The Gondoliers Auditions
Male Principals
Audition Sides for Male Principals
Select a character and memorize all lines for that Character.
Learn the songs that are assigned to that same character.
Memorize your sides for the best audition.
Callback Auditions
Please find the materials you need for callbacks below.
Character Descriptions
The Romantics:
MARCO–(Soloist—Tenor (or Lyric Baritone)
Sololist gondolier. He is a Venetian Gondolier who is as handsome as his voice is beautiful. He is the more romantic of the two Gondoliers who share the throne in Barataria. He loves Gianetta and wants to make her the queen of Barataria, but his politics are distinctly anti-monarchical. Along with his brother, Marco, he tries to turn the palace at Barataria into a Republic, and enjoys his time happily serving his court (instead of the other way around).
Requirements: Excellent lyric tenor or baritone voice. , ability to harmonize. Must be able to carry the plot along through strong expression of words and emotion in his songs. Dancing is a plus.
Vocal Range: G2 -A4
Audition Songs: “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” and “For Ev’ry One Who Feels Inclined”
GIUSEPPE–(Soloist—Baritone)
Sololist gondolier. He is a Venetian Gondolier who is a bit more practical and aware of politics than his brother, Marco, but still carries the same innocent ideals. His idea of a perfect king is one who disperses money to the gondoliers. He is in love with Tessa, and feels complete when he is with her, but they must part, for awhile, for the sake of Barataria.
Requirements: Good baritone voice. , ability to harmonize is essential. Must be able to carry the plot along through strong expression of words and emotion in his songs. Dancing is a plus.
Vocal Range: G2 -G4
Audition Songs: “Ah, Well Beloved” and “For Ev’ry One Who Feels Inclined”
LUIZ—(Soloist—Lyric Baritone or Tenor)
The rightful King of Barataria, a fact unknown to everyone save his foster-mother, Inez, whom he believes to be his real mother. Employed in the service of the Duke of Plaza-Toro, he is secretly in love with the Duke’s daughter Casilda; his hopes are crushed when it’s revealed that she was married in infancy to the King, but all ends happily when it’s revealed he is the King, and they’ve been married all along. Luiz is far cleverer than the Duke and Duchess, but savvy enough to keep his mouth shut and play the role of the good servant.
Requirements: Excellent Lyric baritone/Tenor voice. Ability to harmonize is essential. Must be able to carry the plot along through strong expression of words and emotion in his songs. Ability to play a drum roll is a plus.
Vocal Range: E3 -F4
Audition Songs: “Ah, Well Beloved” and refrain of “In Enterprise of Martial Kind”
The Royalty:
DUKE OF PLAZA-TORO: (Soloist—Comic Baritone).
A Spanish nobleman of ancient lineage, the Duke has fallen on hard times and seen his family’s fortune depleted, he has recently incorporated him self as a Limited Liability corporation as a source of revenue. He hopes his fortunes will be revived through his daughter Casilda’s ascension to the throne as the Queen of Barataria, assuming they can ever figure out who her husband is. One of Gilbert’s most savage parodies of the aristocracy, the role of the Duke also enjoys some of Gilbert’s wittiest dialogue.
Requirements: Comic baritone voice. Royal in nature. Ability to harmonize is essential. Must be able to carry the plot along through strong expression of words and emotion in his songs.
Vocal Range: G2-E4
Audition Songs: “In Enterprise of Martial Kind”, and ballad of your choice
DON ALHAMBRA de BOLERO: (Soloist Bass/Baritone or Baritone)
Grand Inquistor of Spain, and the man who was responsible for the infant Prince of Barataria to be smuggled away, lest he fall into evil hands. He is extremely clever and a perfect example of snobbish aristocrasy. Don Alhambra is greatly exasperated by the Marco and Guiseppe, as they destroy the dignity of the palace at Barateria. He is not sorry to see them go when Luiz replaces them on the throne.
Requirements: Baritone or comic baritone voice. Excessively royal in nature. Ability to harmonize is essential. Must be able to carry the plot along through strong expression of words and emotion in his songs.
