Auditions

Portrait of a Young Woman
with Cox and BoxSat. Nov. 15 & 22, 2025 at 2pm
Sun. Nov. 16 & 23, 2025 at 2pm
Fri. Nov. 21, 2025 at 7:30pm
at the Arden Gild Hall

Audition Dates:
Sat. June 28 & Sun. June 29
from 2 – 4:30pm
See this page, Additional Information about the Shows, for a listing and description of the roles to be cast.

Current Ardensingers chorus members are not required to audition but are asked to email us at ardensingers@gmail.com to confirm their intent to participate in the show.  Auditions for new chorus members will take place at an early rehearsal.

Listing of Audition Selections:

  • Portrait of a Young Woman – LATER
  • Cox and Box – See Below

Audition Selections For Cox & Box

These excerpts come from the Boosey & Co’s Savoy Edition which is the version I will be using.

James John Cox – A Journeyman Hatter, Baritone
Dialogue: page vii starting at “Ingenious creature!”
Music: No. 9 My hand upon it, pages 54-56

John James Box – A Journeyman Printer, Tenor
Dialogue: page vii starting at “Exactly”
Music: No. 6 Who are you, Sir?, pages 33-37

Sergeant Bouncer – House Keeper, Baritone
Dialogue: page iv, starting at “He’s gone at last!”
Music: No. 2 Rataplan, pages 6-9

To be added to one of our mailing lists, E-mail us at ardensingers@gmail.com, call John Trexler at (484) 319-2350, or fill out our MailChimp Sign-up Form (E-mail only).

Ardensingers Chorus and Orchestra
The Ardensingers perform two shows per year, one in the Fall (November/December) and one in the Spring (April). The Spring show is one of the standard works of Gilbert & Sullivan, and casting is by formal audition (September / October). There’s no set format for the Fall show, and shows have included G&S-related works, pantos, and variety shows.  Casting can be by committee or by formal audition. The Fall shows often have more roles, so there may be solo / ensemble performing opportunities for capable actors and singers who don’t get cast in the Spring show. The Ardensingers are actively seeking musically- and theatrically-inclined men and women, including students, as leads and for the Chorus. Prospective Ardensingers Chorus members will be asked to audition by performing a short piece of his or her choosing. At the present time, we’re accepting most singers who have prior choral experience. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 2 – 4:30PM and on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 10PM (with students excused early). Good attendance is a prerequisite for continued participation. We take a break for refreshments about half-way through rehearsal. All stage performers are required to become members of the Arden Club (annual cost of $25, less for seniors and students). The Ardensingers is one of a number of “gilds” that belong to the Arden Club, which is responsible for maintenance and operation of the Gild Hall, our performing venue.  The Ardensingers also take part in other activities during the year:

  • The Arden Fair is held every year on the Saturday before Labor Day. It’s the Club’s biggest fund raiser. The Ardensingers sponsor the Beer / Wine booth at the Fair, and we encourage all able-bodied members to help out at the booth, or in some other capacity, at the Fair.
  • The Ardensingers sponsor at least one of the Dinner Gild community dinners (Saturdays, from October to May). This involves planning a meal and cooking for ~100 diners.
  • The Arden Community Recreation Association(ACRA) sometimes asks for our help at their annual holiday party (2nd Sunday in December) or at their Summer day camp.
  • We’ve occasionally sung the Star-Spangled Banner at Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball games.

Vocal scores can be purchased at cost from the Ardensingers. For the standard G&S shows, we’ll typically use the Schirmer edition. Contact John Trexler, as directed below, to reserve a copy.you

In recent years we’ve been making rehearsal CDs (recordings of individual chorus voice parts) to help our Chorus members learn their music.

There may occasionally be openings for the Ardensingers Orchestra, which takes part in the Spring show, and occasionally the Fall show. Rehearsals are on alternate Saturday mornings from 9 – 11:30AM.

For additional information about joining the Chorus or Orchestra, or to be added to our auditions mailing list, please contact John Trexler at (484) 319-2350, or send an E-mail.