Opera Company to Hold Auditions at Chatterton Thursday

Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Co. of Long Island will be holding auditions for the opera, "Thespis, or The God's Grown Old" at The Chatterton School on Thursday.

All vocal roles are open and those who audition are asked to prepare 16 bars of a a Gilbert and Sullivan-style piece. Singers from 12 to 80-years-old are encouraged to audition. 

"Thespis" was Gilbert and Sullivan's first collaboration which premiered at the Gaiety Theater in London in December 1871 and ran for only 63 performances. With the exception of three songs, none of the music from the show was preserved and has been lost for years. 

Thomas Shepard, 12-time Grammy Award winner and Tony nominee, has recently granted the opera company with rights to his music.

"It will be the world premier of Tom's orchestrations with a full orchestra," David Groeger, executive producer of Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Co. said. "The opportunity to be part of something so unique, so classic and yet so new at the same time does not come along often."

Dates for the opera have not been booked, but the company is anticipating performances through Long Island and New York City towards the end of November, Groeger said. 

"It's important that we continue to promote and produce these classic works and introduce them to a new generation of music and theater lovers," Groeger said. "This particular production is special because most people, even fans, are not familiar with this show." 

Auditions will begin at the school at 7:30 p.m.