AUDITION NOTICE:
The Sorcerer
Stage Director: Milly Gonzalez
Music Director: Paul Geidel
WHEN: Thursday, August 11, AND Thursday, August 18, 7:30-9:00 p.m
WHERE: Ridgewood United Methodist Church, Quimby Hall, 100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Enter front door, turn right, and take stairs or elevator down.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held, when scheduled, on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7:30pm - 10:00pm at the Community Church of Glen Rock (Glen Rock, NJ) and at Ridgewood United Methodist Church (Ridgewood,NJ). Both locations are easily reachable from NYC by bus or train. There is a $40 participation fee if cast in any of our shows.
Audition Notes
- Auditions are required for newcomers, whether for principal roles or chorus.
- Returning performers don't have to audition for the chorus, but are required to audition for lead roles.
- If you are auditioning for a role, ideally you should sing something from the show which will demonstrate your ability to sing the role.
- If you cannot prepare something from the show, it is absolutely fine to sing something you know, that will showcase your talents.
- You may prepare two contrasting songs or excerpts, if you wish, if you want to show different aspects of the character you want to play, but it is certainly not required. We may additionally test your range or ability to harmonize.
- So: please prepare a minimum of 32 bars of a song that shows off your voice. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist if you prepare a song that isn't from The Sorcerer.
- If you have a headshot and/or résumé — please feel free to bring them along.
- And you may be asked to read from the script.
- Please let us know about any rehearsal or performance conflicts at your audition. If you have any questions, please email us: ridgewoodgands@gmail.com.
Here is a brief description of the roles - notes by Paul Giedel:
- ALEXIS – Tenor – highest written note: A natural (2) (could interpolate higher notes, but not required.) He has two arias and lots of singing, and a fair amount of dialogue. It is the largest role in the show. He is a young man of a wealthy family, betrothed to Aline. He is a complicated character and can come off rather unsympathetic, as he is rude and unfairto Aline and tries to force his will on the entire village. (Well, I think he’s a bastard, but others don’t agree. In any case, it is a great role – as a singer and as an actor.)
- JOHN WELLINGTON WELLS – Patter Baritone – highest note: F (2 - sustained), lowest note G (bottom of bass clef.) He has a difficult and lengthy patter song, and quite a lot of other singing. Basically, he is a sympathetic character, and Magic just happens to be his trade.
- ALINE – Soprano – highest note: B natural. She has two arias and lots of singing, and a fair amount of dialogue. She is of a wealthy family and betrothed to Alexis, and tries to be good and supportive to him, but winds up in a difficult situation!
- CONSTANCE – Soprano – highest note: C. She has an aria and a long two part solo with chorus. (The first part of her 2nd act solo is in Db in most editions, but Sullivan wrote it in E Major, and we could do it in that key, giving Constance some more high notes to sing.) She has very little dialogue, but has a chance to play comedy and sadness. She is a very sympathetic character, as she is very young and innocent, and in love. (She is of a lower middle class family.)
- DR. DALY – High Baritone – highest note: F# (6 of them, I believe) He has two arias, and lots of other singing, plus a fair amount of dialogue. He is the town’s Vicar(considered middle class.) A very sympathetic character (I know someone who stole the show performing this role!) - he is a very kind person, but aging and longing for love!
- SIR MARMADUKE – Bass – highest note: E – but could have F#’s in solo lines, and lowest notes are Gb’s two octaves lower. He has a great duet, and many short solos, and some dialogue. An exceedingly proper, wealthy old gentleman, he is the father of Alexis, and in love with Lady Sangazure, though he is too polite to declare it.
- LADY SANGAZURE – Contralto or Mezzo – Highest note: A in the middle of the staff! (top space E in ensemble), lowest note: G below the staff. She is of a wealthy family, the mother of Aline, and in love with Sir Marmaduke, but too proper to show it. She has no dialogue (!) but two fabulous duets with chances to be poignant, comedic and tragic.
- MRS. PARTLETT – Mezzo – Highest note: Db or C# in the staff (she has several of each) and lowest note: A below the staff. She is lower middle class, and the mother of Constance. She has more dialogue than singing, and can be quite a comic character. She sings in a very beautiful quintet in Act 2.
- NOTARY – Bass – Highest note: D above middle C. Lowest note depends on in what key we do No.16, so either a low Eb or just an F#. He is a very old, middle class gentleman, and, after a few lines in his official capacity in Act 1, he is a big part of a very comic situation in Act 2 – a good opportunity for a character actor/comedian.
We will be doing both concerts and full performances!
Concert Schedule
- Sat. October 22, 2 p.m., Fort Lee Public Library, Fort Lee, NJ
- Sun. October 23, 2 p.m., Franklin Lakes Public Library, Franklin Lakes, NJ
- Sun. October 30, 2 p.m., Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY
- Sun. November 6, possible concert performance - TBD.
- Thurs., November 17, 8 p.m., Five Star Premier Residence, Teaneck, NJ
Performance Schedule
- Sun., November 13, 2 p.m., Heritage Village, Southbury, CT
- Fri., November 18, 7 p.m., Ridgewood United Methodist Church (only if Nov. 27 show is cancelled)
- Sat., November 19, 7:30 p.m., Ridgewood United Methodist Church
- Sun., November 20, 2 p.m., Ridgewood United Methodist Church
- Sun., November 27, 2 p.m., Fair Lawn Community Center (might be cancelled)
