For 20 years Valley Light Opera has been providing an opportunity for music lovers from Hartford to Brattleboro to strut their Victorian stuff in front of thousands of appreciative devotees after eight or nine weeks of demanding, satisfying and manageable rehearsals. Each year a full third of our cast members are new to the organization. Our company members range from those who usually make their living in the arts to first-timers. All are volunteers! Join us for our twenty-first year!

You've never auditioned before? Almost none of our chorus members had before they came out that first time! VLO auditions are intended to be as simple and non-threatening as possible. While those called back for principal roles will be asked to sing on the auditorium stage, for that first audition everyone will sing around the piano in the music room. We look for voice projection, intonation, musical quality, diction, and stage presence. An accompanist will be provided.

An optional audition workshop for chorus and principals will be held on Tuesday, May 4th, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. to give those interested a chance to sing with an accompanist and get help from more experienced hands. If the thought of auditions makes you perspire, join us for an easy-going introduction to the fine art of selling yourself upon the wicked stage.

All auditions will be at the Amherst Regional High School between Triangle and Chestnut Streets in Amherst, MA. To get there from the center of Amherst where you'll find Fleet Bank and the Subway sandwich shop, turn est on Main Street (Subway on your left) and drive passt the Town Hall and Police Station, both on your right, to the next stop light which is Triangle Street. Turn sharp left on Triangle up a short, steep hill, and at the top of the hill turn right into the High School grounds. Enter by the main door and you'll find the VLO welcoming group.

Chorus: Chorus auditioners are urged to sing one verse of a song from G & S if familiar to you, but something as simple as "Happy Birthday" or your favorite national anthem will do very nicely and give us a chance to compare your voice with others we hear. We will have copies of G & S scores at the piano and can do "Happy Birthday" in a variety of keys; but if you wish our accompanist to play anything else, you should bring a copy of your music for the accompanist and make sure it is written in the key in which you wish to sing, a key appropriate to your voice. (There will be no group auditions this year.)

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 will be asked to read from the script.

Copies of the score and audio tapes of Princess Ida 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, 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 -- Hanging and focusing take place in a frenzy of activity in the final week before opening.
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.

David Kidwell, Music Director, is a local composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist. He has played in the VLO orchestra since 1991 as well as serving as a rehearsal pianist. He serves as music director, teacher and keyboardist throughout the valley. He has a masters degree in composition from the Hartt School of Music.

The Production Staff includes returning producers Bob Graham and Elaine Walker, who are in charge of all of the backstage departments, and newcomers to the production team, Linda Patterson, in charge of most "front of house" areas and Steve Morgan, Lord High Everything Else.

Chorus Ladies: In Act I, courtiers in King Hildebrand's palace. In Acts II and II, students and a few "daughters of the plough" who act as servants and guards.

Chorus Men: Soldiers throughout.

Princess Ida: Soprano (D# to high B flat, high tessitura) College President at 22, she passionately believes all she says. Determined, single-minded, must deliver long speeches with conviction. Ida requires a noble presence and a voice of dramatic quality, able to sustain a high B flat for three bars over a full chorus. Her rhetoric could border on being strident. Agility a must.

Lady Blanche: Mezzo/Alto (low G to E flat) Professor of Abstract Science and second in command to Ida, Blanche has a commanding presence in both her costume and in her being. She believes she should "rule the roost," loves to hear herself talk. Following tradition, her solo (#11) will be cut from our production. Blanche sings, with Melissa, one of the most beautiful duets in the G & S repertoire. She has more than a moderate amount of dialogue.

Lady Psyche: Soprano (C to A flat) Professor of Humanities, she also superintends the laboratory and sings a couple of memorable songs in Act II. Her voice need not be as operatic or consistently high as Ida's. Her role calls for a good stage whisper or at least the art of projecting as a softer sound level. Moderate amount of dialogue.

Melissa: Soprano or Mezzo (C to E flat) Lady Blanche's daughter, the soubrette role. She falls for Florian; if that doesn't work out, she is prepared to fall for others. She must exhibit a demeanor which can change from frightened to mock bravery. Several small solos and a moderate amount of dialogue.

Saccharissa: Soprano (G to E flat) One of the students who heads the Mobile*Army*Surgical*Hospital in Act III. A small part with dialogue and a solo line.

Chloe: Chief of fusiliers in Act III. A small part with dialogue.

Ada: Act III Bandmistress. A small part with dialogue.

King Hildebrand: Baritone (B flat to E) A blustering monarch, able to hold his own with authority over a full chorus. He has a fair bit of dialogue and some rapid singing.

Hilarion: Tenor (C to A flat, fairly high tessitura) Son of Hildebrand and the hero of the show who gets to (finally) take his wife home. Has a solo and lots of small ensemble work. Must be agile on stage. Almost sickeningly sincere.

Cyril: High, operatic, "Italian" tenor or could be a high baritone (C to high A) Chum of Hilarion who needs to command a lustrous high A and get progressively tipsy during a scene (careful of this). Lots of comedy and small ensemble singing. Cocksure and agile.

Florian: Baritone (B to E) Chum of Hilarion who is involved in many small ensembles. A sincere and loyal man, unaware of his charms. Must be agile.

King Gama: Baritone (C# to E) Blind to his own defects and brilliant in pointing out those of others, he must be albe to project well during patter songs. Dialogue as well must be delivered rapidly but clearly and with inflection.

Arac: Bass/Baritone (Low G to E flat) One of Gama's three sons, a large, imposing person, clumsy and lumbering (though you don't have to admit this on your resume!) Has a few solos, some rapid singing, and one spoken line.

Guron and Scynthius: Bass/Baritones (Low G to E flat) Gama's other offspring, one of slight build, one more imposing. The slight build can be short or tall. Requires singing much like Arac but less of it. No dialogue. Possible roles for those with two left feet.

The Board feels we have found a fine solution by forming a liaison with the Town of Amherst's Leisure Services and Supplemental Education (LSSE) Department. LSSE has, in the last few years, dramatically increased the output and quality of its community theater programming, is adept at handling complicated projects among all age groups, and is eager to increase its experience and involvement in the performing arts. We have signed a contract with LSSE to handle our tickets and publicity.

You will notice a few changes. Ticket prices will go up a bit, yet our audiences will still get a great theatrical value for their dollar. Calls for ticket orders will only be answered during office hours, but you will get one-stop shopping be mail, phone or walk-in with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. We look forward to a significant improvement of our services through this relationship.

You may wish to return to the VLO Home Page.