The Pirates of Penzance

WHO: Auditions are open to all 13 - 19 year olds in Portland and beyond
We are looking to cast around 30 strong, confident singers who have great comedic timing and a willingness to be big and bold together!
Director: Caroline Schwiebert
Musical Director: TBA soon
Choreographer(s): TBA soon

WHAT: an ever-so-slightly edited production of the comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance; so far, we think run time will be about 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission

The Pirates of Penzance is an absurd comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan which premiered in NYC in 1879! The story follows Frederic, a young man who was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates instead of a pilot. On his 21st birthday, he leaves the pirates to become a law-abiding citizen, but falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley. A series of comical events ensues, including the discovery that Frederic's birthday only occurs in a leap year, meaning he must remain an apprentice for another 63 years. The opera ends with the pirates surrendering to the police and everyone, except the Major-General, living happily ever after.

There is no cost to participate in this particular production.
All families will be required to purchase tickets to our shows.

WHEN:
AUDITIONS: March 1 - 5; Call backs if necessary March 7; AUDITION INFO and SIGN UP BELOW

REHEARSALS: April 6 - June 4
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND EVERY REHEARSAL!
WE NEED YOU!
WE WANT YOU TO STAY INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS AND STILL BE IN OURS
(Principal roles will have more rehearsals than chorus.)
We will have targeted small group rehearsals for the first month at least- kids are only required to attend rehearsals with their specific grouping: Pirates, Police, Daughters, principal roles, vocals, choreography, etc.
Students will be asked to provide a list of conflicts ahead of auditions and again after parts are offered. Our Audition Form will also ask for conflicts (see at the bottom of this page under AUDITION INFO).

MOST rehearsals will be
Sundays (day or evening, depending)
Mondays (6:30 - 9:30)
Tuesdays (6:30 - 9:30)
Saturdays (long hours, day or evening, depending)
until our final two weeks when we will meet almost daily May 26 - June 4).
8th and 12th graders- please check your graduation/culmination dates and list it on your conflicts list!

A final schedule will be provided after Auditions by March 9th (once we collect/confirm actor conflicts)
Roles will be offered by March 11th.
Students will be required to finalize and sign off on their schedules by March 13th.
A possible kick off party is tentatively planned for March 15.

PERFORMANCES (4 or 5):
Friday June 5 (evening)
Saturday June 6 (matinee and evening)
Sunday June 7(matinee and MAYBE ALSO an evening performance)

WHERE:
Performances: the brand new Foster Theater; 5444 SE Foster Road, Portland
Rehearsals: PDC HQ @ St David of Wales church Parish Hall and basement classroom; 2800 SE Harrison St, Portland + Foster Theater (plus possibly one other SE location).

AUDITION INFO

FILL OUT THIS AUDITION/INTEREST FORM

DO NOT LET OPERA SCARE YOU!
This show was written as a parody of operas and so we will play it that way. WHICH MEANS FOR OUR SHOW I am not requiring deep vibrato-laden classical singing for all of our songs. It will help that we can lay into that style from time to time (either because a portion of a song calls for it and/or because it’s FUNNY). This show could be sung entirely in musical theater style as opposed to operatic - and with teens doing it that will be the focus.
Do not worry about an English accent or a “pirate” accent (!) unless you can do it well.
While this show will be serious hard work it is NOT serious business all the time - it is seriously absurd fun. If you’re interested in looking up what I mean (and where I get some of my inspiration), I grew up with the 1983 Kevin Kline/Linda Rondstadt/Angela Lansbury movie version; here is a terrible youtube copy and here is the -terrible quality- 1981 Broadway version).
Bring yourself and your take on the character to the audition and we will love it.
Got an operatic voice? Awesome, lets hear it. If you don’t we still want you here!

Since this is a unique musical that you may not be familiar with we request that you learn and sing a one minute portion of a song FROM the show.
This is not a typical way to audition as we would usually recommend you sing a song in the same style of the show.
If we do not already know you and you have another song that shows off your vocal range and abilities you may sing a minute or less of that at the audition in addition to one of the songs below:
SHEET MUSIC AND SONG CLIPS COMING SOON - please remember we are looking to match you to a character, auditions are always more than vocal ability!
See the Character Breakdown here.
Frederic - Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
Mabel - Poor Wand’ring One
Ruth - When Fred’ric Was a Little Lad
Pirate King - Oh, Better Far To Live and Die
Major General - I am The Very Model (an English accent preferred for him)