AUDITION for ST GEORGE OPERA'S
2025-2026 SEASON
MAINSTAGE OPERA PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Mainstage Opera: Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck (Sung in the Schirmer English translation)
Location: Performing Arts Center in St. George, UT at 7:30PM (Thurs & Fri), Sat at 2:00PM
Roles:
Peter, father: Baritone (B3-A5)
Gertrude, mother: Mezzo-soprano (B4-B6)
Hansel: Mezzo-soprano (A4-A5)
Gretel: Soprano (C4-Bb6)
Sandman: Soprano or Mezzo-soprano (C4-F#5)
Dew Fairy: Soprano (E4-A6)
The Gingerbread Witch: Tenor or Mezzo-soprano (Bb4-B6)
Children’s Chorus (8-10 singers, ages 6-15): Soprano and Contralto ensemble (C4-B6)
Synopsis:
The opera, set in three acts, is based on the classic Grimm brother’s fairy tale of two children who get lost in a dark forest and encounter a witch.
Act One: Hansel and Gretel’s parents are broom-makers and live in a small cottage near the dark forest. Hansel and Gretel are told to go into the woods and collect strawberries for their dinner. The two children get hungry while berry-picking and eat all the strawberries they’ve collected. As they wander the forest trying to find their way home, they encounter magical creatures including the Sandman and the Dew Fairy.
Act Two: When the children wake from their deep slumber, they stumble upon a house made of sweets. Being overcome by hunger, they start nibbling on the house and wake the witch who lives there. They soon discover that although she seems kind and friendly, she intends to eat them.
Act Three: The witch lures the children into the house with promises of baked goods and other sweets. The witch puts a spell on the children and starts to prepare them to be baked but Gretel tricks her and pushes the witch into the oven instead. The witch, now in the oven bursts into flames and all the lost children who were baked into gingerbread are brought back to life. Hansel and Gretel’s parents, who have been searching for them, arrive at the house to celebrate their children’s escape and the death of the witch.
Auditions will be held in September 2025. Performers will be notified of Hansel and Gretel Cast List one week after the audition date and will receive their SGO Mainstage Opera Contract if they are selected for a mainstage role.
SGO 25/26 Season Contracts must be signed and submitted no later than October 3rd at 5:00PM.
Music rehearsals for Hansel and Gretel will begin in November, the week before Thanksgiving.
Staging rehearsals will begin in January 2026 after school starts on Jan 12th.
Performances for Hansel and Gretel will be in February 2026.
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View rehearsal and performance schedule HERE
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Sheet music and accompaniment tracks will be available for Children’s Chorus prior to music rehearsals. Due to the limited number of rehearsals, performers must be familiar with each of their assigned vocal parts prior to music rehearsal.
Rehearsal Details:
All Children’s Chorus Performers will be called to one mandatory music rehearsal in January 2026 and one mandatory staging rehearsal in February 2026 prior to dress rehearsals with the entire Hansel and Gretel cast.
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SCHOOL OUTREACH OPERA INFORMATION
Auditions will be held in September 2025. Performers will be notified of Hansel and Gretel Outreach Cast List one week after the audition date and will receive their School Outreach Contract at this time.
Due to the nature of school schedules and standard assembly times, the School Outreach production of Hansel and Gretel will be a shortened version (35-40 minutes in length) and will have a limited cast of characters, see below.
School Outreach Cast:
Gretel - soprano
Hansel - mezzo-soprano
Dew Fairy/Sandman - soprano
Gingerbread Witch - tenor or mezzo-soprano
SGO 25/26 Season Contracts must be signed and submitted no later than October 3rd at 5:00PM.
Music rehearsals for Hansel and Gretel Outreach will begin in November, the week before Thanksgiving.
Staging rehearsals for Hansel and Gretel Outreach performances will begin in January 2026 after Winter Break.
Two School Outreach Performances will be held after school starts on Jan 12th.
View rehearsal and performance schedule HERE
Music score details: we will be using the Hansel and Gretel piano/vocal score translated into English by Constance Bache, made available through IMSLP.ORG (public domain). Cuts to be determined by Rhea Miller.
CONCERT SERIES INFORMATION
Auditions will be held in September 2025 for the St. George Opera Season Concert Series. Performers will be sent their Season Contract one week following the auditions.
SGO 25/26 Season Contracts must be signed and submitted no later than October 3rd at 5:00PM.
Two ensemble rehearsals will be held for season concerts and one rehearsal for outreach performances (dates and time TBD); First- three weeks prior to scheduled performance date and Second- one week before the performance.
