Theatre Auditions
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
by Gilbert & Sullivan
In The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic was as a child apprenticed to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. But it turns out that he was born on February 29 in leap year, and he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. By the end of the operetta, the pirates, a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy, his large family of beautiful but unwed daughters, and the timid constabulary all contribute to a cacophony that can be silenced only by Queen Victoria's name.
What: The Pirates of Penzance
Directed By: Aurora Long
Choreographed By: Megan Berndt
Audition Dates and Times: Sunday August 22nd at 7:00PM. No appointment is necessary.
(Mainstage at Camino Real Playhouse)
Where: Camino Real Playhouse 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
What To Bring: Bring sheet music for at least two songs. 16 bars of any song from Gilbert & Sullivan, 16 bars of a song from an American Operetta or Classical Broadway (Rodgers/Hammerstein, Kern etc)- no pop or Contemporary Broadway. Be familiar with the score, you may be asked to sing an additional song. Be prepared to move, we will be holding a dance audition. Accompanist provided. No tapes or cds. Bring picture and resume.
Rehearsals: start August 30th
Performance Dates: October 8th - 31st, Fridays-Sundays and the last Thursday of the month
Special Note: This is a Non-Equity Production. There is no pay.
Frederic - Frederic is the handsome young man who had been mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates until his twenty-first birthday. He values duty as the supreme human trait. He is extremely naive and as never seen a woman besides his nursemaid, Ruth. Voice: Tenor Dancing: Light
Mabel - Mabel is the beautiful and independent ward of Major-General Stanley who falls in love with Frederic. Voice: Soprano, Dancing: Light
The Pirate King - The Pirate King is the strong leader of the pirates. He is fully willing to pillage and plunder, yet refuses to commit evil acts against orphans. Voice: Bass-Baritone, Dancing: Medium, heavy movement
Ruth - Ruth is the elderly half-deaf nursemaid of Frederic. She joined the pirates after mistakenly apprenticing Frederic. Voice: Contralto, Dancing: Light
Major-General Stanley - A wealthy widower raising his daughters alone. Voice: Comic Baritone, Dancing: Light
Edith - The leader of Major-General Stanley's daughters. Voice: Mezzo-Soprano, Dancing: Light
Samuel - The confident and fearless lieutenant to the Pirate King. Voice: Baritone, Dancing: Light
Sergeant of Police - The Sergeant is the bumbling leader of the police who is sent out to fight the pirates. He has a strong sense of duty, yet is a coward in the face of real danger. Voice: Bass, Dancing: Medium, heavy movement
Isabel - Ward of Major-General Stanley. Dancing: Light
Kate - Ward of Major-General Stanley. Voice: Mezzo-Soprano, Dancing: Light
Chorus of Pirates, Police and Major-General Stanley’s Daughters
All ethnicities encouraged to audition.
No phone calls, please!
A Few More Words About Auditioning
Roles in some musicals and our annual melodrama require a strong sense of comedy, big voices and a strong stage presence. If you audition for a role in our summer Shakespeare Festival ... you might want to have some semblance of a British accent in your repertoire. When you audition you will be reading from script excerpts. For future reference ... ShowOff!, our annual Playwriting Festival is a great place to get introduced to acting at the Playhouse ... Each year we produce 7 ten minute plays with 7 different directors. These plays range from farcical comedies to some very touching dramas. Each year brings a new and unique selection of plays and directors. And if you like to sing and dance but want to have a more relaxed improvisational experience ... be sure to audition for our annual Old West Style Melodrama.
All actors who appear on our stages are volunteers, giving their time and talent to ensure top-quality theatre experiences for South County's play-going public. The Camino Real Playhouse offers a wealth of opportunity for creativity and growth, guided by our professional staff.
The Playhouse encourages newcomers and takes pride in the fact that almost every production marks the debut of at least one actor at Camino Real Playhouse. The Camino Real Playhouse is becoming South Orange County's destination for whimsical, gripping and compelling performances.
Volunteers are also encouraged to participate in every area of production. Basic instruction and guidance is offered to any individual with the desire to help. Backstage activities include: sewing, scenic painting, carpentry, prop gathering, set design assistance, sound and lighting board operations. Front of house activities include: office help, box office workers, ushers and concessionaire. In addition ... volunteers are also needed to assist with marketing and fundraising and we always need stage managers, assistant stage managers, and dedicated stage crew for every show. If you want to volunteer ... please contact the Playhouse at (949) 489-8082 for more information. We all wear a lot of different hats here at the Camino Real Playhouse. You, too, can become part of our 20-year tradition of service and fun for the entire family.
