AUDITIONS!!

Music and Lyrics by NCFO Artistic Director David Bass
Come sing for us! By appointment only, October 3 to 11
Performances tentatively March 13 to March 21, 2027

Click HERE for a synopsis of the opera with music.
For a description of the solo roles, see the bottom of this page.
Click HERE for videos from our 2019 production
Download an auditions flyer ( PDF / JPG ).
To receive future audition and performance notices, sign up on the NCFO mailing list HERE.

Everyone age 7 or older who wishes to perform is accepted*, but...
We need to hear you sing for casting and voice part assignments, so...

To receive details about setting up an audition time, please:
EITHER email auditions27@familyopera.org
OR call 617-835-3162.

Your audition will take 30-60 minutes and will include:

• a vocal evaluation,
• completing and confirming information you will have filled out online, and
• having your picture taken.

​​* Please note that children under 10 require a participating adult.

AUDITION SUMMARY

• Audition Location: 23 Norris Street, Cambridge
• Audition Schedule:
  • Saturdays and Sundays: October 3-4 (1PM to 7PM), and October 10-11 (1PM to 8PM), by appointment only
  • Please let us know if you are unavailable during these windows, and we will try to schedule you at another time
• Before you come, you will be asked to fill in an online Google Form for your contact information and volunteer interests.
• Everyone should come prepared to
  • be photographed
  • sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
  • sing the Harmony Audition (Oh Dear 2) provided below IF you're interested in a more challenging close harmony ensemble
  • sing the Solo Audition material provided below IF you're interested in a lead role (Choose whichever voice part you find most comfortable. You will be asked to sing both of the songs listed under the voice part you choose.)
• Adults should also come prepared to
  • discuss your family's schedule from November through March, so that we can flag potential conflicts
  • discuss the online information and volunteer forms you filled out prior to your audition
  • make a voluntary contribution to NCFO if you like (your contribution won't affect our casting decisions)
• If you have been exposed to disease or have symptoms, please take a COVID/flu rapid test before in-person auditions, or wear a mask at your audition. Thank you! (We will have additional tests and masks available.)

AUDITION DETAILS​​

WHO CAN AUDITION

• Anyone currently 7 or older can participate, from children to adults, inexperienced to classically trained. There is no maximum age. Everyone gets in!
• We REQUIRE that:
  • an adult perform onstage with all children currently younger than 10
  • an adult attend rehearsals with all children currently younger than 12
• We may also ask that an adult perform or attend rehearsals with some children above these age limits, on a case-by-case basis.
• The aforementioned adult needn't be the child's parent, and can be responsible for more than one child if they like.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION AND VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

• We ENCOURAGE participation in our productions by multiple family members, both onstage and offstage.
• We REQUIRE that all cast member families contribute a minimum of 8 hours of work on tasks that support the production (set construction, painting, rehearsal cleanup, concession table, sewing costumes, ushering, makeup, backstage, etc.)
• We are ALWAYS LOOKING for
  • people with an organizational flair to assume leadership roles making the opera company function (e.g., publicity and marketing, logistics, fundraising and development, etc.) and
  • people with a creative flair to help bring this production to life (singing, stage direction, sets and scenery design, props, lighting, costumes, etc.)

We will ask you to sign up for a job at auditions. You can download a description of all available jobs HERE. Please come with more than one job in mind. If you have strong preferences for a particular job, let Emilija know when you schedule your audition.

DONATION AND FEES

NCFO is a self-supporting non-profit organization. We do not charge a fee for participating in our production, nor do we charge admission to our performances. We gratefully accept voluntary, tax-deductible donations to help cover our production costs. Please consider donating to North Cambridge Family Opera, in any amount ($200 to $250 per family is typical), if you enjoy being part of our production or attending our performances.

TENTATIVE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

• NOVEMBER 1 (Sunday) - first rehearsal and organizational meeting (tentatively at 3:00pm). VERY IMPORTANT for everyone in the cast to attend, including at least one responsible adult from every family.
• NOVEMBER 8 through FEBRUARY 21 - regular rehearsals every Sunday 12:30-6:30*** EXCEPT:
  • just after Thanksgiving (Sunday, November 29)
  • around Christmas and New Year's (Sundays, December 27 and January 3)
  • Presidents Day weekend (Sunday, February 14)
• We WILL be rehearsing on Martin Luther King Day weekend (Sunday, January 17), as well as the second Sunday of school vacation week (Sunday, February 21).
• February 27 and 28, March 6 and 7 - Runthrough rehearsals and dress rehearsals (MANDATORY - each cast member scheduled for about 4 hours each day)
• March 13, 14, 20, and 21 - Performances (two each day, with each cast member scheduled for one performance on each day)

***The entire company rehearses from about 4:00 to 6:30. Those who are in small choruses will occasionally be called between 2:30 and 4:00. Lead soloists may be scheduled to rehearse at any time between 12:30 and 6:30, and minor soloists will also be called early at one or two rehearsals. Precise schedule depends on who is available and what needs work and is announced a few days before each Sunday rehearsal.

Check your family's schedule before accepting a role in this show. Your availability may affect our ability to cast you.