For Concerts: All performers will be called one-hour prior to concert start time on the day of the performance for a sound check and ensemble rehearsal. All performers must attend at least one ensemble rehearsal prior to scheduled performance. (Performers are welcome to rehearse with an accompanist outside of ensemble rehearsals.)
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Concert Series Schedule:
Spooky Fundraising Concert
When: October 30th, 2025 at 7:30PM (call time 6:30PM)
Location: Performing Arts Center
Costume Parade, Raffle, Singing Contest (audience members will vote/donate on their favorite performer), and Spooky Music featuring classical songs, arias, musical theatre selections.
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November Outreach
When: November 8th, 2025, Saturday at 10:45AM (call time 10:15AM)
Location: Southern Utah Veteran’s Home in Ivins, Utah
Musical selections that focus on family, gratitude, comfort, serving one’s country, etc.
Winter Outreach
When: December 12, 2025 at 6:00PM (call time 5:30PM)
Location: Spring Gardens Senior Living, 2654 E. Red Cliffs Dr., St. George 84790
Musical selections will feature songs that evoke the holiday spirit and family traditions.
Spring Concert
When: March 27th, 2026 at 7:00PM (call time 6:00PM)
Location: St. George Tabernacle
Musical selections centered on nature, rebirth, redemption, spring, etc.
2025-2026 SEASON COMPENSATION
If you are selected to perform for the Mainstage, School Outreach, or Concert Series, there will be a small stipend of $20 per performance (compensation reserved for performers ages 18+).
Qualifying performances include; Hansel and Gretel Mainstage and School Outreach, Halloween Fundraising Concert, and Spring Concert.
Concerts that are outreach-based (November, Winter) are considered volunteer and will not be compensated or open to the general public.
READY TO AUDITION?
Please note: this is the only audition St George Opera will have this season. We will be casting ALL season projects from this one audition. Please note on your Google Form which projects you are interested in being considered for casting.
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FOR IN-PERSON AUDITIONS (ages 18+)
First, sign up for an audition time by completing your Google Form for the St. George Opera In-Person Season Auditions no later than September 24th at 5:00PM.
Then, show up on September 26th, 2025 at your audition time (between 4:30PM-6:30PM) ready to sing!
Location: 25 N 300 W Bldg C, Washington, UT 84780 (Old Brigham’s Playhouse/Broadway Bound Building)
What should I sing?
Repertoire Requirements: 1-2 Classical songs or arias
(To be considered for a mainstage role or school outreach, at least one song must be from an opera or operetta).
Accompaniment: The performer can bring their own accompanist or use a piano backing track.
(Blue Tooth Speaker will be provided by the audition panel.)
Resume and Headshot: Please upload them into the Google Form.
IN-PERSON CHILDREN’S CHORUS AUDITIONS (ages 6-15)
First, complete your Google Form to sign up for an audition time for the St. George Opera In-Person Children’s Chorus Auditions no later than September 24th at 5:00PM.
Then, show up on September 26th, 2025 at your audition time (between 4:30PM-6:30PM) ready to sing!
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Location: 25 N 300 W Bldg C, Washington, UT 84780 (Old Brigham’s Playhouse/Broadway Bound Building)
What should I sing?
Repertoire Requirements: Children’s chorus may audition with a folk song or hymn of their choice or use one of the selections with melody track provided by SGO. ( Click here for Children’s Chorus Audition Materials).
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Accompaniment: The performer can bring their own accompanist or use a piano backing track.
(Blue Tooth Speaker will be provided by the audition panel.)
Resume and Headshot (if applicable): Upload in Google Form.
VIRTUAL AUDITIONS
Complete your Google Form and Virtual Audition Video Submission for the St. George Opera Season Auditions no later than September 27th at 5:00PM.
What should I submit?
Repertoire Requirements, Resume, and Headshot: same as In-Person Auditions (see above).
Accompaniment: The performer can use live accompaniment or piano backing track.
Virtual Audition Video Requirements:
The performer must introduce with; first and last name, song title, and composer name. The performer must be memorized and wearing appropriate Performance Attire for the video submission. The performer will not use a music binder or music stand and must have their entire body within the camera frame. (Before submission: be sure the recording device records your voice and the accompaniment at a balanced level. Be sure that the background is clean and the lighting is balanced.)
IMPORTANT: Be sure to watch the video before you submit to ensure it is playable and that the audition panel can see and hear; range of dynamics, intonation, and text.
All Virtual Audition Video Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube and a link must be copied to your Google Form before final submission.