Welcome - Delaware Valley Opera

2020 SEASON AUDITIONS!

DELAWARE VALLEY OPERA 2020 NEW YORK CITY AUDITIONS

UPDATE - NYC AUDITIONS
Due to the overwhelming response, even after adding an additional two hours to our audition day on Saturday, 14 March 2020, unfortunately we will not be able to schedule any more audition applications going forward. However, please feel free to submit your headshots and resumes for our files or, if you are able, there is still space available at our local auditions in Narrowsburg, NY on Sunday, 15 March from 2 pm--4 pm. Thanks for the wonderful response!

The Delaware Valley Opera will be holding auditions for its 34th season productions of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” and Verdi’s “Rigoletto” to be performed at the Tusten Theater in Narrowsburg, NY during July and August.

Principal auditions for both operas will take place in NYC on Saturday, 14 March at Shetler Studios (244 W. 54th Street, Penthouse 1) from 12 noon—5 pm. Auditions are by appointment only. Please contact DVO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include “Auditions” in the subject line. An accompanist will be provided, but artists may feel free to bring their own if desired. Please see role breakdown for each opera below.

DELAWARE VALLEY OPERA LOCAL AUDITIONS FOR 2020 SEASON

Local auditions for both operas will take place on Sunday, 15 March from 2 pm – 4 pm in Krause Hall, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, 37 Main Street, Narrowsburg, NY. Please enter building from rear entrance, which will be marked. Auditions are by appointment only. Please contact DVO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include “Auditions” in the subject line. An accompanist will be provided, but artists may feel free to bring their own if desired. Please see role breakdown for each opera below.

Ensemble rehearsals for The Pirates of Penzance will begin 15 June with evening rehearsals twice a week or so, leading up to production week July 5—10 involving evening rehearsals every evening. A more detailed rehearsal schedule will be available at auditions.

Those not able to attend the local audition on 15 March should contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be considered or arrange an alternate date to audition.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Performance dates: July 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 and July 25, 26 at the Rivoli Theatre, So. Fallsburg, NY
Director: Nicholas Wuehrmann
Musical Director/Conductor: Matthew Rupcich

Character Descriptions

Major-General Stanley - Comic Baritone - Middle-aged and beyond. Comic abilities, British accent, moves well. CAST

The Pirate King - Baritone - Age open. Dynamic presence, excellent comic timing, British accent, moves well.

Samuel - Baritone - Age open. Lieutenant to the Pirate King, great energy, proper British accent (or Cockney).

Frederic - Lyric Tenor - Appears 21. The Pirate Apprentice - Innocent, earnest, great energy, sincere, moves well, proper British accent.

Sergeant of Police - Bass - Age open. Excellent comic abilities, moves very well, Cockney accent.

Mabel - Coloratura Soprano - Appears young. Major-General Stanley’s daughter - leader of the pack, innocent but strong-willed, proper British accent.

Edith - Soprano - Mabel’s sister. Good sense of comedy, energetic, proper British accent.

Kate - Mezzo-Soprano - Mabel’s sister. Good sense of comedy, energetic, proper British accent.

Isabel - Voice type negotiable - Mabel’s sister. Spoken lines and sings with chorus, proper British accent, good sense of comedy.

Ruth - Contralto - Piratical Maid-of-all-Work. Frederic’s nursemaid in Act 1, transitioning to full-on pirate in Act 2. Great comic ability, moves well, accent could be Cockney or proper British.

Pirates, Police and Daughters - A variety of voices and types needed for the ensemble, ability to move a plus.

One aria/song in English appropriate to the style of the operetta. May be asked to read from the libretto.

RIGOLETTO

Performance dates: August 8, 9, 15, 16
Director: Carol Castel
Musical Director/Conductor: Matthew Rupcich
Performed in Italian with English supertitles

Some principal rehearsals may be held in NYC prior to arrival in Narrowsburg, NY for rehearsals beginning in middle of July. Local housing will be provided. More detailed rehearsal schedule will be available at auditions.

Rigoletto: Baritone

Gilda: Coloratura Soprano

Duke of Mantua: Tenor

Sparafucile: Bass

Maddalena: Mezzo Soprano

Giovanna - Gilda’s nurse: Mezzo Soprano

Count Ceprano: Bass

Countess Ceprano: Mezzo Soprano

Matteo Borsa,- a courtier: Tenor

Count Monterone: Baritone

Marullo – a courtier: Baritone

We're Celebrating Our 34th Season in 2020

Our Mission is to provide opportunities for area talent to study and perform a wide range of opera repertoire; to introduce opera to young people and the general public through performances, workshops and educational programs and to foster collaborations between creative and interpretive artists and technicians.

The Delaware Valley Opera is a member of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, the Arts Council for Sullivan County, NY. Our address is P.O. Box 505, Callicoon, New York 12723 and phone (845) 887-3083.

The DVO has been in residence each summer at the Tusten Theatre since 1991. A town-owned, former movie house, the Tusten Theatre is located at 210 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg, and is managed by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.

2019 H.M.S. Pinafore (videos)

H.M.S. Pinafore

A Comic Opera in Two Acts by Gilbert and Sullivan

Music Director, Conductor: Matthew Rupcich
Stage Director: Nicholas Wuehrmann

Boatswain’s Mate: John Tobey, Jr.
Captain Corcoran: Seán Kroll
Carpenter’s Mate: Brandon Sparkman
Cousin Hebe: Carol Diefenbach
Dick Deadeye: Adam Cioffari
Josephine: Elise Mark
Little Buttercup: Mary Burkart
Ralph Rackstraw: Cole Tornberg
Sir Joseph Porter: Nicholas Wuehrmann

2019 - Gian Carlo Menotti - The Telephone (video)

The Telephone

Tusten Theater, Narrowsburg NY
August 3, 2019 8pm

Music Director, Pianist: Jeremy Chan
Stage Director: Carol Castel
Lucy: Brooke Schooley
Ben: Erik Tofte

The Telephone, or L’Amour à trois is a humorous look at the way the telephone became a third party in the romantic relationship between a young couple, Lucy and Ben. Written over seventy years ago, we can still relate to the way this ubiquitous invention plays a large role in our lives today!

2019 - Gian Carlo Menotti - The Medium (videos)

The Medium - Act I and Act II

Janice Meyerson as Madame Flora and Gregory DeCola asToby.

Tusten Theater, Narrowsburg NY - July 27, 2019 8pm

Music Director, Pianist: Jeremy Chan
Stage Director: Carol Castel

The Medium Cast

Madame Flora (Baba): Janice Meyerson
Monica: Brooke Schooley
Toby: Gregory DeCola
Mrs. Gobineau: Tesia Kwarteng
Mr. Gobineau: Erik Tofte
Mrs. Nolan: Carol Diefenbach

The Medium is a darker piece, exploring the boundaries of reality for all involved in the drama. In today’s world, where more and more we are challenged to assess what is real and what is “fake news,” Madame Flora’s struggle with this issue leads to a sad and tragic ending. Featuring Janice Meyerson, Mezzo-Soprano, as Madame Flora.

Act I

Act II

2019 - Gian Carlo Menotti - The Medium - Photo Gallery