Show news

Legally Blonde – Call for Cast

lb-previewPlease see the dates to the right for upcoming previews and auditions.

Our production team are: Nick Brannam (Director and Choreography) and Thomas Joy (Musical Director)

Auditions will take place on Sunday 13th November 2016

Rehearsal Schedule

 

Sister Act – call for cast

Reading Operatic is in the final stages of preparation for Children of Eden but we’re now already looking forward to our production of Sister Act.

Rehearsals commence on  25 April with auditions on 8 May.

The production team is Jennifer Scott, Gemma Hough and Neil Matthews.

It will be an open audition process and we’ll be looking for a particularly vivacious Delores, as well as looking for females of a wide age range among the roles.

Watch this space for more details or get in touch via our Contact page to let us know of your interest.

Sister Act – Audition Music

Michelle/Tina No. 1 Take me to Heaven – bars 27 – 47

Deloris (ad lib) No. 2 Fabulous Baby bars 1 – 66 and bars 116 to End. Possibly do bars 106 and 107.

Curtis No. 6 When I find my Baby – beginning to bar 43.

Mother Superior No. 13   I haven’t got a prayer – beginning to bar 43   and bar 92 ( ‘..and I haven’t a clue…’) to the End.

Sister Mary Lazarus No. 5  It’s good to be a nun bars 16 to bar 53 ( all of these bars even though they are shared between Lazarus and Patrick) and No. 8 Raise your Voice – bars 145 to 148 ( ‘Rap’ section ‘ Laudamus te…’ etc )

Sister Mary Patrick No. 5  It’s good to be a nun bars 16 to bar 53 (all of these bars even though they are shared between Lazarus and Patrick) and  No. 9 Take me to Heaven ( Reprise ) bars 128 to 135 ( ‘ Don’t know how you do what you do….etc’ )

Sister Mary Robert  No. 15  The Life I never led – from beginning to bar 64 and bar 202 to the End and No. 8 Raise your Voice – bars 161 – 165 ( ‘ Tu solus dominus…’ etc )

Eddie   No. 7 I could be that Guy ( first verse only ie to bar 54 )

TJ/Joey/Pablo No. 12   Lady in the Long Black Dress – first verse ( to bar 25 ) and bars 41 and 42 ( ‘Hey….long black dress’ ) ( I will practise these 2 bars with anyone auditioning to help them )

CHORUS Nuns:   No. 11 Sunday morning fever   – bars 166 to 183 ( sing appropriate harmony if possible – probably audition in twos and threes )

Men No. 22 Spread the love around – bars 111 – 118 ( ‘Everyone, join your hands together…etc ) or simply ‘ Hallelujah’

Cast announced for Children of Eden

children-of-eden-auraReading Operatic Society is excited to announce the cast of its production of Children of Eden at the Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames on 13-16 April 2016.

Auditions for this very talented group of performers were held over three different sessions and the production team were both blessed and challenged by the very high standards on display.

Our congratulations go to the successful auditionees and sincere thanks to everyone who took part in auditions and recalls.

The whole cast will meet for the first rehearsal on this coming Monday, 9 November, at St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road, Earley, Reading RG6 1EY, 19:15 for 19:30. Let creation begin!

Children of Eden cast list

Father William Branson
Adam Tom Gingel
Eve Jenni Simmonds
Cain Ben Tait
Abel Dominic Lane
Yonah Jolene Walsh
Japheth Richard Bott
Noah Nathan Isaac
Mama Noah Charley Woodward
Aysha Jane Hardcastle
Aphra Claire Johnson
Snake Eve Macdonald and Gareth Watkins
Snake Dancers  Inez Gallagher, Nicky Jaggar, Claire Johnson, Nicola Morrin and Katie Thrussell
Lead Female Vocalist Ellie Ulrich
Young Adam Sammy Fitzpatrick and Jamie Watkins
Young Eve Katie Mulligan and Lucy Richards
Young Cain Tristan Berry
Young Abel Alex Leroy
Dancers Tilly Beck, Jade Clark, Karina G-Koegel and Jennie Leggat
Story Tellers Sarah Abbott, George Apap, Abi Clarke, Gemma Didcock, Phil Elliott, Kevin Gingell, Gloria Griffiths, Jane Hardcastle, David Johnson, Sam Prior, Rhiannon Rowlands, Julia  Sadler and Barrie Theobald
Children’s Chorus Jade Chaplin, Rose Chaplin, Ellie Chapman, Jake Didcock, Manon Green, Jasper Lawson, Juliette Leroy, Tanith White and Jack Wright

Children of Eden director and musical director announced

Reading Operatic Society is pleased to announce that it has appointed Sally-Anne Coleman as director and choreographer for Children of Eden and Anton Gwilt as our musical director. Both will join our established production team for the show which is anticipated to attract a cast of broad age range and abilities.

