Join the MWOS Family by Becoming a Cast/Company Member
Becoming a member of the Montreal West Operatic Society entitles you to enjoy many benefits. Besides getting a chance to perform and having the feeling of being part of local community theatre, you are offered a number of specials. As you may know, MWOS was incorporated in 1939 as a Gilbert and Sullivan theatre company – the oldest in Canada! As such, you will be joining a company with longevity, talent and spirit. Whether you are an active member on the stage, behind the scenes, or a valued member of our audience, your membership will help MWOS continue to bring music and comic musical theatre/operetta to the Montreal community.
Membership Advantages
For only *16$ per month (120$/year), an MWOS Cast/Company Member is offered many benefits. Along with the opportunity to learn and/or hone your singing and acting skills at rehearsals, you will receive:
- A Mini-Season discount of up to 15$ on 2 other G & S productions** in the 2013 season
- Recognition in our show programme booklet and on our website
- More than 25% reduction in the cost of an ad or message in our programme
- Voting Privileges at our Annual General Meeting
- Other benefits such as ‘meal deals’, when available
And, the ‘pièce de résistance’, the chance to perform – and/or become otherwise involved – in our various shows and appearances throughout the 2012-2013 season.
* regular individual fee.
** by the McGill Savoy Society (Montreal) and the Lakeshore Light Opera Company (Pte.Claire)
Rules and Expectations for Members of the Society
Commitment
No member of our cast may accept any engagements which may conflict with show dates or rehearsal schedules. Cast members are required to make themselves available for all performances. We therefore suggest that you avoid booking any engagements during this period until all show dates have been confirmed. Montreal West Operatic Society (MWOS) requires that, if you are accepted for a principal role, you do not accept a lead role with any other musical or theatrical group during the same season without consultation with the Music and Casting Committee.
Singers who want to be considered for an understudy or alternate must indicate it in the audition information sheet.
Videotaping
To better evaluate everybody’s audition, auditions may be videotaped.
Attendance
Regular attendance is mandatory. Rehearsals for all members are every Monday and Wednesday evening at 7:30p.m. sharp! Warm-up is at 7:15p.m. Members missing too many rehearsals may, at the board’s discretion and upon recommendation of the Music & Casting Committee, be fined, required to re-audition or expelled from the production.
Additional Rehearsals
Additional rehearsals of principals will be held at the discretion of the Directors. Beginning in January, full cast rehearsals take place on Mondays and Wednesdays. There may be additional rehearsals, as required, leading up to the performances.
Membership Dues
In recognition of the value of the training, practice and performance you receive from MWOS at rehearsals and shows, members are expected to pay dues for membership in the Society. These monies are used to help pay for rehearsals.
Membership dues are payable either monthly (x8 mo.), or in a single payment (due on November 15) for the year. Each member is required to sign a fee schedule agreement, committing to pay dues regularly.
Monthly Option (x8)
- Individual Members: $16.00 (less than the cost of a latte per rehearsal!)
- Full-time Students: $8.00
- Family: $25.00
Yearly Option
- Individual Members: $120.00 (a savings of $8/yr.)
- Full-time Students: $60.00 (a savings of $4/yr.)
- Family: $180.00 (a savings of $20/yr.)
Members are expected to pay for their own show scores. The Society will order the scores in readiness for the season’s opening. Please be aware that additional expenses may come up (shoes, transportation, etc), as well.
The Society is open to trading service for fees, in certain circumstances. Voluntary service may be credited towards a reduction in membership dues. Services such as:
- Sales: selling more than the individual goal (expected of regular members) for fundraisers (e.g. programme ads, tickets, and products).
- Responsibility: volunteering for a particular task (e.g. translating documents into French) for the production year.
The membership dues are pro-rated for those who join the company part-way through the year.
Involvement
Members of the Society have a responsibility and commitment to contribute to its artistic, financial and social success. We are a community theatre group whose performers also participate in other aspects of the show’s production. We encourage all members to join one of our production teams: set-building, costume-making, marketing, public relations, … and running for a position on the Board.
Cast members are strongly encouraged to sell as many tickets as possible. In recent years cast members have been responsible for 60% of all tickets sold for the show. The cast is also expected to solicit advertising for our programme, which makes possible our contribution to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
We encourage everyone to contribute his or her own unique talents to our Society. While we audition for singers, no auditions are needed for backstage help, front-of-house personnel, sewers, painters, hammerers, props makers, prompters, or make-up assistants. Please feel free to volunteer help from other members of your family; we need their contributions too!!
Social Activities
Social occasions at MWOS include a party honouring our new members in October, carolling for the Montreal Children’s Hospital followed by our annual Holiday Party in December, a cast party after the Montreal Show plus parties after the road shows and many others!!!!!