Today is the 116th anniversary of the premiere of John Phillip Sousa's The Charlatan!  Sousa's operetta premiered in Montreal on this date back in 1898.  Just a few days later on September 5th, The Charlatan opened at the Knickerbocker theater in New York, and it was performed in that theater 35 times.  

Guess what else is on September 5th?  VLOC's opening night of The Charlatan! So exactly 116 years after it's big debut in New York, the Victorian Lyric Opera Company will be debuting the same show right here in Rockville, Maryland.  Sousa himself would surely approve!

Don't have your tickets yet?  Act fast!  Call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690 to reserve your tickets.  And if you can't make it on September 5th for the anniversary and opening night, come on September 6th to catch the free pre-show lecture by University of Maryland Sousa scholar, Dr. Patrick Warfield!

If you've been to a VLOC production in the past, surely you've noticed the man in the orchestra pit keeping all the performers together.  That man would be VLOC's Artistic and Music Director, Joseph Sorge.  Joe serves as the chorus master and orchestra conductor, and he runs all the music rehearsals.  Once the curtain opens, Joe is captain of the VLOC ship.  Let's learn a little bit more about the man waving the baton:

You've been the Artistic Director at VLOC for quite some time now.  How did you first get involved with VLOC?

I first joined VLOC in 1996, after 25 years of doing basic community theater-type productions ... Oklahoma (twice), West Side Story, Company (twice), Annie Get Your Gun, Brigadoon, 1776, Damn Yankees, etc.  I auditioned for a role in The Merry Widow, and was immediately hooked on operetta.  During that production, the president of VLOC asked me if I would be interested in being chorus master for their next production of The Mikado (I was, at the time, a church choir director).  I did that for all the subsequent productions, until 2003, when I decided to take on the orchestra directing as well.

Do you have a favorite show or shows that you've conducted?

My favorite of the G&S canon is The Yeomen of the Guard, because it’s the most dramatic.   The most difficult, but also most rewarding shows have been the non-G&S ... Die Fledermaus, Merry Widow, La Belle Helene, and The Elixir of Love (really more opera than operetta).

What's the most challenging part of directing both the orchestra and singers?

The challenge is in keeping your cues distinct ... right hand, with baton, for the orchestra, and left hand for the on-stage chorus.  I’m not what most people would consider a ‘control freak’, but I love the responsibility of controlling the entire production on stage.  The benefit of being responsible for all the rehearsals, as well as the production, is that everyone is familiar with my style and tempi, so there are no surprises once we are on stage.

VLOC has performed a couple of other Sousa operettas in concert in the past.  Is there something about Sousa's operettas that you feel work particularly well for concert productions?

Well, Sousa operettas are very convoluted (as are some of the G&S, I suppose).  But they are also frequently 3-act, 3-set shows, which VLOC rarely does in full production.  Also, the Sousa operettas being fairly unknown, do well in short runs.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself outside of community theater (family, job, hobbies, etc.)?

I have been retired from the National Education Association’s data processing division for 11 years.  I spent my entire career of 35 years at the NEA.  Outside of that, I’ve been a church choir director for 25 years.  I also directed the staff chorus while at NEA.   With 3 productions a year, I guess you could say that VLOC is my ‘hobby’ and my passion.

Thanks, Joe!  The Charlatan opens a week from tomorrow, so be sure to secure your tickets (call 240-314-8690) so that you don't miss Joe directing the fabulous cast and orchestra!

VLOC's production of Sousa's The Charlatan opens in just over a week!  This rarely performed work with it's wacky plot and fabulous musical score is not to be missed.  You can also find out more about this hometown composer at the free pre-show lecture on Saturday, September 6th by renowned Sousa scholar, Dr. Patrick Warfield. Call the box office at 240-314-8690 to reserve your tickets!

That's not your only chance to learn about Sousa and his diverse musical background, though.  If you're still looking to find out more after seeing The Charlatan, then you have a great opportunity to learn more about a major part of Sousa's life - the U.S. Marine Band.  Sousa enlisted and served as an apprentice violinist with the band at the ripe old age of 14, and he came back in 1880 as (ironically) the 14th leader of the band. Over the next 12 years, Sousa managed to completely overhaul the band to the point of near-celebrity status.  

The Capitol Hill History Project is presenting a lecture on the history of the U.S. Marine Band on Tuesday, September 16th at 7:30 pm.  So if you're interested in finding out more about the musical group that Sousa brought to international fame, check out the lecture - it's free!  Reservations are required, though.  More information on the lecture can be found here.  

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled Charlatan cast interviews!  Today we talk with another VLOC newcomer, Alexandra Fleit.

What's your role in the show?
Chorus

When and how did you first get involved with VLOC?
I saw the last production, Pirates of Penzance, and was thrilled by the performance! The cast seemed to be having such a great time and I wanted to be part of the fun. I love to sing and the opportunity to do so while building new friendships was irresistible to me, so I decided to take the plunge and audition. It is definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made!

