The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company will hold auditions for its fall 2026 production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
Auditions will be held at the Golden Valley East office building, at 820 Lilac Drive North, in Golden Valley. Please park in the West Lot and enter the building through the building’s main doors.
This production will be directed by Joe Andrews, with Music Direction by Dr. Randal Buikema.
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company presents its shows at the Conn Theater, 1900 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403.
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company welcomes and strongly encourages people of all races, identities, and backgrounds to audition. We believe that our shows are brought to life when the stories unfold onstage within a fully realized community, with both lead and chorus characters having distinct identities and relationships.
You will sign up online to audition at a specific time using this form: Pirates Audition Sign-Up
The Pirates of Penzance
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company is mounting a perennial favorite with a new twist. Transposed to America’s Old West, The Pirates of Penzance maintains its supremely buoyant score, sense of adventure, and improbable paradoxes, but the action plays against the backdrop of the California-Nevada border during the Gold Rush. The pirates are sentimental bandits, the police are sheriffs and deputies, and love and duty win the day, of course!
Frederic, a prairie pirate’s apprentice, falls head-over-heels in love with Mabel, one of many daughters of Major-General Stanley. Frederic is due to be released from his apprenticeship as a prairie pirate on his 21st birthday, but there’s a snag … of course. Although very much in love, his dedication to duty is unshakeable. Can he find a way to live happily-ever-after with Mabel?
Embark on a delightful journey with The Pirates of Penzance, where we unravel the captivating (and modestly adapted) storyline of this timeless comic opera.
Roles in The Pirates of Penzance
Principals
Mabel (Soprano/Coloratura)
A polished, operatic sound is required for the female ingenue.
One of Major-General Stanley’s daughter
Frederic (Tenor)
Youthful, innocent, and genuine.
Pirate King (Baritone/Bass-Baritone)
A “soft-hearted” leader with a loud, ringing voice and bravado to spare.
Ruth (Mezzo-Soprano/Contralto)
Comic mezzo role, the nurse maid to Frederic.
Major-General Stanley (Baritone/Patter)
Focuses on rapid-fire, comedic “patter” singing rather than high notes.
Sheriff (Bass)
A deep voice mixed with good comedic acting and movement.
Kate (Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano)
One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters
Edith (Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano)
One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters
Isabel (Soprano)
One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters
Samuel (Baritone)
Pirate King’s right-hand man.
Ensemble
Daughters: Sopranos and Mezzo-Contraltos
Pirates and Deputies: Baritones and Tenors
Casting
All principal roles for the production will be cast through these auditions. No principal roles are pre-cast.
In addition to casting the principal roles, the directors will cast covers (understudies) for each principal role through these auditions. These covers (understudies) will be cast as members of the chorus, but will be offered the opportunity to appear in the principal role in one performance, by mutual agreement with the person cast in the principal role.
While approximately a fourth of the ensemble is already filled by performers who are company members, the remaining ensemble vacancies, all voices, will be filled through these auditions.
All performers will be offered a stipend of $200.00.
To Audition
You will sign up online to audition at a specific time using this form: Pirates Audition Sign-Up
When you submit for an audition appointment, you will be prompted to submit your performance resume and your head shot or another good photo of yourself, both of which will be required to audition, as noted above.
We prefer that you audition with a song or aria in English, but other languages are acceptable. Your selection may be an opera or operetta piece, a Gilbert and Sullivan song, a show tune, etc. No pop or rock music, please.
An accompanist will be provided. We strongly recommend that all those auditioning prepare an accompanied piece rather than something unaccompanied.
If you are auditioning for Principal Only, we strongly encourage you to audition using the selection(s) noted below, from The Pirates of Penzance, for the role(s) for which you’re auditioning. You may audition for multiple roles. Those auditioning for Principal / Chorus may consider doing the same. This is not an expectation for those auditioning for Chorus Only. All those Called Back will be expected to use the selection for the role for which they are being called back.
Audition Music Selections for Principal Roles
The selections to prepare for specific roles are as follows:
(This is to be sung in the standard tempo where diction and musicality will be critical. Then the singer will sing the same passage again, but prestissimo -- comically fast -- where managing to maintain the tempo and rhythm will be job #1. The words may be sacrificed to maintain a ludicrously fast tempo. The singer will choose their tempo.)
Audition Reading Selections for Principal Roles
You do not need to prepare a monologue. The Directors may ask you to read from one of the sides below during your audition. If they do so, you will rehearse the sides privately with others who are auditioning and then present it to the Directors.
The selections to prepare for specific roles are as follows:
Call Backs
Call Backs will be held only if deemed necessary by the Directors. Some or all roles may be cast based on the auditions, without Call Backs.
If Call Backs are held, they will be scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2026, starting at 7:00 pm. All those who will be called back will be notified via email on Sunday, June 21, 2024, immediately after Sunday’s auditions have been completed.
Those being called back will be notified of which role or roles they’ll be asked to read and sing. Sides will be provided at Call Backs. The music and sides that will be used for specific roles will be available on this page in the future.
Notification
We intend for casting to be completed by Monday, June 29, 2026.
We will call those being offered principal roles first. They are given a limited amount of time to accept or decline the offer before the offer goes to the next candidate. After the principal roles have been filled, those being offered Ensemble roles will be called. Finally, we will notify via email those whom we are unable to cast. This process may take up to two weeks, but everyone who auditions will be called or notified via email.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Rehearsals are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Typically, the chorus rehearses on Mondays and Thursdays. The Directors, however, may call the chorus to rehearse on Tuesdays and Saturdays as necessary.
Typically, the principals rehearse on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Principals will be added to the Monday and Thursday rehearsals, as scenes which include them are rehearsed.
All cast members must understand that they might be called and should be available all Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
All cast members are expected to attend every rehearsal to which they are called unless their absence has been approved in advance or due to illness or emergency. Those who are determined to be excessively absent should expect a reassignment of blocking and business on stage. Excessive absenteeism and/or an unexcused absence may result in dismissal from the production.
Rehearsals will be held at the Conn Theater, 1900 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, from Monday, October 19, 2026, to the Thursday, October 29, 2026 Preview Performance.
Performance Schedule
Performances will take place with a 14-show production schedule, including the Preview Performance.
The performance schedule is as follows:
Thursday, October 29, 7:30 pm, Preview Performance
Fridays, October 30, November 3, 13, 20, 7:30 pm, Evening Performances
Saturdays, November 7, 14, 7:30 pm, Evening Performances
Saturday, November 31, 7, 14, 21, 2:00 pm, Matinee Performances
Sundays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, 2:00 pm, Matinee Performances
Attendance for Tech Week rehearsals and all performances are mandatory, except for only the most serious circumstances of illness or emergency, or in the very exceptional event that the role has been cast with the understanding that a person will be missing a specific performance. Without any exception, however, the Directors or Stage Manager must be notified by the cast member of a pending absence. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the cast.
Sign Up to Audition for The Pirates of Penzance
Please use the following form to sign up for an audition time using the form:Pirates Audition Sign-up
Sign Up to Be Notified About Auditions
If you would like to receive direct notification for our auditions now and in the future, please sign up for our audition mailing list.