Chichester's CAOS Musical Productions have announced their biggest package of shows in very nearly a century of performing.
CAOS - formerly known as Chichester Amateur Operatic Society - celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2010.
It's a landmark they are approaching on the back of hugely-ambitious plans to stage three big shows within a year.
But to make that happ
en, they need young men - plenty of them. A minimum of ten, but ideally many more, says CAOS chairman Elizabeth Peacock.
As already announced, CAOS will be staging Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus in October in the Minerva - a show they will now be following up in autumn 2009 with Hello Dolly.
In between times, the company has now confirmed that they will be staging Guys And Dolls in February next year, a time slot CAOS don't usually go for, but the opportunity to produce the show came up, and CAOS grabbed the licence.
The three shows will cost around £60,000 in all to stage - a major investment which Elizabeth admits is scary as well as exciting.
A big part of the success will depend on getting in the young men that amateur dramatic and operatic societies so often struggle to find.
The company is now wanting talented and enthusiastic young men and women who are looking for the opportunity to fulfil a dream by performing in a prestigious, professional theatre in Chichester. New recruits of 16 or over are needed to join the existing team of singers, dancers and actors.
"I really really want us to give this our best shot. We really want this to take off. It will put us even more securely on the musicals map."
Guys And Dolls tells the story of a couple of guys and a couple of dolls amidst the backdrop of the gamblers and dancing girls of down-town New York.
Auditions will be held on Tuesday July 15 but before that there will be a launch meeting and rehearsal on Wednesday July 2 at the Arabesque School of Performing Arts, Quarry Lane, Chichester at 8.30pm.
Elizabeth added: "We are thrilled to have a dynamic director in Kathryn Wignall working with us who has successfully directed for CAOS before, including the sell-out and hugely popular blockbuster The Boyfriend in 2006 and the much-acclaimed Annie Get Your Gun in 2003.
"Being part of the cast will be hard work and a steep learning curve but we can guarantee great fun and a huge sense of achievement from working in a professional theatre and within the great atmosphere of the existing CAOS members."
Hello Dolly, the last show before centenary year, will, like Guys And Dolls, be in the Minerva and is also set in New York where Dolly Levi aims to match-make her way to her own marriage.
"This is another fast-moving and fabulously-funny musical, showered with slick choreography culminating in the show's title song featuring the dynamic talents of the dancing waiters."
In the meantime, it's not too late to be part of CAOS' October 2008 production of Die Fledermaus, directed by Audrey Pring.
"Auditions have taken place and rehearsals have already started, but more men particularly would be happily accepted. We rehearse on Friday's at 7.30pm in St Wilfrid's Church Hall, Sherborne Road, Chichester."
More details on www.caos-musical-productions.co.uk or telephone Elizabeth Peacock on 02392 492960 or Kathryn Wignall on 01243 575273 for more info.
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