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I work as a government contractor in the IT field. When I'm not working I love finding fun ways to work out, like hula hooping or Zumba! I'm also very involved with my church.

Thanks, Alexandra, and we are happy to have you as a part of The Charlatan cast! The show opens in just two and a half weeks.  Do you have your tickets yet?  Call the box office at 240-314to reserve your tickets and ensure you don't miss this fabulous show!  

John Phillip Sousa, composer of The Charlatan, was a pretty multi-talented character.  Aside from composing nine operettas, he composed well over 100 marches (earning him that fabulous "March King" title), invented the sousaphone, directed the Marine Band for twelve years, wrote a novel, and was even a nationally ranked trapshooter.  

And on top of all of that, he's a D.C. boy born and raised, and he's buried in Congressional Cemetery in southeast D.C.  How's that for some amazing local talent?

Intrigued?  Want to learn more about this trapshooting musician? Then you won't want to miss VLOC's pre-performance talk on Saturday, September 6th at 7pm in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater!  We are excited to have Dr. Patrick Warfield, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Maryland, present this lecture on Sousa and his fascinating life.  Dr. Warfield is an expert on American musical culture, and his most recent focus has been on Victorian-era music in Washington, D.C.  He is the author of the Sousa biography, Making of the March King:  John Phillip Sousa's Washington Years, 1854-1893.

To learn more about Dr. Warfield, click here.  If you'd like to RSVP to the lecture click here.  Don't miss this unique opportunity to find out more about everyone's favorite trapshooting march composer!

It's time to get to know another member of The Charlatan  cast!  Today we talk with VLOC newcomer Carolyn Oxenford.  Welcome, Carolyn!

What's your role in the show?
Chorus

When and how did you first get involved with VLOC?
This is my first VLOC show! I became involved by hearing about VLOC from friends Tom Mirenda and Harper Denhard and voice teacher Chrissellene Petropoulos.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I am the Executive DIrector of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. I also perform regularly with Mini-Musicals on the Move and Bethesda Little Theatre.

Thanks, Carolyn. We are glad to have you with us!  The Charlatan opens in less than a month.  Don't have your tickets yet?  Call 240-314-8690 and reserve them now!

Today we get to bring you some insider information on another long-time VLOC performer - Charlatan cast member, patter song expert, and Jeopardy contestant Gary Sullivan!

What's your role in the show?
The Grand Duke

When and how did you first get involved with VLOC?
I first got involved in 2005, playing Ko-Ko in "The Mikado." Since then, I have been lucky enough to play nearly all the patter baritone roles. 

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I have spent the last 22 years working for Marriott Hotels, in a variety of training-related positions. I currently create training (eLearning, videos, software simulations, voice-over narrations, etc.) for front-line employees at our hotels around the world. I am also a big classic movie fan, so I spend a lot of time on TCM.  I'm married (Hi Amy!), and I have one daughter in college, and one entering her senior year in high school. Donations are gratefully accepted. :-) 

Thanks, Gary!  Don't miss out on the extraordinary talents of Gary and the rest of the fabulous Charlatan cast next month.  Get your tickets by calling the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690!

Today, we get to know another one of our Charlatan chorus members a little better.  Laura Hubbard has been in numerous VLOC productions, and we are happy to have her one again in The Charlatan!

What's your role in the show?
Elderly chorister.

When and how did you first get involved with VLOC?
I am a founding member, going back to the days when the company was Sandy Spring Summer Theater. I was with the company for 10 years, took a 20-year hiatus, and am now back to stay. 

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
When I'm not singing or taking voice lessons, I am a copyeditor at a company in Silver Spring. We are empty nesters and are hoping we can save enough money to do some international traveling.  And I'm constantly adding to my collection of hippos.

Thanks, Laura! Get your tickets now (240-314-8690) and don't miss Laura and the rest of the cast in this rarely performed production!  

Rehearsals for The Charlatan have already begun, and VLOC has a cast full of fabulous and fascinating singers! We'll be sharing a little bit about our cast and crew here as we work toward opening night on September 5th.  Today we get a glimpse into the life of Erland Heginbotham, a member of The Charlatan's chorus.

What's your role in the show?
Chorus of The Charlatan.

When and how did you first get involved with VLOC?
My wife and I have enjoyed a number of VLOC productions over several years at the Fitzgerald Theater in Rockville.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I sing in a barbershop chorale, the Smithsonian Chorale, and a local church choir. I'm retired from the US Diplomatic Service with tours in Liberia, Vietnam, Korea, and Indonesia. I'm treasurer of a popular day school. 

Thanks, Erland!  Stay tuned for more interviews and tidbits on The Charlatan.  And if you'd like to get your tickets, give the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater a call at 240-314-8690.  Don't miss it!