Can't see the question you want to ask? Then e-mail us and we'll reply as soon as possible:
What do I have to do to join the society?
Click here and print out an Application form through your browser.
Fill in the Application Form and forward it to our Membership Secretary.
You will then be contacted and invited to audition for the Society.
For the audition, you will need to sing a song of your choice and read a piece of libretto (an excerpt from 'Guys and Dolls' available by clicking here and printing it out through your browser).
We will then inform you whether your application has been successful.
The Application form and audition libretto are in pdf format. If you do not have Acrobat Reader
you can download it free by clicking on the image below:
NB: All acting members who wish to be in the annual production have to do a show audition each year, whether for Principal roles or Chorus.
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On which nights does the society rehearse?
SAOS normally rehearses on the following basis:
| June | July | August | September | October | |
| Tuesdays | Principals | Principals | Principals | Principals | Blocking |
| Wednesdays | Music | Music | Chorus Numbers | Chorus Numbers | Blocking |
| Sundays | - | - | - | - | Blocking |
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How much are subscriptions?
SUBSCRIPTIONS
for 2008 are as follows:
| Standard Membership | £25.00 |
| Senior Citizens not on stage | £12.50 |
TICKET LEVY
In accepting their part in the show, those members who are in the cast are subject to the 'Ticket Levy', currently set at 25 tickets. If the member does not sell the required number of tickets then the shortfall must be covered with a further payment by the member, based on an average of £10.00 per ticket.
However, a reward scheme operates, whereby the member's ticket tally can be increased by making contributions to the success and running of the society (eg. participating in publicity walkabouts, having an advert in the programme, working in the box office, committee work etc.). These rewards can be used to attain the Ticket levy as well as the 50 tickets required to receive a bottle of wine at the end of show week.
Should long-term partners or immediate family also be in the cast, their levy is set at 15 tickets.
ENTRANCE FEE
In addition to the first year's membership, there is an entrance fee which entitles the member to a copy of the Society's Rule Book.
Subscriptions, the Ticket Levy and the Entrance Fee are set each year at the Annual General Meeting, held during the third week of March.
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How many members are there?
Following company auditions in March, 2007, the membership stood at 106. This includes both acting & non-acting memberships. It also includes Life Members who are given such membership after showing a commitment to the Society over a number of years. New member auditions are held every March.
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How much does it cost to put on a show?
This can depend on the major cost areas of the production, including set, orchestra, costume and royalties. For the shows produced between 2003 and 2007 total expenditure averaged £26,240 per production.
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Who decides which shows the society performs?
The General Committee will gather a shortlist of four musicals, chosen under the criteria of cost, availability, suitability and popularity. These are then voted on at a General Meeting of the society. Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society is one of very few societies which leaves the final choice to its members.
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Which shows have been performed the most number of times?
The top produced shows by SAOS are:
3 times: Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, Jesus Christ Superstar and West Side Story
2 times: The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeoman of the Guard, Merrie England, The Mikado, Trial by Jury, The Vagabond King, The Desert Song, The Three Musketeers, The New Moon, The Student Prince, Show Boat, Bless The Bride, Brigadoon, The King & I, Orpheus in the Underworld, Oliver!, Sweet Charity and Pirates of Penzance (Broadway version).
For a full list of our previous shows click on the link opposite.
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Why can't the society do 'Les Miserables', 'Phantom of the Opera' or 'Miss Saigon'?
The society can only choose shows for which the amateur rights are available. While shows are on professional tour or in the West End these amateur rights are not normally available. Should the show finish in the West End or finish its professional tour, the rights holders (eg Musicscope, Josef Weinberger, Really Useful Group, Samuel French) may release the amateur rights to local societies. Those societies who are interested put in an application to perform the show and the rights holders decide which societies are given permission.