Sally-Anne Coleman

Sally Anne ColemanOver the years Sally-Anne has enjoyed a varied career, both on and off the stage.  She is an established choreographer and performing arts tutor working with children and adults of all ages.

Sally-Anne has performed in, and worked on, numerous productions, including touring cabarets and even the circus.

This is Sally-Anne’s second production for Reading Operatic Society having worked on the choreography and musical staging for the highly successful production of Oliver! in 2014.

Anton Gwilt

Anton GwiltAnton joined the Royal Air Force’s Music Services at the age of 16 and, after two years’ training, joined the Central Band and spent more than 23 years touring all over the world.

Since leaving the RAF Anton has been working as a freelance musician.

Previous productions as Musical Director include Honk, Bugsy MaloneHigh School Musical, A Chorus Line, The Pirates of Penzance,
Our House, Les Miserables, Mack & Mabel”, The Sound of MusicHalf A Sixpence and The Wiz.

Anton is no stranger to Reading Operatic Society and we are pleased to welcome him back as Musical Director for Children of Eden.

Children of Eden chosen for our Spring 2016 show

Children of Eden musical by Stephen SchwartzReading Operatic is pleased to announce be performing Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) at The Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames.

This widely regarded musical features a wide range of roles which will show the members of our Society off at their very versatile best and involve our very youngest to eldest performers. Plus of course our talented back stage and front of house teams.

Auditions will be held in October and there will be many opportunities for amateur performers of all ages and ethnicities to try for roles and the chorus. Watch for announcements.

Hairspray cast announced

Keen competition at the auditions for Reading Operatic Society’s performance of Hairspray at The Hexagon, Reading in September 2015 resulted in the following being cast in the principal roles:

Tracy Turnblad Emily Smith
Edna Turnblad Paul Sheppard
Wilbur Turnblad James Gwynne
Link Larkin Henry Bearman
Velma Von Tussle Nicola Morrin
Amber Von Tussle Samantha Hopkins
Penny Pingleton Holly Snowden
Mrs Pingleton Sarah Abbot
Motormouth Maybelle Natasha Mulvey
Seaweed J. Stubbs Jerome Ifil
Inez Tamla Birch
Corny Collins Ollie Kyte
Mr Pinkey George Apap

Tickets are available now, at special prices only from this website. Please see our Hairspray show page for more details.

Reading Operatic Society wins NODA award

National Operatic and Dramatic Society (NODA) logoReading Operatic Society’s performance of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at The Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames, was nominated for three NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) London awards – and  then declared winner of The Joe Putnam Trophy for the Best Musical at the awards ceremony today, 28 June 2015.

Anna Jennings (Miss Mona) was Highly Commended in the Molly Harle Trophy for the Best Female Character in a Musical

The Society was also in a shortlist of 12 nominees in the Kathleen Oyler Trophy for Chorus Work.

The full list of NODA London 2015 Award Winners can be downloaded here.

First call for cast on Hairspray

Hairspray the musical in Reading, Berkshire, UKReading Operatic Society will be performing the brilliant musical, Hairspray, at The Hexagon, Reading, Berkshire on 23-26 September 2015. We’re on the look out now for cast members, for all roles including Tracy Turnblad, Edna Turnblad, Velma Von Tussle, Penny Pingleton, Motormouth Maybelle, Amber Von Tussle, Link Larkin, Seaweed J. Stubbs, Wilbur Turnblad, Corny Collins and Little Inez, plus ensemble.

Workshops for Hairspray will be on :

  • Thursday 30 April
  • Monday 4 May (at The Dance Studio, Richfield Avenue)
  • Thursday 7 May
  • Monday 11 May
  • Thursday 14 May

Auditions Sunday 17 May in the afternoon. Please download the audition form here, complete and bring it with you.

