Directly from the Contra Costa Times:
FELLAS, IF you think your darkly handsome good looks might put folks in mind of renowned Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, San Francisco Opera may be looking for you.
Auditions for three guys willing to step in as his nonsinging, nonspeaking, nondancing doubles during upcoming rehearsals and performances of Massenet’s “Werther” are being held at a public casting call Monday at War Memorial Opera House. Only those 18 and older and of a height approximating 5 feet, 10 inches are encouraged to apply, and you have to have a LOT of free time on your hands between Aug. 10, when dress rehearsals start, and Oct. 1, when the final curtain falls on the production.
So exactly what will you be doing while you are up there not speaking and not singing? Something pretty artsy and interesting, as it turns out. Director Francisco Negrin’s brand new production — a shared one with Chicago Lyric Opera — calls for a heavily psychological interpretation of the title character, a melancholic poet wrestling with the burdensome pangs of impossible love. Negrin needs three Vargas doppelgängers who will be with him on stage, acting out in movement what Werther is thinking, singing or remembering about his life. Obviously, some experience with onstage movement will be helpful.
There is no financial remuneration, , but you do get to rub shoulders with the talent — Vargas and his British co-star, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote. Those
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interested can leave their names and phone numbers at 415-551-6205 or e-mail supers@sfopera.com. Then show up at 7 p.m. Monday for the casting call in the ballet studio at the Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., in San Francisco.“Werther,” to be conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, debuts Sept. 15 for a six-performance run.
