Interview: Joe Sorge, VLOC's Artistic Director

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!

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Photo courtesy of Harvey Levine