Archive-Members
Notice of AGM on 29 May
The 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dunfermline Gilbert and Sullivan Society (DGASS) will be held on Wednesday 29 May 2024 at 7.00pm in person at Limekilns Parish Church Hall and on Zoom, immediately preceding a rehearsal for the September 2024 concerts. The agenda is available at this link.
Members should have received Zoom joining instructions from Ellen direct. However, if you would like to attend remotely, please drop Ellen an email.
19 May workshop details
What to expect on the day:
- Presentation with overview of The Jury’s Out
- The overture – what it sounds like
- Sing-through all the chorus numbers in Act 1 (not a note-bashing session – just a sing through)
- Opportunity in groups to discuss and share ideas for portrayal of ensemble characters
- Walk-through the scenes of Act 1 – singing and staging, including all solos and duets
- Overview of Act 2 – Trial by Jury
- Group discussions: “How do we promote the show?”
The words will be provided on the day for all the chorus numbers. However, if you have any of the following scores, please bring them with you: The Sorcerer, HMS Pinafore, Ruddigore, The Gondoliers and The Mikado.
Refreshments will be provided.
Linda Milne looks forward to seeing you there!
Summer concert dates
The summer concerts will be at 7.30pm on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September, both in the Dunfermline area … venues are being confirmed.
DGASS would love to have as many members/former and potential members as possible taking part. Even if you are not available, pass the message on. Lifts are available from Ferrytoll/Inverkeithing.
We are going to follow a similar rehearsal pattern to last year’s, rehearsing on most Wednesdays till the school holidays. We’ll top up on Sunday afternoons after we start back on 28 August (keeping Wednesdays for the main show rehearsals), but we shall use Wednesday 18 September as a concert rehearsal.
The first rehearsal will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24 April at Limekilns Parish Church (probably in the hall behind the Church, rather than the Church itself).
The programme will include songs from musicals – a list of music that is in the mix for performing (not yet set in stone) is below. Many of you have the sheet music at home from previous DGASS concerts, so please bring it on 24 April, or let Ellen know if you don’t have the music.
Selections from:
- My Fair Lady
- Show Boat
- Cats (including Memory)
- Oliver
plus
- Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast)
- I Believe/Ave Maria
- Anthem from Chess
- Grand Night for Singing (State Fair); It Might as Well be Spring (State Fair)
- Seasons of Love (Rent)
Our next show
Our plans for the next show are currently under wraps, but we can assure you that they’re exciting — another different take on G&S, following the success of Iolanthe. If joining us appeals, then book the afternoon of Sunday 19 May, and join us for the workshop at Limekilns, when all will be revealed, and you’ll be able to release the inner Thespian! To register an interest, please drop Ellen an email.
On the floor!
There’s an Iolanthe music rehearsal this evening (4 October), but please make every effort to be at Limekilns next week as our first floor rehearsal is on Wednesday 11 October. Such an opportunity will not occur again … Sorry! Wrong show!
Show postponement
The rehearsals for Princess Ida have been really enjoyable, and all the participants have been looking forward to the show taking place in February. However, with Covid infection rates still increasing and Government advice being that no more than three households should mix socially, it doesn’t seem sensible to continue face-to-face rehearsals. Having to miss an unknown number of rehearsals at such a critical stage in the show’s preparation – only seven weeks to opening night – means that there would be a real risk of the show not reaching peak performance standard so, regretfully, the Committee have decided that we should postpone the show scheduled for 18–19 February 2022.
Our production director has been tasked with negotiating alternative dates with Carnegie Hall, so please watch this website for news of the new date for our production of Princess Ida and a revised schedule for rehearsals.
Rehearsal cancellation
From our Secretary:
NODA advice is to cancel rehearsals that are this side of Christmas so we, in common with many other groups, are reluctantly cancelling this evening’s rehearsal. Sorry about the short notice!
We intend to return to rehearsal on Wednesday 5 January, but you will receive further updates. Meantime look at Rae’s videos on Facebook. Please practise all your moves. Get your vocal score out and practise the music too. Principals practise your dialogue!
Meanwhile, have a lovely Christmas and New Year! Stay safe and protect your loved ones.