Workshops will be a mixture of music, dance and drama and cover the audition pieces/routines. These will be available during the workshops. All workshops and the audition will be at Earley St. Peter’s Hall, Church Road, Earley, Reading. For non-members there will be an audition fee of £5 which will be offset against subscriptions if you take part in the production.

To be considered for audition please contact secretary@readingops.co.uk

Music workshop for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Kenton Theatre Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire Reading Operatic SocietyA music workshop will be held at 7.30pm Thursday 9 October 2014 for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ahead of auditions on 12 October. This is to give everyone a really good idea of the expectations of our production team, director Alex McWilliam, musical director Nick Austin and choreographer David Parsonson ahead of casting.

The workshop will be run at our usual rehearsal venue.

To register for auditions and gain access to audition material please complete the audition form here.

 

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas auditions announced

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Kenton Theatre Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire Reading Operatic SocietyAuditions for Reading Operatic Society’s production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will be held on Sunday 12 October, 1.30pm at our usual rehearsal venue.

Audition specifics are noted further down this page. We’re looking forward to getting a great cast together so if you wish to audition please post your details here on this page. Once received we’ll arrange to get audition material out to you directly.

The show levy will be £70 and non members will be charged a £5 audition fee.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will take place at The Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames over the week of 19-25 April 2015.

Rehearsals will be held at St Peter’s Church Hall, Earley, Reading – Mondays and Thursdays at 7:45pm, plus some Sundays as called.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Application form

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    By sending this request for audition I understand that participation in the cast of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will involve payment of a £70 show levy. I will additionally pay a £5 audition fee if I am a non-member. I will abide by the rules of Reading Operatic Society and all reasonable requests with regard to the show.

    Vocal Audition Pieces

    Miss Mona Strangely – low alto
    3. A Lil’ ole Bitty – start to bar 52
    18. No Lies (with Jewel) – bars 68 to 96

    Bandleader / Narrator – tenor/high baritone or mezzo
    1. 20 Fans – start to bar 25

    Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd – baritone
    19. Good Old Girl – start to bar 63

    Melvyn P Thorpe – baritone
    8. Texas Has A Whorehouse – bars 21 to 97

    Jewel – mezzo
    9. 24 Hours of Lovin’ – start to bar 51
    18. No Lies (with Mona) – bars 68 to 96

    Doatsey Mae – alto
    12. Doatsey Mae – start to bar 24

    The Governor – tenor/high baritone
    16. The Sidestep – start to bar 89

    Named Whores Linda Lou, Ruby Rae, Beatrice, Eloise, Durla, Dawn, Taddy Jo, Ginger and Angel
    4. Rules – bars 134 to end (taking Mona’s line in harmony sections)
    Audition in groups of three

    Chorus
    2. 20 Fans reprise – start to bar 20 (lower notes where it splits)
    Audition in groups of 6

    Libretto auditions

    Duologues

    Miss Mona (female) and Angel (female) start page 19 “So how much experience…” – Mona
    Finish page 20 “I told you everything” – Angel

    Miss Mona (female) and Sheriff (male) start page 41 “Goddammit Mona” – Sheriff
    Finish page 43 “Well hell yes” – Sheriff

    Senator Wingwoah (male) and Aggie (male) start page 56 “Boys I want to tell you” – Senator
    (one actor playing all Aggies for audition) Finish page 57 “Yeehaw” – Aggie

    Monologues

    Bandleader (male) start page 11 “It was the nicest…” (possibly plus audition song as well)
    Finish page 13 “Treat her customers real nice”

    Melvin P Thorpe (male) start page 33 “Thank you Texas…”
    Finish page 34 “Isn’t this the age of tellin it like it is?”

    Angel (female) start page 37 whole speech
    Finish page 37

    Miss Mona (female) start page 73 “He had his moments”
    Finish page 74 “And the worst fucking eggs benedict”

    Additional notes

    • Anyone going for any older male part can read Sheriff and Mona or Senator and Aggies scenes
    • Anyone going for old female parts can read Mona and Sheriff or Mona and Angel
    • Angone going for younger female part can read Mona and Angel scene
    • Anyone going for younger male part can read Senator and Aggies scene –all Aggie lines