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Opportunities for singers of all ages and experience levels
Midlands Light Opera Society exists to make light opera accessible to local singers and to our audience. We welcome all ages, backgrounds and abilities into our non-auditioned chorus. Our principal singers audition for their roles.
We spread out our rehearsal schedule over about five months, so that chorus members rehearse once a week on a weeknight - up until the weeks adding up to our performance. Principals can expect to rehearse a second time a week as we get closer to the performance date. We seek to avoid weekend rehearsals up until the last few weeks of rehearsal. We typically have three or four performances per production. This schedule is easier for most people than traditional community theaters where cast members can expect three or more rehearsals weekly and several weekends of performances.
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We ask performers to contribute a $30 performance fee OR volunteer behind the scenes to offset our production expenses, but offer scholarships when needed.
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We announce future opportunities on this site, on our Facebook page and also by email. To be added to our email list, just email us at MidlandsLightOpera@gmail.com.
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Our programming draws mainly from the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, but we are open to producing other light operas. Our performances are all family-friendly, and we maintain high standards of singing, acting and comedy. In addition to traditional operettas, we will also produce opera scenes, concerts and new works featuring familiar operatic music with original text settings. ​
Audition for Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas -
When lovers unite, how happy their fate...well until the witches start their plotting. We will present a staged version of this English-language masterpiece from May 14-17, 2026.
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Auditions for Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas will be held Monday, December 8 and Tuesday December 9 from 6:30 - 8:00 in the choir room of St. John's Episcopal Church (2827 Wheat St, Columbia). When you pull into the parking lot, the main church building will be on your left - go through those doors and take the stairs or elevator to the choir room on the second floor. St. John's hosts various community groups, so if the parking lot is full, you may park on the street. You only need to attend one night or the other. If you want to participate, but are unable to make either night, you can email midlandslightopera@gmail.com
Performances: Our production's performances are from May 14-17, 2026. We anticipate starting rehearsals early January. We are planning for the majority of choral musical rehearsals to be on Monday evenings and principal/dance ensemble rehearsals to be on Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:30pm.
Rehearsals: Choral only and dance only participants can expect to rehearse once a week until mid- April. Principals can expect 1 or 2 rehearsals weekly until mid- April. Once we get to mid April, everyone can expect 2 rehearsals weekly. In May, we will add Tuesday evening and Saturday morning/afternoon rehearsals. We will not rehearse on Sundays or Wednesday evenings.
Leads: Those auditioning for a non-ensemble role will need to sing: an aria from an opera or operetta, an art song, or a selection from a Golden Age musical (non-belting) in any language. You will need to provide sheet music for our accompanist.
Choral ensemble- Adults auditioning for choral ensemble can do likewise, or can sing something simple like a hymn tune or Christmas carol so that we can assess your range and voice. Anyone under 18 auditioning for a singing role - even choral ensemble - will need to have an audition piece (aria or song) that best shows their range and musicality. Pieces from musical theater or even Disney tunes are fine - we are looking to hear the more classical non-belting sound.
Dance Ensemble- Anyone of any age who wants to participate in the dance ensemble only does NOT have to audition, but we would like to see you at auditions to say hello.
A member of the creative team will reach out to all auditioners by phone once the casting decisions have been made. If we cannot reach you by phone, we will text you.
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Please use the link below to complete your audition form.
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Photo credit Michael Brown
Photo credit Michael Brown
