The Yeomen of the Guard
by Gilbert & Sullivan Austin

Feb. 24 - Feb. 25

Colonel Fairfax, a gentleman, soldier and scientist is wrongly accused of sorcery, imprisoned in the Tower of London and sentenced to be beheaded within the hour. To avoid leaving his estate to his accuser he secretly marries strolling gypsy, Elsie Maynard. Jester Jack Point is also in love with Elsie but agrees to the marriage knowing that Fairfax will soon be executed. However, Fairfax escapes, throwing the Tower into confusion and setting in motion a number of intriguing plot twists that end in tragedy for one of the players.

 

The Yeomen of the Guard is deeper and darker than the usual comic Gilbert & Sullivan operas and is perhaps the most emotionally engaging of the canon. Many consider the score to be Sullivan’s finest.

 

— Summary by National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company (UK), January, 2024 via Malvern Theatres

 

[graphic: 2022 poster image from The Grange Festival, UK]

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Auditions for THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

(All roles and chorus)

February 24 - 25, 2024

Gilbert & Sullivan Austin

 

Gilbert & Sullivan Austin (GSA) announces open auditions for The Yeomen of the Guard. Auditions by appointment only will take place in south Austin at Abiding Love Lutheran Church, 7210 Brush Country Road. Candidates will be assigned five-minute slots on Saturday, February 24 between 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Callbacks may be scheduled on Sunday, February 25, beginning at 2:00 PM.

 

Liz Fisher will direct. Liz has been awarded the Princess Grace Award in Theatre, the Kennedy Center’s Stage Directors and Choreographers National Directing Award, and a fellowship to the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Dr. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona returns as music director.

 

All roles are open. All performers will be compensated. Performances will be accompanied by a full orchestra.

 

Music rehearsals will begin with a table read followed by rehearsals in April and May. Staging rehearsals start immediately afterwaard. 

 

The Yeomen of the Guard will be performed nine times between June 7 and June, 16, 2024.

 

Candidates should bring with them a completed audition form (the form is available at https://www.gilbertsullivan.org/auditions/), as well as a resume and headshot.  

 

To schedule an audition, you may text or call Sarah Slaughter at (512) 703-0015 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. or email audition@gilbertsullivan.org to request a time slot.

 

Please prepare a monologue (one to two minutes) and a memorized vocal selection from the Gilbert & Sullivan canon or an art song/aria in English. Auditioners must provide a copy of the music for the GSA accompanist. Singers are welcome to bring their own accompanist if desired. Please note that no unaccompanied (a cappella) or self-accompanied auditions will be heard.

 

Characters of The Yeomen of the Guard

(via Wikipedia)

·       Sir Richard Cholmondeley (pronounced Chum'lee), Lieutenant of the Tower (baritone)

·       Colonel Fairfax, under sentence of death (tenor)

·       Sergeant Meryll of the Yeomen of the Guard (bass-baritone)

·       Leonard Meryll, his son (tenor)

·       Jack Point, a strolling jester (comic baritone)

·       Wilfred Shadbolt, Head Jailer and Assistant Tormentor (bass-baritone or baritone)

·       The Headsman (silent)

·       First Yeoman (tenor)

·       Second Yeoman (baritone)

·       Third Yeoman (tenor) – see "Cut music"

·       Fourth Yeoman (bass) – see "Cut music"

·       First Citizen (speaking/chorus)

·       Second Citizen (speaking/chorus)

·       Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer (soprano)

·       Phœbe Meryll, Sergeant Meryll's daughter (mezzo-soprano)

·       Dame Carruthers, Housekeeper to the Tower (contralto)

·       Kate, her niece (soprano)

·       Chorus of Yeomen Warders, gentlemen, citizens, etc