Valley Light Opera

All auditions will be at the Amherst Regional High School between Triangle and Chestnut Streets in Amherst, MA. Look for signs.

Chorus: If you are auditioning for a chorus part only, you will be asked to sing your choice from three well-known melodies: America the Beautiful, We Shall Overcome, or Happy Birthday. Copies of the words will be available. (There will be no group auditions this year.)

Principals: You will be asked to sing one verse of your favorite light opera or musical comedy number, and to read a few lines. For call-backs you will be asked to sing a standardized piece in your voice range, which will be available on Saturday and Sunday.

This year, principals will not try out for specific roles. Rather, the directors will cast roles based on your range and your singing and acting ability.

Because we depend on each other, we take our rehearsal policy very seriously. If you are asked to join the company, you 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 sew during rehearsals and on weekends.
Sets -- Construction and painting on weekends--we supply pizza and subs!
Lighting -- Makes the magic of sets, costumes, make-up come alive!
Make-up, publicity, ushers, tickers, programs, props, banner painting, souvenirs . . . (you get the idea).

Join us for the whole fall or just a few hours.

In Hades, a bored Eurydice has been locked in a boudoir, where Cupid, with his Love Police, discovers her and arranges for Jupiter to get to her by transforming him into a fly. Jupiter and Eurydice plan to escape together during the party Pluto is giving in Jupiter's honor, but they are intercepted just as Orpheus and Public Opinion arrive. Jupiter stipulates that Orpheus not look back at Eurydice as they leave the Underworld, then tricks him into doing so. He bestows a final blessing on the unhappy couple, however, by making Eurydice a bacchante in the worship of Bacchus forever.

Act I takes place in an Arcadian meadow; Act II on Mount Olympus, where the gods are sleeping in clouds; and Act III in Hades, where feasting and revelry are the rule.

Chorus. In Act I, mostly shepherds and shepherdesses (while some form a Town Council of Elders). In Acts II and III, gods and goddesses (perhaps a few serve as Diana's nymphs in Act II).

Public Opinion, mezzo. Medium-sized role; vocal range B-flat to high F. Traditionally played as a male character, but need not necessarily be so. Self-important, dictatorial, rigid, assertive, humorless, not young. He/she carries a whip.

Eurydice, soprano. Large, demanding role. Requires strong high B-natural and secure technique. Fickle, restless, flighty, passionate, moody, vivacious, sharp-tongued, perhaps naive withal, toothsome (at least in the eyes of Pluto and Jupiter). She carries flowers.

Orpheus, tenor. Large role; vocal range requires high G with optional high C. Emotional, lyric, self-indulgent, irresolute, superficial, perhaps feckless, with an "artistic temperament." He carries a violin.

Aristeus/Pluto, tenor. Large role; vocal range requires high G. Suave, amooth, calculationg, manipulating, devious, elegant. Delights in role-playing. Handsome in the eyes of Eurydice. Possibly swarthy and dark, or possibly not. He carries a two-pronged pitchfork.

Venus, soprano. Small role; vocal range to high A. Sassy, voluptuous?

Cupid, mezzo. Medium-sized role; vocal range B-flat to high A. Breezy, lively, clever, irreverent, smallish. Considerable speaking as well as singing.

Mars, baritone. Small role. Swaggering, beefy, arrogant.

Jupiter, bass/baritone. Large, demanding role; vocal range E to high F-sharp (could be performed by a true bass with a low E). Imperious, proud, authoritarian, decisive, impressive (or at least tries to be), grand, condescending, scheming, irascible. He carries a thunderbolt.

Diana, soprano. Medium-sized role; vocal range from D to high B. Charming, emotional, must show considerable range of feeling from plaintive to sprightly to dignified.

Juno, mezzo. Small role; vocal range D to F-sharp. Suspicious, determined. More a speaking than a singing role.

Mercury, tenor. Small but choice role. Peppy, lively, facile. Must be light on feet and have superb diction and breath control.

For 19 years we've done G&S well.
For our 20th year we're going to...

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