Utopia Opera Audition
Description
All of the information below can also be found on our Google Form:
https://forms.gle/x1BJB6ScPPCezyus9
PLEASE SUBMIT ALL MATERIALS BY AUGUST 26 (we will start casting as soon as we receive materials, so sooner is always better. We will amend this form if positions are cast).
This October, Utopia Opera will be presenting
THE MIKADO
Words by W.S. Gilbert & Music by Arthur Sullivan
Please read this in its entirety before entering your information.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION:
Utopia Opera presents, in co-production with Forbear! Theatre, Gilbert & Sullivan's THE MIKADO. The production transfers to NYC after Forbear!'s lauded UK summer tour. The show, directed by Rachel Gianesse Middle, is set in a fictional land of high fantasy.
See Playbill coverage of our production:
https://playbill.com/article/forbear-theatres-fantasy-inspired-mikado-to-play-new-york
For more on the concept, please read the Director's note:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lo2GlEemaQS5lGZ_nqiWZlXMR9MqU_w8/view?usp=sharing
To view a video trailer from the UK tour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3FuZugm1xI
The setting, staging, costumes, and textual amendments will be carried over from this tour. The production will be expanded by means of a small chorus and a full orchestra.
PERFORMANCES: At the Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College
October 3 - 7pm
October 4 - 2:30pm and 7pm
October 5 - 2:30pm
Call times should be expected to be between 1 - 2 hours before performance start time (potentially 3 hours on October 3). All performers assist in set-up on October 3 and strike October 5.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will be scheduled around performer availability. Performers with optimal flexibility are more likely to be considered.
The following dates below are mandatory. RE: Oct 1 & Oct 2: we will have runthroughs on one or both of these days. We will not use both daytimes (i.e. before 6pm), but we may use one. All performers should be able to clear their schedule for either of these two dates. It is possible that we use both evenings (i.e. after 6pm). Please expect some combination of afternoon and evening rehearsal on these dates (anywhere from 4-12 hours total between these two days, depending on the needs of the production as assessed the week prior).
Tues, September 30 - 5pm - 11pm - TECH in the space*
Wed, Oct 1 - Be flexibly available Afternoon & Evening*
Thurs, Oct 2 - Be flexibly available Afternoon & Evening*
REHEARSAL LOCATIONS:
Rehearsals will take place either in Midtown rehearsal venues, at the performance space space (Sept 30), or, for smaller rehearsals, in a private residence in North Manhattan.
IDEAL CANDIDATES:
Because new cast members are fitting into a pre-existing production, they should be comfortable learning their entire staging/choreo track from videos of earlier performances and have no issue teaching themselves their own music using the provided score as well as said videos. In-person rehearsal will be incredibly minimal. Ideal candidates are excited to join a "cooked" production and meet the marks provided by earlier cast members (while still bringing their own imagination to the production).
A note for all candidates: in this production all of the notes/rhythms are to be sung as written, and characters are always to mean what they say sincerely (without any awareness that they are being funny).
ROLES:
The names of all roles have been changed from the original libretto. Please see the Director's note above for more information. For the sake of clarity, we will include the name of a song that is notably sung by that character.
NOTE: Available roles are subject to change; the form link on top will always be up to date with available roles. Please check the list on the Google Form before applying.
Two principal roles are available - both roles sing in the ensemble throughout:
P’fugl-Fa - baritone (solo G#2 - F#4, extending to F2 in harmony singing) - the Lord High Everything Else (sings "Young man, despair")
Prestr-Sùg - baritone (solo A2 - E4, extending to F2 in harmony singing) - a Noble Lord (sings "Our great Mikado")
Additionally, we are seeking Chorus Members who will understudy the other principal roles.
SOPRANO 1 - understudies Mna-y’um (sings top line in "Three little maids")
SOPRANO 2 - understudies Peas-Bál (sings middle line in "Three little maids")
ALTO 1 - understudies Pættie-Cene (sings bottom line in "Three little maids")
ALTO 2 - understudies Köttilska (sings "Alone and yet alive")
TENOR - understudies Æthel-Rún (sings "A wandring minstrel")
BASS OR BARITONE - understudies any combination of the four baritone roles (the two listed above plus The Mikado, and Klók-Cow, the Lord High Executioner)
We are considering performers of ALL identities for ALL roles assuming the music can be sung in its original key and octave without causing any issues affecting musical balance.
REIMBURSEMENT:
$400 for P’fugl-Fa, $350 for Prestr-Sùg, and $200 for chorus members (with $100 added for each role understudied).
---
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
1) - roles of interest
2) - itemized availability (mornings, afternoons, and evenings) from September 12 - September 29
3) - specified availability for the exact times and dates mentioned in the rehearsal schedule above from September 30 - October 2
4) - a link to an unlisted YouTube video (or video-hosted on another platform that can be linked via URL) featuring you singing 1 or 2 Gilbert & Sullivan songs (ideally memorized).
5) - a link to a video of you performing the corresponding monologue from the following document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q4UruKVDfkj_DyXvEjJWgE-1GYLfKuyS/view?usp=sharing
6) - you are welcome to submit additional monologues from Gilbert & Sullivan or any other pre-20th Century English theatre and additional songs/arias in English sung in a classical style
7) - a PDF attachment of your performance resume.
8) - JPG, PNG, or PDF attachment of your headshot. Please also feel free to include photos of you in performances that show off your style and energy.
9) - so we are sure you've read this, please sign-off your submission with, "Peace & Love".
If your availability or any of your answers change between submission and deadline, please amend your response by going back to the email you received that confirmed your submission AND email info@utopiaopera.org explaining what you had changed.
We will ask that all performers confirm with us that they have received this year's flu shot and the latest COVID booster.
Please spread the word!
--
We hope to see you at the show, whether on stage or in the audience!
Peace & Love!
CONTACT:
...edit listing