PREPARING FOR THE VOCAL AUDITION

Ordinarily, all family members who want to perform in our show audition at the same time. The vocal audition will consist of:

• a set of vocalization exercises to warm you up
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in a number of different keys (or some other song if your prefer), and
• maybe also Row, Row, Row Your Boat, sung as a round.
• Those not aspiring to a large solo don't need to prepare anything to sing.
• If you want to be considered for one of the larger solo roles, you must also prepare the "Principal Solo Auditions" music provided below:
  • Choose whichever one you're most comfortable singing (your choice won't affect our casting decisions).
  • It is VERY important to practice with all of the MP3s provided.
• Even if you're not interested in a large solo role, we'd love to hear you show off your ability to sing harmony. If you like, you may also prepare the "Harmony Audition" music below, to help us place you in an appropriate chorus or supporting solo role:
  • Choose whichever voice part you like.
  • Please practice with all of the MP3s provided.

We will evaluate you on all aspects of the song you sing in audition, including intonation, rhythmic precision, dramatic presentation of the character, and ability to sing harmony, so please work on each of these aspects. We will make an audio recording of a portion of your audition and sometimes a video to help us with casting.

AUDITION MATERIALS

Materials for Principal Solo Auditions

Sopranos - Sing Tatooine (you are an emo teenager)
                 ALSO sing Han's part in bars 37-58 of "Alderaan" (show your ability to sing patter and harmony)
     For Tatooine:
          See the score
          Hear Tatooine with Luke singing
          Hear Tatooine without Luke singing (this is what will be played at your audition)
     For Alderaan:
          See the score
          Hear bars 34-58 with Han singing
          Hear bars 34-58 with just the orchestra
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices except Han (this is what will be played at your audition)

Mezzo Sopranos, High Altos - Sing bars 16-40 of "Jabba Jive" (You are a caricature of a crime boss)
                 ALSO sing Han's part in bars 37-58 of "Alderaan" (show your ability to sing patter and harmony)
     For Jabba Jive:
          See the score
          Hear bars 16-40 with Jabba singing
          Hear bars 16-40 with just the orchestra (this is what will be played at your audition)
     For Alderaan:
          See the score
          Hear bars 34-58 with Han singing
          Hear bars 34-58 with just the orchestra
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices except Han (this is what will be played at your audition)

Tenors and Low Altos  - Sing bars 24-60 of Obi-Wan's part in "Anakin" - Ben is haunted by tragedies in his past
                 ALSO sing Obi-Wan's part in bars 37-58 of "Alderaan" (show your ability to sing patter and harmony)
     For Anakin:
          See the score
          Hear the passage with just Obi-Wan's part sung
          Hear the passage with just the orchestra playing (this is what will be played at your audition)
     For Alderaan:
          See the score
          Hear bars 34-58 with Obi-Wan singing
          Hear bars 34-58 with just the orchestra
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices
          Hear bars 34-58 with all voices except Obi-Wan (this is what will be played at your audition)

Basses and Baritones - Sing bars 14-43 of "The Battle II" - Vader's emotions run the gamut as his evil
                 intentions are upset by forces beyond his control.
                 ALSO sing the chorus bass part in bars 46-56 of "Oh Dear 2" (focus on precision)
                 NOTE: If "The Battle II" is a little high for you, you can sing "Jabba Jive" down an octave instead.
                             See music for Mezzo Sopranos, High Altos above.
     For The Battle II:
          See the score
          Hear the passage with Vader singing
          Hear the passage without Vader singing (this is what will be played at your audition)
     For Oh Dear 2:
          See the score
          Hear bars 46-56 with just the bass part sung
          Hear bars 46-56 with just the orchestra
          Hear bars 46-56 with all parts sung
          Hear bars 46-56 with all voices except bass (this is what will be played at your audition)

Materials for Harmony Auditions ("Oh Dear 2")

Soprano
     See the score - You will sing C-3PO's part in bars 46-56
     Hear bars 46-56 with just C-3PO's part sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the orchestra
     Hear bars 46-56 with all parts sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with all voices except C-3PO (this is what will be played at your audition)

Alto
     See the score - You will sing C-3PO's part in bars 46-56
     Hear bars 46-56 with just C-3PO's part sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the orchestra
     Hear bars 46-56 with all parts sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with all voices except C-3PO (this is what will be played at your audition)

Tenor
     See the score - You will sing the tenor part in bars 46-56
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the tenor part sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the orchestra
     Hear bars 46-56 with all parts sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with all voices except tenor (this is what will be played at your audition)

​
Bass
     See the score - You will sing the bass part in bars 46-56
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the bass part sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with just the orchestra
     Hear bars 46-56 with all parts sung
     Hear bars 46-56 with all voices except bass (this is what will be played at your audition)

Principal solo roles are listed below. All ranges span at least one but no more than two octaves.
Voice parts and ranges are moving targets. Notes can be changed and passages transposed as required.
"Harmony" refers to singing harmony as a soloist in a small ensemble. (All choruses sing harmony.)
As indicated, many suggested voice parts can optionally be sung up or down an octave.

In addition, there are up to 39 supporting solos. There should be plenty of solo opportunities for everyone.

A NOTE ON CASTING

We put a great deal of thought into casting the opera. Usually we double cast each role, so each soloist sings in four of the eight performances. So far we have been able to give everyone who wants one a solo in each of our productions, and we hope to continue this tradition, but cannot guarantee it. There is always a lot of singing to do in the chorus and in smaller ensembles, though.

Because our shows are double cast, we must divide participants into two casts before final role assignments can be made. It will be a month or two before you find out your solo assignment, so please be patient.

We endeavor to assign solos that will challenge you but not overwhelm you. We consider not only ability to sing, act and dance the role, but also age, number of years participating in the opera, and roles sung in previous NCFO operas. We will not assign you a solo role that requires you to sing harmony unless you have demonstrated the ability to do so in audition (to do otherwise would not be fair to the other ensemble members).

Click HERE for our current illness policy for rehearsals and performances.