Female Principals
First-time Starlight cast members will most likely be cast as CHORUS. If you are new to Starlight, please go to Female Chorus Auditions.
Due to a large number of soprano singers in our midst, some sopranos may need to be cast in roles originally written for Mezzos or Altos.Soprano roles must remain sopranos, the others are flexible.For the Mezzo and Alto roles, we urge you to select a character type that best suits you, regardless of specified vocal range. We will try to make the vocal ranges fit your voice.
JOSEPHINE (Soloist—Soprano)—Josephine is the daughter of the Captain of the Pinafore. She is in love with Ralph (pronounced “Rafe,” rhymes with “safe.”), but Ralph is only a lowly sailor on the ship. Josephine is being courted by Sir Joseph Porter, the Navy’s First Admiral. But Josephine finds Sir Joseph “tedious and dictatorial.” She loves Ralph, but realizes that it isn’t appropriate for a young lady of her station to marry a common sailor. She wrestles with the problem, even after promising to steal away with him to secretly marry.
Requirements: Must have an excellent soprano voice, a talent for genuine romance, and dancing ability.
Vocal Range: A3 to Bb5 (Optional C5)
Audition Song: “Refrain, Audacious Tar”
Select a second song (if you can’t choose, we recommend “Gaily Tripping”)
Audition Dance: Polka, graceful movements.
GENEVIEVE (Soloist—Soprano)—Genevieve is one of Sir Joseph’s relatives. She is traveling with Sir Joseph’s entourage of sisters, cousins and aunts in hopes to find her lost love, Richard Dempsey. She and Richard had planned to elope years ago, but she was caught by her father and closely guarded for years to prevent her ever seeing him again. Now that her parents have passed away, she is searching every navy ship in hopes of finding him, and find him she does. She is a romantic soul who still believes in “happy ever after,” even after she discovers that Richard has changed–in some very bad ways.
Requirements: Must have excellent soprano voice and a talent for genuine romance in the face of an ugly character. She will be part of solos and small ensembles, ability to harmonize is required.
Vocal Range: A3 to F5
Audition Songs: “Gaily Tripping” (Soprano or Alto) and “I Am the Monarch of the Sea.”
COUSIN HEBE (Soloist—Mezzo-Soprano/flexible)—Hebe is Sir Joseph’s cousin and follows him wherever he goes. (All of his relatives follow him, but she is particularly tenacious.) She is a spicy character who finds every opportunity to push her way into the limelight. She loves Sir Joseph and is hurt that he has come to the Pinafore to court Josephine. A strong-willed and determined young lady, when she realizes that she has no chance with Sir Joseph, she determines to “help” him win Josephine. Though well-intentioned, she manages to annoy Sir Joseph at every turn. However, she does win him in the end when he recognizes her beauty.
Requirements: Must have strong voice and a somewhat pushy nature. Comic timing required. She will be part of solos and small ensembles, ability to harmonize is required.
Vocal Range: A3 to F5
Audition Songs: “Gaily Tripping” (Soprano or Alto) and “I Am the Monarch of the Sea.”
BUTTERCUP (Soloist—Alto/flexible)—Buttercup is a lowly bumboat woman who holds all of the secrets in the show. She is a multi-dimensional character who arrives on the ship in a light and lively mood to sell beautiful baubles and tasty fare to the sailors who have just gotten into port. Buttercup loves the Captain, and he loves her in return. She is hurt that he refuses to acknowledge his love because of her lowly position. She is keenly aware of the Captain’s moods and is always there to tend to his needs. In Act II she mysteriously reveals that she has “gypsy blood in her veins and can read destinies.” She sings “Things are Seldom…” with the Captain, indicating a change in store for him that she knows he will not like.
Requirements: Must have strong mezzo/alto voice and ability to portray a saleswoman, a caring friend, and a mysterious gypsy woman. She will be part of solos and small ensembles, ability to harmonize is required. Must be a skilled dancer (tango style) and move with grace.
Vocal Range: G3 to F5
Audition Songs: “Things Are Seldom What They Seem” and “Gaily Tripping” (alto part)
CONSTANCE—(Ensemble Singer—Mezzo-Soprano/flexible)—Constance is the “caretaker” of the sisters, cousins, and aunts (Relatives). She protects Cousin Hebe against the competition of the other Relatives, and she aids Genevieve in her quest to find her lost love. She is caring and devoted to her “sisters.”
Requirements: Good mezzo/alto voice. She will be part of small ensembles, must be able to harmonize. Dancing is a plus.
Vocal Range: Up to E4-F4
Audition Songs: “Gaily Tripping” (Sing the alto part).
ELIZA—(Ensemble Singer—Mezzo-Soprano/Alto/Flexible)—Eliza is a spritely young lady who is excited to be on the ship, excited to see so many handsome sailors, excited just to be alive!
Requirements: Good mezzo/alto voice. She will be part of small ensembles, must be able to harmonize. Dancing is a plus.
Vocal Range: up to E4-F4
Audition Song: “Gaily Tripping” (Sing the alto part).
WYNN–(Chorus)—Wynn’s fondest dream is to be a sailor on one of Her Majesty’s ships. She is a delightful young lady who dresses like a sailor and knows everything about sailing ships (and is sure to make her knowledge known).
Though it would not have been appropriate for ladies to be sailors in 1879, we may consider casting some young ladies as Sailors.
If this is your desire, please audition for Wynn.
Requirements: Dancing and gymnastic ability helpful.
Vocal Range: Flexible
Audition Song: “Over the Bright blue Sea”
More character descriptions coming soon
Audition Materials
Audition Sides are brief excerpts from the script.
Select a character and memorize all lines for that Character.
The lines you learn should coordinate with the song that you prepared.
Memorize your sides for the best audition.
If the character has very few lines, you may select more than one character.
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples.
Scores are pdf files.
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
Audition Music
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
Audition Music
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
Audition Music
“Listen” buttons contain audio samples
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp”
Audition Music
You will audition to the accompaniment “Listen Accomp.”
“Listen Lead Sample” is the accompaniment with your part louder and at slower tempo to help you define the part in your ear.
Select the more comfortable range (soprano or alto).
Dance or gymnastics skills—Prepare a routine using “We Sail the Ocean Blue” Music.
Ballet skills—Prepare a dance using the second half (ballad) of “Refrain, Audacious Tar.” (Above)
If you play a portable instrument (violin, viola, flute, clarinet, guitar, etc.) prepare to play it to the tune of “We Sail the Ocean Blue.”
If you have miscellaneous skill, such as juggling, or swordfighting, be prepared to demonstrate these skills during auditions.
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.”
AUDITION HEADQUARTERS—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).