So, as an update on LOpSoc itself, we just returned from performing at the 20th International G&S Festival in Buxton, which was incredibly fun!
But, now that has finished, it means that our current performance is 'The Pirates of Penzance', to be performed at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton in March 2014.
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| Ruddigøre at the Pavillion Arts Centre, Buxton |
As a guide for freshers who are looking to perform with us, we're LOpSoc (Light Opera Society), at the University of Southampton, and this year we're performing Pirates, as well as Sweeney Todd in summer 2014.
Most importantly, we have an unauditioned chorus. Which means anyone can join, and we're the only Performing Arts society at Southampton to have an unauditioned show this season! Though our principles will be auditioned, and we will have smaller auditioned choruses as well, literally anyone can be in the cast!
Auditions will be running alongside auditions for Theatre Group and Showstoppers just after freshers' week, and you'll be able to find us in The Cube during the bunfight to talk to us about the show and the society itself.
I'll be there recruiting musicians to join the LOpSoc orchestra, as we're planning on having a 28 piece orchestra to play in the band-pit for the production. All of the music performed is live and we'll be rehearsing from mid-November. If you're a violinist in particular, please email me! (MD@LOpSoc.co.uk)
LOpSoc itself, is just the most fun. We're an incredibly welcoming society, we're always spending time together, and having joined LOpSoc during my freshers' week last year, I can say without hesitation, they've become my second family! Don't be intimidated by the whole 'opera'/'operetta' label, it's really a lot of fun, a whole lot of drunken fun with some rehearsing spattered about.
You can find more about LOpSoc on our website - LOpSoc.co.uk - and our own Wiki Page LOpSoc.org.uk - and you can follow us on Twitter as well - @LOpSoc
Any questions? Come and find us, ask us, or email us, or whatever. But come and join us! Huge scale production on a professional stage with a full sized orchestra? What's to lose?!
As for those seasoned LOpSoc-ers who want to know more about the progress of preparations, we're in contact with the Nuffield and have submitted our bit for their 2013/4 brochure:
"A timeless audience pleaser since the day it was first performed in 1879, Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ follows the life of Frederic, a young man mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates. Following their successful performance of ‘Ruddigore’ at the 20th International G&S Festival in Buxton, The University of Southampton’s Light Opera Society present an exuberant large-scale production complete with a 28-piece orchestra, that is perfect for everyone from the most seasoned G&S fan to newcomers who want to experience one of the world’s first examples of popular musical theatre."
A list of recommended auditioned songs is due for release soon, and as well as that, posters and material for the bunfight is coming along well and now Ruddigøre is wrapped up, it's full steam ahead with publicity, preparations and lots of piratical rehearsals.
Your Loving MD,
Thomas
