Ross Ragland to hold open auditions for 'The Pirates of Penzance'

The following is a press release from the Ross Ragland Theater.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Ross Ragland Theater is pleased to announce auditions for the 2021 Summer Production, “The Pirates of Penzance” on Sunday, April 25th at 3:00 pm and Monday, April 26th at 6:00 pm. Callbacks will be Tuesday, April 27th, as needed. Actors aged sixteen and up are invited to arrive at the Ross Ragland Cultural Center, at least fifteen minutes early, prepared to read and sing.

The show will be directed by Spencer Hamilton with music direction by Nathalie Reid. Rehearsals will run Mondays through Thursdays, starting May 10th. Performance dates will be July 9th, 10th and 11th, 2021.

Interested actors must bring a collaborative attitude and a 60 second cut of a prepared solo with accompaniment (a trackless CD, digital file or sheet music – music with voices will not be permitted). They will also potentially be asked to read scenes and learn portions of an ensemble song.

The Pirates of Penzance is a comic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. Even though it debuted over 140 years ago (in 1880), its popularity has never waned and is considered a quintessential work by the famous dramatist/composer duo. The most recent Broadway revival (in 1981) ran for 787 performances and won several Tony and Drama Desk awards. Penzance is perhaps best known for its much parodied, “Major-General’s Song.”

The play centers around a pirate apprentice, Frederic, who has the dubious luck of having been born on February 29th – causing some hilarious confusion as to when his 21st birthday is and his lady love, Mabel – who has agreed to wait the 63 years for his servitude to end. But if something does not change soon Frederic will soon be on a collision course with the Pirate King's new nemesis, the Major General – who also happens to be Mabel’s Father.

Inquiries regarding the auditions should be directed to Samantha Burris @ 541-887-8632.

*All COVID-19 safety guidelines will be in place.