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Opera Australia is calling for Australia’s finest vocalists, actors and dancers to audition for its brand new production of The Phantom of the Opera, which will take place on the iconic overwater, outdoor stage at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in 2022. Auditions for principal and ensemble roles will be held virtually at first and then in-person in Sydney in late November 2021. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to perform in one of the most renowned musicals of all time, featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unforgettable score, timeless story and the iconic masked character, in Australia’s first outdoor production of the musical.
The Phantom of the Opera premiered on the West End in 1986 and remains Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most successful musical, now seen by more than 140 million people worldwide.
In 2022, The Phantom of the Opera will continue the tradition of the fabulous spectacles that have graced Mrs Macquaries Point since Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour opened in 2012, with world-class performances including the greatest local and international singers, musicians, dancers and creative teams.
Applicants will audition for one of Australia’s most in-demand theatrical directors Simon Phillips, Phantom musical director for three decades running, Guy Simpson, and choreographer Simone Sault who performed the role of Meg Giry in Phantom’s 1998 Australasian Tour. Together the three will lead a creative dream team that delivers a whole new level of spectacle to the musical’s defining moments.
This production of The Phantom of the Opera is by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group. Audition submissions will be accepted via webform only – and should include a current biography (PDF), headshot and link to a video.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE MIDNIGHT MONDAY OCTOBER 18, 2021
Opera Australia is seeking cast submissions for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2022: a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA which will make its premiere on Sydney Harbour in March 2022.
Please note that this is a different production to the previously announced (and postponed) Opera Australia tour, with a new creative team and a new design.
Please be aware that the venue is an outdoor purpose-built stage over Sydney Harbour. Given the nature of the venue, the stage will be raked and also have a gritted surface to ensure the safety of performers as performances of the production continue in inclement weather, including rain and winds.
The brief is for all roles – please see casting breakdown for further details.
Director: Simon Phillips
Musical Director: Guy Simpson
Set & Costume Designer: Gabriela Tylesova, Choreographer & Assistant Director: Simone Sault, Assistant Director: Shaun Rennie
Performers must be aged 18 or over by the commencement of rehearsals, and must be available for the following dates:
Rehearsals commence (on or about – Sydney): 21 February 2022
Stage rehearsals commence: on or about 15 March 2022 Performance season: on or about 25 March – 24 April 2022
Cast members must be available for the entire period. Cast members may be required to be local to Sydney for the rehearsal and performance period.
Please find following a casting brief detailing the roles for the production – please note the specific requirements for each role and submit accordingly.
All ethnicities are encouraged to submit for an audition.
First and second round auditions will be done via video submission. Instructions on first round submissions below.
If you have previously auditioned for an Opera Australia production, we encourage you to submit a different piece. Please see notes on music choice below.
Vocal Auditions: Please note the specific vocal range required for each role and submit a piece of non-show material of your own choosing. We ask that you really consider your music choice – please select music that will show the creative team that you are perfect for the world of Phantom of the Opera, i.e “legit” classical or traditional musical theatre as opposed to modern or contemporary pieces.
Dancers, please submit both dance and vocal (you will be required to sing). Please refer to the vocal instructions above. Your dance submission should be up to 1 minute in length and should demonstrate your skill and experience in the particular dance styles mentioned below.
You will be contacted directly should you progress to the second round of auditions, where we will require you to submit show material for a specific role.
Information including dates and locations of final round auditions (which will be in person) will be confirmed after the submissions close.
Submissions will be accepted via the following webform only: Handa Opera Submissions
Please make sure that all files attached to the submission are clearly labelled with name of performer on CV file name and Headshot file name. CVs must be in PDF format.
Video links must be in either of two forms:
o An Unlisted YouTube link
o A Private Vimeo link (with the password provided) or an Unlisted Vimeo link • One link containing all the material is preferred.
Further technical instructions can be seen below – please note that no files can be submitted and downloaded. All videos must be online links.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE MIDNIGHT MONDAY OCTOBER 18, 2021
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour auditions are at the risk and sole financial responsibility of the auditionee.
Opera Australia are committed equal opportunity employers.
ALL ETHNICITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT
Video Requirements: Please use Unlisted YouTube Video links or Private or Unlisted Vimeo links. Some useful references below on privacy settings:
YOUTUBE
Go to Edit button in Video settings then navigate to the Privacy section. Select “Unlisted” and then “Save Changes”. You can now share the link to the video that is unlisted to public searches.
VIMEO
Use setting “Only people with a password” for the privacy setting and then remember to include the password in the submission form when submitting your link. If you have a Pro, Premium or Business account please choose the setting “Only people with the private link” and then share the link – this will set the video as unlisted and alleviate the need for a password.
AGE: 30-40
VOCAL: High baritone or tenor (with strong low range) with a contemporary sound. Able to sustain high A flat with ease in full voice and high C# in falsetto.
DETAILS: Looking for a truly dynamic actor, a leading artist, with excellent acting and singing ability. The Phantom is both frightening and irresistible.
AGE: 18-25
VOCAL: Sings G below middle C to high E.
DETAILS: Playing age should be as young as possible but is normally early to mid-twenties. A beautiful lyric soprano. Soprano voice that combines elements of classical and musical theatre singing.
AGE: 20s-30s
VOCAL: Contemporary high baritone/tenor (2 octave range from A flat to A flat).
DETAILS: Young, dashing, handsome aristocratic man who falls in love with Christine.
AGE: 30s-50s
VOCAL: As above
DETAILS: The Managers of the Paris Opera House – both roles require good instincts for stylish comedy – they are elegant yet often slightly befuddled and bumbling. Firmin is the hard money man. André is charming with an artistic temperament.
AGE: 30s-40s
VOCAL: Coloratura soprano to high E
DETAILS: A middle-aged Italian coloratura soprano, the archetypal Diva – prima donna of the Paris Opera. Strong operatic singer with a good comic sense. Requires opera training.
AGE: LATE 30s-50
VOCAL: Mezzo soprano to high B flat with no discernible break between head and chest voices.
DETAILS: Ballet Mistress of the Opera Populaire. An ominous, stern, forbidding figure.
AGE: Should convincingly play late teens to early 20s
VOCAL: A solid soprano and a strong mix – sings to a G
DETAILS: A young petite ballet dancer. Needs strong classical dance technique. Pointe experience beneficial. A member of the Corps de Ballet.
AGE: 30s-40s
VOCAL: Range to legit high C. Requires opera training.
DETAILS: Archetypal middle-aged, Italian operatic tenor, companion to Carlotta.
AGE: 25-50s
VOCAL: Strong, trained singing voices, able to contribute to an operatic choral sound.
DETAILS: A range of “character” players to play small roles and understudy all of the male principals.
AGE: 25-50s
VOCAL: Strong, trained singing voices, able to contribute to an operatic choral sound.
DETAILS: A range of “character” players to understudy all of the female principals and to play small roles.
DETAILS (FEMALE): Experienced dancers with a strong foundation in the following techniques: classical/neo classical and contemporary – think Nederland Dans Theater/Akram Khan Giselle for English National Ballet. Throughout the Opera we will draw on a fusion of the techniques and style mentioned above. Confidence in floor work and partner work is essential, pointe work experience is a plus.
Strong vocal ability preferred.
DETAILS (MALE): Experienced dancers with a strong technique, demonstrating skills in
either classical/neoclassical and/or musical theatre. Partner work required. Male dancers require solid and strong physiques.
Strong vocal ability preferred.
Further information: email auditions@opera.org.au
Submissions: Handa Opera Submissions
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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