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: Mak Kastelic
Choreographer: Cora Reinker
Fight Choreographer: August Hartman

WHAT: an ever-so-slightly edited production of the comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance

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 and possible dance/movement auditions March 7 10am; AUDITION INFO and SIGN UP at the bottom of this page
MEET THE CAST AND FIRST READ THROUGH SUNDAY MARCH 15, 6:30pm at the Foster Theater
REHEARSALS: April 6 - June 4 - evenings and weekends
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND EVERY REHEARSAL
WE KNOW PARTICIPATING IN YOUR SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS IS VITAL AND WE WANT YOU TO STAY INVOLVED THERE AND STILL BE IN OURS.
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).

8th and 12th graders- please check your graduation/culmination dates and list it on your conflicts list!

A final schedule with confirmed times, locations and cast members will be provided after Auditions by March 11th (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
Friday June 5 (evening- with afternoon tech)
Saturday June 6 (matinee and evening)
Sunday June 7 (matinee and MAYBE ALSO an evening performance TBD; please keep the full day free)

WHERE:
Performances: the brand new Foster Theater; 5444 SE Foster Road, Portland
Rehearsal locations: PDC HQ @ St David of Wales church Parish Hall and basement classroom; 2800 SE Harrison St, Portland and Genesis Project 3132 SE 67th Ave

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!

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:

Please remember we are looking to match you to a character, auditions are always more than vocal ability!

See the Character Breakdown here.

REMEMBER: THIS IS A COMEDY

THE PIANO TRACKS BELOW ALL INCLUDE THE MELODY IN THE TRACK - CLICK THE SHEET MUSIC AND FOLLOW ALONG. You must be off book and sing with the included instrumental piano track for the audition.

AUDITION SONGS

Here is the entire album from the 1983 movie version (our version won’t be exactly like this but you can use it as a reference)

General chorus: Pour Oh Pour The Pirate Sherry (sheet music, piano track)
These pirates are known to be “good hearted” push overs and not very good at being pirates at all. The show opens with this song. It’s pretty epic.
*Anyone can sing this one if you are more interested in playing an ensemble member and don’t care who.
Song:

Frederic - A member of the Pirates. The protagonist, a pirate apprentice who has come of age.
Youthful, genuine and innocent.

Just before this song, Frederic comes upon a bevy of beautiful maidens. Being at sea with dirty pirates for most of this life, he’s never seen young women before and also doesn’t realize that he is a good looking young man. He’s humble and innocent and asking if anyone would take on the lowly pirate that he is. The girls are refusing him - even though some of them maybe, kinda, sorta don’t want to.

Song:
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast (sheet music in Bb major , piano track in Bb major he is typically a tenor, but this key has been lowered to make it easier for many high school students.
PLEASE NOTE: this song is usually sung in Db major. We have lowered it to Bb major above as an option to make it easier for high school boys with more of a high baritone range. If you are a tenor and would like to sing it in Db major please do (here is sheet music in Db major and piano track in Db major BELOW)! If you are invited to callbacks for the role of Frederic you may be asked to sing the higher version or from other parts of the show.

Mabel - Daughter of the Major-General. An astute young woman, she is sympathetic in nature. She and Frederic fall in love.
*Girls should sing this one if you are auditioning to play ANY female (other than Ruth). Even if you are not necessarily auditioning for the lead female role of Mabel

This song comes right after the one Frederic sings above. All of the girls have decided they will not be tempted by this strapping young pirate who has come upon them as they were dipping their toes in the sea (quite a scandal!). Mabel shows up and shames the girls for casting aside poor Frederic and takes one for the team offering herself up to him.

Song:
Poor Wand’ring One - sheet music in C major; piano track in C major:
sing from the beginning through “why take it, it is thine.”.

PLEASE NOTE this song is often sung in Ab major for a classical soprano (here is sheet music in Ab major, piano track in Ab major BELOW. If has been lowered to C major above to make it easier for many voices and so it has a more musical theater feel. You may sing it in either.
If you are called back for Mabel you may be asked to sing in the higher key or from other parts of the show.  

Ruth - Frederic's lifelong nanny. Ruth mistakenly apprenticed Frederic to the Pirate King when he was only 8 years old. She mistook “pirate” for “pilot”. She stayed on the ship for 13 years with Frederic to care for him, gradually accepting life as a pirate herself.

Song:
When Fred’ric Was a Little Lad (sheet music, piano track) Ruth is Frederic’s middle aged caretaker. She mistakenly signed him up with this band of pirates when he was very young. Frederic was supposed to be an apprentice to a pilot (someone who does not work on ships, but assists in the safety of ships on harbours) and so she has accompanied him on the ship all these years out of regret, guilt and duty. She’s not very bright.

Pirate King -The self-assured leader of the pirates. Despite a sharp and loud bark, the pirate king is actually a whole-hearted romantic with a soft bite.
Song:
Oh, Better Far To Live and Die (sheet music, piano track -first verse through “forrrrrr I am a pirate kiiiiing”)
The Pirate King is a jubilant, funny, melodramatic, but kind-hearted pirate filled with charisma and swagger. Technically he’s the villain, but he’s not very scary even if he would say so himself. He makes it a point to not rob any orphans because he is one. The problem is everyone knows this and tells him they’re orphans so he can’t rob them.

Major General - A father with many daughters including Mabel. Possesses kindness, warmth, and good-humor. The love for his daughters is undeniable.
Song:
I am The Very Model (an English accent preferred for him) (sheet music, piano track) Sing the first verse through top of 3rd page “with many cheerful facts aboout the square of the hypotenuse.”)
The Major is father to allllll of the girls in this story! He lies to the pirates and tells them he’s an orphan so they’ll leave them alone. He may be a loving, kind father, but he’s also comedically pompous and foolish.