AUDITION FOR US
Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company holds auditions at least once each year for participation in our mainstage productions and additional concerts and special events. At our auditions, all principal roles in a production are available, and many of our productions are double cast in order to provide as many performance opportunities as possible. Our audition process includes a singing portion – where a Gilbert & Sullivan selection is highly suggested – alongside reading sides from the show we are casting.
Although our rehearsal schedule and time commitment varies depending on production and role, RGSOC rehearsals typically take place on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons in Northern New Jersey. All of our rehearsal and performance locations are easily accessible by train and/or bus from New York City, and ride shares are often coordinated for individuals living near one another. If you have any questions about our auditions or rehearsal process, please feel free to contact us or email us at ridgewoodgands@gmail.com.
UPCOMING AUDITIONS
Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company is excited to announce auditions for our production of H.M.S. Pinafore (Veronica Shea, Director | Rider R. Foster, Music Director). Performances will take place November 21, 2026 at the Fair Lawn Community Center.
Auditions will take place from 11am-3pm on Saturday, August 16 in Glen Rock, NJ and 7:30-10:00pm on Tuesday, September 22 in NYC and from Saturday, September 26 in Glen Rock - please read below for additional information and a link to submit!
REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals will begin in early October, and take place Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Public concert performances will take place throughout Northern New Jersey and New York in late October-November, and full performances with orchestra will take place November 21 at the Fair Lawn Community Center.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Please fill out the Audition Form here to receive your audition slot. Please note that within this form, you will be asked for a resume and a recent photograph. If submitting a virtual audition, you will also be asked for two contrasting vocal selections recorded within the last 24 months. English language is preferred (but not required), and your submission can be from a recording session, an excerpt from a production, or a self-tape.
Singing:
Performers auditioning for principal roles should prepare two selections - with at least one being Gilbert & Sullivan - in the style of the show. If auditioning for a principal role, singing a selection from the show as listed here is suggested, though other English light opera is also acceptable. Those auditioning for the chorus should sing 32 bars of what they feel most comfortable performing (English preferred).
Acting:
At auditions, all auditioning for principal roles will read sides, which will be provided to you in the room. Here is a link to our sides, which you can also use to submit for your digital audition.
PRINCIPAL CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
We are open to gender-bending and cross-fach casting! However, we cannot transpose individual songs, other than octave displacement (i.e., bringing a line up or down an octave as needed).
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Sir Joseph Porter, KCB (comic baritone)
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Captain Corcoran (baritone)
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Ralph Rackstraw (tenor)
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Dick Deadeye (bass baritone)
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Boatswain (baritone)
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Carpenter (bass)
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Josephine (soprano)
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Cousin Hebe (mezzo soprano)
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Little Buttercup (contralto)
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Chorus of First Lord's Sisters, His Cousins, His Aunts, Sailors, Marines, etc.