The Story

Sinfronicon Light Opera Company to Hold Auditions

Nov. 2, 2007 | By Elia Pfaff, DSJ Staff Reporter

Sinfonicron always features interesting productions, such as "Ruddigore," shown above. Courtesy of University Relations.

Sinfronicon Light Opera Company, an entirely student-run theatre company, will hold auditions this weekend for this year’s production of �"Pirates of Penzance,” a Gilbert and Sullivan opera.

Auditions will be held Nov. 2 in Andrews Hall and Nov. 3 in Ewell Hall. A sign-up sheet is located in Ewell lobby, and Dan Plehal, ‘09, this year’s director, encourages anyone interested to audition.

�"We’ll be having a cast of about 30. Five male leads, five female leads and a chorus of about ten men and ten women,” said Plehal.

Those concerned about being cut are still welcome to participate. �"If you aren’t much of a performer or you end up not getting cast, we would love to have you join us anyway,” said Plehal.

The company is also looking for permanent crew members. There is an additional sign-up sheet also located in Ewell Hall for those interested in working as a part of the permanent crew.

Auditions will be five minutes in length, and those interested should prepare one song to perform a cappella. Chose �"one song, about a verse and chorus in length,” said Plehal, �"that will allow you to show off your acting ability.” The producers �"are certainly interested in hearing your voice and your ability to sing, but your song is also your chance to show how you can perform,” he said.

In terms of song choice, �"You don’t need to do a Gilbert and Sullivan song, but try to stay closer to the classical side of musical theatre--avoid �"RENT” and the like,” said Plehal.

Sinfronicon �"is a completely student-run (produced, directed and preformed) theatre organization, and is the only one that gets to perform on the William and Mary main stage in PBK Hall,” said Plehal.

According to their homepage, the Sinfronicon Light Opera Company was formed as a joint organization between the Theatre Student’s Association and Phi Mu Alpha, Delta Omicron and Nu Kappa Epsilon musical fraternities. As a result, �"Sinfronicon draws students from both the music and theatre departments.”

Each year the company sacrifices a large chunk of their winter break to work on the production. This year the group will return to campus Jan. 1 and spend the next two weeks �"working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., rehearsing scenes and songs, building the sets, assembling the sets and having ridiculous amounts of fun,” said Plehal.