Hobart Baroque auditions for American production of Handel’s Orlando

HOBART BAROQUE will be holding auditions this Friday 6 December for acting roles in their international production of Orlando, an operatic masterpiece by Handel.

This beautiful production by director Chas Rader-Shieber and designer David Zinn premiered at Glimmerglass Festival, the company at the forefront of Baroque resurgence in the USA, and was later shown to great acclaim at Lincoln Centre in New York.

American director Chas Rader-Shieber will be flying to Hobart specifically for the auditions this Friday to ensure he finds the right people for specific roles.

The key acting role in the opera is Amor (Cupid). Of this role, Mr Rader-Shieber is looking to cast a male child between 6 and 8 years old, or a small teenager who looks approximately this age. “I’m looking to cast a smart, musical male child who understands musical cues and recognises musical gestures for timing of actions”, Mr Rader-Shieber said. “It’s a physical role, with some running, falling and general youthful folly, and he must have energy, charm and a bit of mischief as well! The role of Amor is a very large role, and will require a lot of time and effort, but will be a wonderful experience for a young actor”.

There are also four Genii, who will be four young men aged between 14 – 18 years old, or older males that look approximately this age.

Two soldiers are also required. These should be young males of no specific age. One of these actors will play a small, but important role at the end of the opera.

Finally, Mr Rader-Shieber is looking to cast the small role of Isabella – a young female role. “While this role is only on stage for 15 seconds, she will wear one of the most stunning costumes in the opera!”, said Mr Rader-Shieber.

“These acting roles will be an incredible opportunity for local actors to work with one of the most important directors of baroque opera repertoire in the world today. Chas Rader-Schieber is an amazing talent and we’re extremely fortunate to have him direct our production in Hobart”, said Hobart Baroque Executive Director Jarrod Carland.

“We are also fortunate to have an incredible American cast of some of the leading young singers in the opera world. It’s a great opportunity for local actors to work with not only Chas, but the entire American team”, he said.

All actors would need to be available for rehearsals between Monday 3 March – Thursday 27 March (part-time), and for performances on 28 & 30 March and 2 & 4 April 2014.

Auditions will be held this Friday 6 December at Old Nick Company, 50a Letitia St North Hobart between 11am and 4pm.

Full breakdown of roles and audition registration, visit:
hobartbaroque.com.au/auditions

ORLANDO ROLES

All actors would need to be available for rehearsals between Monday 3 March – Thursday 27 March (part-time), and for performances on 28 & 30 March and 2 & 4 April 2014.

AMOR (CUPID)
• Male that looks between 6 and 8 years old, but can be a small teenager who looks the part
• Needs to be smart, musical (understands musical cues, and recognises musical gestures for timing of actions)
• Physical role: running, falling, and general youthful folly
• Energy, charm, and a bit of mischief are all required
• This is a very large role, comparable to one of the lead singers, and will require a lot of time and effort for a wonderful “return on the investment”

THE GENII
• Males
• There are four Genii, who do the bidding of Zoroastro
• Looking to cast young men who look like teenagers (between 14 and 18), but happy to have older who look the part
• Should be musical (understand musical cues, and recognise musical gestures for timing of actions)
• Very physical roles, with lifting of scenic props, and running/carousing on a raked stage

SOLDIERS
• Two young men, who spend the first act of the opera in hospital beds, as patients of the nurse Dorinda
• Should be musical (understand musical cues, and recognise musical gestures for timing of actions)
• One of these actors will play a small, but important role at the end of the opera

ISABELLA
• Female
• A small role; Looking for a young woman who runs across the stage and falls (an important plot point, and a stunningly beautiful costume, for 15 seconds of stage time!)
Steven Godbee