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[ Production team Positions Open ]

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IOLANTHE

A wonderful story about fairies by Gilbert and Sullivan



We are currently building interest in this production:


WATCH PARTY, Saturday, November 14th from 4-7 p.m. at Almost Famous, our Kirkland home base.  

We'll watch the DVD of the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society's 1997 production of Iolanthe, which included some of our current orchestra members.  Food and drinks served.  RSVP to seattlecommunitytheater@gmail.com if you'd like to attend.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet some of our other actors and musicians.


Production Team Needs!

Could you help with Sets, Costumes, Makeup and Hair, Props, Stage Management or Crew?  We'll be seeking a volunteer Assistant Director and at least two choreographers for this show.  


Costume sewing parties will be held once per month from November -March to modify some beautiful dresses we already have for the fairies.  Watch for announcements about dates for this.  We need experienced seamstresses and those who'd like to learn.  



How Auditions Works

Seeking any of the following for production team meetings: 

  • Orchestra musicians

  • Rehearsal Pianists

  • Costumers

  • Set Builders

  • Prop Artists

Synopsis

Iolanthe is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, first performed in 1882. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert and Sullivan. 


In the opera, the fairy Iolanthe has been banished from fairyland because she married a mortal; this is forbidden by fairy law. Her son, Strephon, is an Arcadian shepherd who wants to marry Phyllis, a Ward of Chancery. All the members of the House of Peers also want to marry Phyllis. When Phyllis sees Strephon hugging a young woman (not knowing that it is his mother – immortal fairies all appear young), she assumes the worst and sets off a climactic confrontation between the peers and the fairies. 


The opera satirises many aspects of British government, law and society. The confrontation between the fairies and the peers is a version of one of Gilbert's favourite themes: a tranquil civilisation of women is disrupted by a male-dominated world through the discovery of mortal love.

Character List

Iolanthe- Young adult female, Mezzo Soprano range C4-F#5.  Iolanthe has been banished for marrying a mortal.  She is the mother of Strephon and remained eternally young.


Strephon- Young adult male, Baritone range of G2-G4, a half mortal/half fairy shepherd who is to marry Phyllis


Phyllis- Young adult female, Soprano range of A3-A5.  A shepherdess who is the Ward in chancery of the Lord Chancellor and promised to marry Strephon.  


Queen of the Fairies- Older adult female, Alto range of D3-D#5, leader of the fairies and allows Iolanthe to return from banishment.  Secrety in love with Private Willis, who is a mortal and therefore unavailable to her. 


Lord Chancellor- Older adult male, Baritone range of G2-G4, mortal husband of Iolanthe from whom he's been separated, father of Strephon, comedic role in this show.  


Lead Fairies-


Celia, older/younger female, Soprano range of B3-G5, speaking role and frequently on stage, dances frequently


Leila, older/younger female, Mezzo Soprano range of C4-E5, speaking role and frequently on stage, dances frequently


Fleta, older/younger female, speaking lines and only sings in ensemble, frequently on stage, dances frequently


Ensemble Fairies, several of all ages, frequently on stage singing and dancing, all vocal ranges


Lord Mountararat, older/younger male, Baritone range of A2-G#4


Lord Tolloller, older/younger male,  Tenor range of D3-A4


Private Willis, older male, Bass range of D#2-D4, marries the Queen of the Fairies


Ensemble Peers, older and younger males, frequently stage time singing and dancing, all vocal ranges


Song List by Character


Iolanthe:

#2 Iolanthe From Thy Dark Exile

#13 Act 1 Finale

#23  My Lord, A Suppliant at Your Feet (solo)

#24  It May Not Be

#15 Finale


Strephon:

#3  Good Morrow, Good Mother (solo)

#4a Good Morrow , Good Lover (duet)

#5 None Shall Part (duet)

#11  My Lords, It May Not Be

#13 Act 1 Finale

#22   If We're Weak Enough to Tarry (duet)

#25 Finale


Phyllis:

#4a  Good Morrow, Good Lover (duet)

#5  None Shall Part (duet)

#8  My Well- Love Lord

#9  Nay, Tempt Me Not

#11  My Lord, It May Not Be

#13 Act 1 Finale

#19  Though Perhaps

#22  If We're Weak Enough to Tarry (duet)

#25 Finale


Queen:

#2  Iolanthe From Thy Dark Exile

#4  Fare Thee Well

#13  Act 1 Finale

#18 Oh, Foolish Fay

#24 It May Not Be

#25 Finale


Lord Chancellor:

#7  The Law Is True Embodiment

#11 My Lords, It May Not Be

#12  When I Went To the Bar (solo)

#13  Act 1 Finale

#20 Love, Unrequited

#21  He Who Shies At Such A Prize (trio)

#24  It May Not Be

#25 Finale


Private Willis:

#14  When All Night A Chap Remains (solo)

#15 Strephon's  A Member of Parliament

#16  When Britain Really Ruled the Waves

#25 Finale


Lord Tolloller:

#17  In Vain To Us You Plead

#19  Though Perhaps I May Incur Your Blame

#21 He Who Shies At Such A Prize (trio)

#25  Finale


Lord Mountararat:

#16  When Britain Really Ruled the Waves

#17  In Vain To Us You Plead

#19  Though Perhaps I May Incur Your Blame

#21 He Who Shies At Such A Prize (trio)

#25  Finale


Fairy Ensemble

#1  Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither

#2  Iolanthe From Thy Dark Exile

#3  Good Morrow, Good Mother

#4  Fare Thee Well

#13  Finale

#15 Strephon's  A Member of Parliament

#16  When Britain Really Ruled the Waves

#17  In Vain To Us You Plead

#18 Oh, Foolish Fay

#24  It May Not Be

#25 Finale


Peers Ensemble:

#6 Entrance of Peers

#7  The Law Is The True Embodiement

#8  My Well-Loved Lord and Guardian Dear

#9 Nay, Tempt Me Not

#10 Spurn Not the Nobly Born

#11 My Lords, It May Not Be

#13 Act 1 Finale

#15  Strephon's A Member of Parliament

#16  When Britain Really Ruled the Waves

#25 Finale






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