Vocal Range: G2-E4
Audition Songs: “I Stole the Prince”, and ballad of your choice
The Featured Soloists
ANTONIO: (Soloist—Baritone)
Antonio is the leader of the Gondolier chorus. He has a great ability to persuade just about everyone to do what he wishes, except the contadine. He vies for their affections, but when they refuse, his positive outlook leads him into song “For the merriest fellows are we!”
Requirements: Strong Baritone voice. An easy-going positive person. Ability to harmonize is essential. Clear diction is a must.
Audition Sides: See Sides for Featured Soloists.
Vocal Range: D3-D4
Audition Songs: “For the Merriest Fellows” and “Sing High, Sing Low”
FRANCESCO: (Soloist—Tenor)
One of the Venetian Gondoliers and a member of the chorus who also has solos. Francesco is (eventually) prized by the Contadine for his Tenor voice.
Requirements: Tenor voice. Ability to harmonize is essential. Clear diction is a must.
Audition Sides: See Sides for Featured Soloists.
Vocal Range: F3-G4
Audition Songs: “Good Morrow, Pretty Maids”
GIORGIO—(Soloist—Bass-Baritone)
Giorgio is a gondolier who is happy to speak up and encourage others, but he doesn’t much want to jump in and actually do any work himself.
Audition Sides: See Sides for Featured Soloists.
Vocal Range: C3-Bb3 (but this is flexible, if too low)
Audition Song: “Good Morrow, Pretty Maids”
ANNIBALE—Non-soloist. Annibale is the authority on all legal points. He enjoys speaking in stilted legal language. He is not particularly sympathetic to Marco and Giuseppe’s plight, but he does enjoy a good legal dispute.
Audition Materials
Audition Sides for Featured Soloists
Select a character and memorize all lines for that Character.
Learn the songs that are assigned to that same character.
Memorize your sides for the best audition.
Music Samples (Below)
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples.
“View” Scores are pdf files.
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
Marco Audition Music
Audition Song #1—"Take A Pair of Sparkling Eyes"
Audition Song #2—"For Ev’ry One Who Feels Inclined"
See Giuseppe Audition Songs for links to “For Ev’ry One Who Feels Inclined”
Giuseppe Audition Music
Audition Song #1—"For Ev’ry One Who Feels Inclined"
Audition Song #2—"Ah, Well Beloved"
“Ah, Well Beloved” (See LUIZ audition songs).
Luiz Audition Music
Audition Song #1—Ballad—"Ah, Well Beloved"
Audition Song #2—Chorus of "In Enterprise"
“In Enterprise” Audition: Sing Luiz’s part in the refrain only. Sing Luiz harmony.
Duke of Plaza-Toro Audition Music
"In Enterprise of Martial Kind"
Audition Song #2—Ballad
Select a Ballad from Marco or Luiz Audition Songs
Don Alhambra Audition Music
"I Stole the Prince"
Audition Song #2—Ballad
Select a Ballad from Marco or Luiz audition songs.
Antonio, Francesco, & Giorgio
Audition Song #1—"For the Merriest Fellows"
Audition Song #2—"Sing High, Sing Low"
Special Skills
Dance skills—Prepare a routine using “Dance A Cachuca” Music.
Special Skills
If you play a portable instrument (violin, viola, flute, clarinet, guitar, etc.) prepare to play it to the tune of one of your favorite audition songs.
Special Skills
If you have miscellaneous skill, such as juggling, or swordfighting, be prepared to demonstrate these skills during auditions.
Vocal Range Chart
Find your vocal range at left. Note that each octave is numbered, with middle C being C4.
Numbering of each successively higher octave begins at “C.”
Helpful Links
General Audition Information—For Production Dates, Tuition, etc.
DIALECT/ACCENT OVERVIEW—http://dialectblog.com/british-accents/
Caution–some links on this page lead to people using bad language—monitor your child’s use of the links within this link.
All other skills being equal, we will select the actor with the most appropriate accent. For most, the “Received Pronunciation (see link above) is the best bet, but some sailors may use a lower-class accent (see link above).