The Mikado

Directed by Pamela Bilik

Performances Friday 29th July and Saturday 30th July 2011 at 7:30pm at The Art Theatre, New Mills, Derbyshire. (Click here for map.)

Auditions

Saturday 23rd July 2011 in Buxton.

Auditions will be held at St Thomas More School, Palace Fields, Buxton, SK17 6AF. Auditions start at 10am. Registration from 9.15am. (Click here for map. Further details will be sent to all those who register).

When you come to audition, please bring with you a signed copy of the registration form. We will tick you off on our list if you have pre-registered. If you forget your form there will be blank copies available for you to complete on the day but you will need your parent/guardian to sign it.

IMPORTANT: Due to the huge popularity of the show this year it will not be possible to guarantee your participation in the show if you have not already registered. You are welcome to come along to the audition day if you have added your name to our waiting list. We will be in touch with everyone by email before the audition day to give you the latest information.

What happens at the auditions?

All those who have indicated that they would like to audition for a principal role will be invited to sing and may also be asked to read a few lines of dialogue. If you would like to be considered it makes sense to be as well-prepared as possible. We only have one week to rehearse in and there is a lot to get through, so do try to learn what you can before you arrive. It is helpful if you can sing something from The Mikado rather than a song from another show. If you have any queries about the auditions then please contact us.

Please note that there will be large numbers of people at the audition and there may only be time to hear a few lines of a song.

If you want to be in the chorus of The Mikado then you do not have to sing at the audition. Due to the large cast this year, we may not have time to listen to audition songs from anyone who only wants to be in the chorus.

IMPORTANT:
If you would like to be part of the show, please get your own copy of the score (preferably the Schirmer edition, which contains the dialogue as well as the songs) and try to become as familiar as possible with the words and music.

The Schirmer scores for The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance are now in stock at:

Muzik & More, 11 Concert Place, Buxton SK17 6EE. Telephone: 01298 77458. You can also order them from a number of on-line stores such as Music Room and Amazon.

You can also download music and lyrics here.

There will be a short break after auditions and then the cast will be announced. Rehearsals will start in the afternoon of 23rd July and continue every day from Saturday 23rd July to Friday 29th July inclusive. Performances take place on Friday 29th July and Saturday 30th July in New Mills. Rehearsals will take place in Buxton (apart from Thursday 28th and Friday 29th July: at least part of these days will be spent at the Art Theatre in New Mills, Derbyshire). A detailed rehearsal schedule will be provided at audition. Not all participants will be needed all day, every day but you will need to be available (in case you are needed) for the whole of the rehearsal time.

All casting decisions are made by Pamela Bilik on the day of the audition: she does not pre-cast in any way. Your registration form is just to give us ideas of numbers and to facilitate plans for chaperones and any necessary licence applications.