Auditions for "L’amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover)"

WWU Opera Theatre presents

L’Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover)

by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Director, Heather Dudenbostel (HD)

Music Director, Mark Davies

WWU Opera Theatre is excited to announce the 2023/2024 production L’Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover). This comedic chamber opera was composed by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a groundbreaking black composer who was a contemporary of Mozart and the subject of the acclaimed 2022 film Chevalier.

The opera will be sung in French with English dialogue and presented at the Fairhaven Firehouse Arts and Events Center May 9-12. The story unfolds at a wedding and centers around two guests, Léontine and her friend Valcour who she thinks has sworn off love but is secretly in love with her.

Our production will be set at a Los Vegas wedding chapel in the 1980s. You can find a score on reserve in Western's Music Library. Feel free to follow along by listening to LA Opera’s production to familiarize yourself with the show.

A person holding a neon heart close to their torso, bathed in red light from the heart

Deadline to sign up for audition

The deadline to sign up for auditions is Sunday, December 3 by 11:59 p.m.

Performances

Firehouse Performing Arts Center May 9-12, 2024

Auditions

Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, 6:30pm to 10:30pm, Performing Arts Center 16 - Choir Room

Details below

Roles (12-14 performers)

Léontine, Soprano
Valcour, Tenor
Orphémon, Baritone
Dorothée, Mezzo
Jeannette, Soprano
Colin, Tenor
Ensemble roles/Covers, All voices
Dancers (two)

Audition Information

Auditions are open to all students and will be held Monday, Dec. 4 in PAC 16 (choir room) from 6:30 to 10:30pm. You must complete the registration form to audition.

Singers should prepare one piece in French and one in English. Opera arias, art songs, or musical theatre selections are acceptable. You may only be asked to sing one of your pieces or only a section. Students should also prepare a memorized one-minute comedic monologue or story.

Please bring your sheet music double-sided and neatly three-whole punched and in a binder.

Requirements

Course registration

If cast, and depending on their assigned role, students will be required to register for MUS 278 or 478 in either Winter or Spring quarters.

Materials purchase

All participants will need to purchase a piano/vocal score of the opera through the publisher for $65. Instructions on purchasing your score will be provided.

Transportation

Cast members and crew will be responsible for their own transportation to the Firehouse PAC for tech and dress rehearsals and performances. All preceding rehearsals will be held on campus in PAC 16.

Rehearsal and Performance Commitment

Music and Diction Coaching/Rehearsals

Tuesdays through Thursdays 6:30 – 9:30

All cast called
- Feb. 13-15
Scheduled by appointment
- Feb. 20-22
- Feb. 27-29
- Mar. 5-7
- Mar. 12-14

Required staging rehearsals and tech

Sunday, March 17, 2:00 All Company Sing-through
April 2 through May 3, Staging Rehearsals
- Tuesdays - Fridays 6:30 - 9:30pm and Saturdays 10:00 - 1:00pm

Saturday 5/4, 10am to 10pm Tech
Sunday 5/5, 10am 2:00pm Tech & 4pm to 10pm Dress Rehearsal
Monday 5/6, 4pm to 10pm Dress Rehearsal
Tuesday 5/7, 4pm to 10pm Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday 5/8 Hold for TBA

Performances

Thursday 5/9 performance 5:00 call
Friday 5/10 5:00 call, 7:30 performance
Saturday 5/11 12:00 call, 2:00 performance
Saturday 5/11 5:30 call, 7:30 performance
Sunday 5/12 12:00 call, 2:00 performance followed by STRIKE (please make note that this is Mother’s Day—you will be released after strike)