm Sunday, May 12, 1 - 4 pm First Congregational Church 165 Main Street, Amherst

If you like to sing, come to auditions and try out for one of the principal or chorus roles. If you'd like to get involved behind the scenes, give us a call and we'll put you to work (see page 3 for some of our great crews). Join us for our 28th season!

We first produced Yeomen in 1978, and again in 1990. This year's production will take place in Amherst on November 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9, 2002.

You've never auditioned before? Almost none of our chorus members had before they came out that first time! While auditions are always nerve-wracking for newcomers and seasoned veterans alike, we try to make them as simple and non-threatening as possible. You will sing before a small committee of 4 or 5 people. We look for voice projection, intonation, musical quality, diction, and stage presence.

An accompanist will be provided, and scores for all G&S operas will be available. If you bring your own music for a non-G&S piece and want piano accompaniment, please bring a copy for the accompanist as well. Remember, the accompanist will probably be sight-reading your piece -- so keep it simple!.

Directions to First Congregational Church: From the traffic light in the center of Amherst (Fleet Bank 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. Park in the lot in the rear of the church, or on the street.

Callbacks: If we feel we need more information in some cases to cast principals, we will hold a callback session on Monday, May 13 at 7:30 pm at the Amherst Regional High School auditorium.

Principals: If you are auditioning for a principal role, prepare a solo number for the character in Yeomen you hope to play. See the character sketches (below) for suggested songs. You will also be asked to read some dialogue.

Sir Richard Cholmondely (Lieutenant of the Tower), bass. Of middling age. The officer in command of the Tower, hence commanding. Imperious, businesslike, fair-minded but essentially humorless. The only aristocrat in the lot.
Song - "How say you, maiden"

Colonel Fairfax (under sentence of death), tenor. Thirtyish. A combination of Castiglione's "Perfect Courtier" and Machiavelli's "Prince." A true Renaissance man, scientist as well as soldier. Debonair, with a touch of bravado. Brave upon demand. Heartless, too. The handsomest man in England according to Phoebe.
Song - "Is life a boon?"

Sergeant Meryll (of the Yeomen of the Guard), bass. Middle-aged. Jovial, with a big heart, possibly in a big body (slightly Falstaffian). A fond father. In the tradition of stalwart British sergeant-major types, used to hard service and tough going. Needs a sense of humor and an expressive face.
Song - "Rapture, rapture"

Leonard Meryll (his son), tenor. As much like Fairfax as possible, physically. He has a reputation for being "a very dragon of virtue and circumspection," but along with his squareness he needs energy and assurance.
Song - any G&S tenor solo

Jack Point, baritone. A strolling jester, in the tradition of the "laugh, clown, laugh" roles. A pathetic but perhaps not altogether sympathetic figure. Self-absorbed and perhaps not capable of real love. Possibly not even a good jester, and maybe older than he wants to admit. Not necessarily agile, but needs nimbleness of tongue. Cynical, riveting. A worn-out humorist.
Song - "I've jibe and joke and quip and crank"

Wilfred Shadbolt (Head Jailer and Assistant Tormenter), bass-baritone. A gem of a part. The center of most of the opera's humor. Loutish, ponderous, jealous, sour-faced, thick-skulled, thin-skinned, menacing, even a bit sadistic -- but likeable in a Caliban way. Putty in the hands of Phoebe.
Song - "Hereupon we're both agreed"

Elsie Maynard (a strolling singer), soprano. A pretty maid of seventeen. Vocally dramatic and taxing role, yet she must appear sweet, even naïve, and in the full bloom of youth. A kind of victim, readily touched by the misfortune of others, yet miraculously untouched by the cruel and conniving world around her. High-minded but never haughty or proud.
Song - "'Tis done! I am a bride!"

Pheobe Meryll (Sgt. Meryll's daughter), mezzo-soprano. Passionate, often tearful. Playful, too. Vivacious, flirtatious, determined. Even more victimized than Elsie, her zest for life is being ground down by the Tower and its Shadbolts.
Song - "Were I thy bride"

Dame Carruthers (Housekeeper to the Tower), contralto. Her life is the Tower, and she is as gray, solid and rock-hard as it is. Tough, yet tender. She's a stern realist about her work, but a rather silly romantic when it comes to her pursuit of the reluctant Sergeant Meryll.
Song - "When our gallant Norman foes"

Kate (her niece), soprano. A little pitcher with big ears. Exists for the sake of a quartet and a chunk of plot, but can be made into an earnest, concerned and dutiful character.
Song - any G&S soprano solo

Chorus women are all townsfolk.

Chorus men -- some will be Yeomen of the Guard, the rest will be townsfolk. A few will be assigned small bits of solo dialogue and/or singing as Headsman, First and Second Yeomen, and First and Second Citizens.

Because we depend on each other, we take our rehearsal policy very seriously. We start and end rehearsals on time, and we work hard. If you are asked to join the company, your obligation is to attend all your scheduled rehearsals (except for sickness and real emergencies), and to arrive early enough to begin on time. Everyone who auditions will be asked to agree to this policy in writing, and anyone who cannot adhere to it may be dropped from the cast.

Dean Acheson makes his debut as our stage director, having worked for nearly 30 years with community and educational theater companies in Michigan. Since moving east two years ago, Dean has directed plays and/or designed sets at Smith College, Smith Academy, the New Century Theater and Enchanted Circle Theater, and he was VLO lighting designer for The Grand Duke. Dean also teaches stagecraft at PVPA and Springfield College and runs a local business restoring and renovating old houses.

Dick Gregory, costume designer extraordinaire, will once again turn his talents to making us look spectacular onstage. Recent VLO credits include The Grand Duke ('01), The Pirates of Penzance ('99), Patience ('98), The Vagabond King ('97), and The Mikado ('96).

Ken Samonds returns as our set designer after a long absence. He has created many magical VLO sets, including Iolanthe ('86), The Mikado ('87), The Sorcerer ('88) and The Pirates of Penzance ('89).

Matt Kimmel will be our lighting designer, as he was for Iolanthe ('00) and The Pirates of Penzance ('99).

Cami Elbow is coordinating producer for Yeomen. The other producers this year are John Foster, Jacki Haney (who is also stage manager), and Ken Moore. Elaine Walker is costume coordinator.

Master Carpenter -- We are looking for someone to oversee construction of the stage set in September and October, working with the designer and the construction crew to turn the set design into sturdy, effective pieces on stage. Must have good carpentry skills and the ability to supervise work and make decisions. This is a key role! If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please contact Cami Elbow (413-549-0024, celbow@external.umass.edu).

Calendars are now on sale at only $6 (plus shipping and handling). To order, call Jim Walker (413-253-9662).

It takes more than 150 people to put on a VLO show every 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 sew during rehearsals and on weekends.

Sets -- Help us turn plywood and paint into the Tower of London on weekends. We supply pizza and subs!

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

Stage and hall crew . . . Lighting . . . Proofreading . . . Ushers . . . Souvenir Sales . . .

Check out other jobs on our website.

Cami Elbow, (413) 549-0024

email: celbow@external.umass.edu

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