The Merry Widow

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 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 our 31st annual autumn production -- you'll have a great time!

Production Staff

David Kidwell directed the music for Princess Ida, The Mikado, and The Vagabond King for VLO in '95, '96 and '97. Before and since he has also accompanied rehearsals, played violin in the orchestra, taken photographs and decorated the lobby display cases. David is a composer, the conductor of Holyoke Civic Symphony and Minister of Music at Edwards Church in Northampton.

Michael Greenebaum returns to VLO to stage The Merry Widow. In "the olden days," he staged Iolanthe ('86), The Gondoliers ('80), Princess Ida ('81), H.M.S .Pinafore ('93) and The Vagabond King ('97) for the company and conducted The Mikado ('77), The Yeomen of the Guard ('90), Pinafore ('84), Ruddigore ('82), Orpheus in the Underworld ('94) and Patience ('98).

Graham Christian will choreograph our production for the second time, after making his VLO debut with last year's Ruddigore.

Dick Gregory will once again design the beautiful costumes for which VLO is famous. Recent VLO credits include Ruddigore ('04), H.M.S. Pinafore ('03), The Yeomen of the Guard ('02), The Grand Duke ('01), The Pirates of Penzance ('99), Patience ('98), The Vagabond King ('97), and The Mikado ('96).

Linda Stark will design the stage setting this year for the first time. She is a veteran of VLO as make-up designer, set painter and producer.

Jacqueline Haney Kidwell is coordinating producer for The Merry Widow. Other producers on the team this year are Lee Pershyn, Jim Walker, and Elaine Walker, all veterans of many, many VLO productions.

You've never auditioned before? Very few of our chorus members had auditioned elsewhere before they tried out for us that first time! While auditions can be 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 five or six people. We look for voice projection, intonation, musical quality, diction, and stage presence. You will be asked to perform a short, easy bit of choreography with a small group of other auditioners.

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!

The full score and an audio tape of The Merry Widow are available for copying at the circulation desk of the Jones Library in Amherst.

Callbacks: If we feel we need more information in some cases to cast principals, we will hold a callback session. More information will be available at auditions.

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.

What to Sing?

Chorus -- Prepare one verse of a song -- something straightforward and simple, not too long, which displays your range, projection, diction, and ability to sing on pitch.

Principals -- Prepare a solo from an operetta or musical. It is not necessary to sing something from The Merry Widow. You will also be asked to read some dialogue.

Rehearsal Schedule

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, you are required 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.

Character Sketches

Valencienne (soprano) -- the young and flirtatious wife of the elderly foolish ambassador, Baron Zeta. She wants so much to be a respectable wife, yet she is mightily attracted to Camille de Rosillon. A soprano role requiring a great deal of flexibility: a light lyrical quality, a powerful high A to match Hanna, and an earthy belt down to a low B as the hostess at Maxim's. Lots of singing, mostly in duets.

Olga (contralto) -- the "middle-aged" wife of Kromow, she flirts shamelessly with St. Brioche. A basically comic role, she sings in the larger ensembles.

Sylviane (soprano) -- wife of Bogdanovitch, the Pontevedrian consul. A soprano (high G) who sings in the large ensembles.

Praskowia (soprano) -- wife of Pritschitsch, a retired Pontevedrian officer. A soprano (high G) who sings in the large ensembles.

The Grisettes (Lolo, Dodo, Joujou, Froufrou, Cloclo & Margot) -- These six young ladies appear at the end of the opera as dancers (can can) and singers. They have their own song and opportunities to flirt and tease the guests. They are sopranos, as the vocal range extends to a high G, but an earthy belt down to a low B is also essential. These performers may also appear as members of the chorus early in the show.

Count Danilo (baritone) -- Secretary at the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris. A playboy and cynic, he is attractive and irresponsible. He and Hanna had a failed romance earlier in their lives, and he is trying to suppress his attraction to her. A baritone with a low A and a comfortable high G, he is at ease in both character songs and lyrical arias.

Camille de Rosillon (tenor) -- an ardent young Frenchman smitten with Valencienne. He is sincere, weak and humorless. An operatic lyric tenor with a secure high B-flat (and optional C), he has two major duets with Valencienne.

Baron Zeta (baritone) -- the Pontevedrian Ambassador, he is old, pompous and comic. A baritone with a character voice and a comfortable high F#, he has some important solos in ensembles and the wonderful March Septet, in which he and the other men express their bewilderment with women. A true 1905 moment. A major role.

St. Brioche and Cascada (baritones) -- French diplomats, they are angling for Hanna's hand (and money). They are conceited, ridiculous and foppish. Baritones with high Gs, they have important parts in some of the ensembles.

Njegus (bass) -- the embassy factotum. Wise enough to play dumb, he is Jeeves to Zeta's Bertie Wooster. Basically a comic character, he has a major role, although virtually no singing.

Kromow (baritone) -- an embassy attaché, he is always (correctly) accusing his wife of flirting. He is another pompous comic character. A baritone with a high G, he sings in the March Septet and the large ensembles. No solo singing.

Bogdanovitch (baritone) -- the embassy consul, he is also a stuffy jealous husband. He sings in the March Septet and large ensembles and needs a high F#.

Pritschitsch (baritone) -- a retired military officer, he spends much of his time sleeping on stage, waking strategically to comment on the action. He sings in the March Septet and the larger ensembles. He needs a high F#. No solo singing.

Chorus -- There is a wealth of enjoyable material for the chorus, both lushly melodic songs and elegant dances. Much of the writing for the men is in three parts, so male chorus members will be cast as tenors, baritones, and basses. Women are in two parts -- soprano and alto.

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