News

Auditions for GSSME’s 2027 production of ‘The Grand Duke’!

Auditions for The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine’s upcoming production of The Grand Duke will be at The Moore Center (125 State Street, Ellsworth) on September 14th from 6:00 to 8:00PM and September 19th from 10:00AM to 1:00PM! The final arrival time is 30 minutes before the end (7:30PM and 12:30PM).

This production will be going to Buxton, England in August, 2027 to compete in the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in celebration of our 50th anniversary! More information will be available at auditions.

Prepare a classical song to sing. A Gilbert & Sullivan song might be a good choice, but is not required. You may also be asked to read some dialogue.

Plus audition for the Lee Patterson Classical Voice Scholarship at the same time!
(Scholarship recipients must perform in The Grand Duke.)

Want to sing in the chorus? No audition needed! Just email info@gilbertsullivanmaine.org to sign up.

Performances of The Grand Duke will be at The Grand (165 Main St., Ellsworth) on March 5, 6, 7 & 12, 13, 14.

For more information, please email info@gilbertsullivanmaine.org, or use the Contact Us form on our website!

Auditions announcement image stating "The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine presents, "The Grand Duke". Auditions take place on September 14th form 6 to 8 and September 19th from 10 to 1 in Room 101 at the Moore Center in Ellsworth. No audition is required to join the chorus.

Coming Winter 2027, ‘The Grand Duke, or, The Statutory Duel’!

Big news from the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine!

We’re beyond excited to unveil our 2027 season—and it’s something truly special. For the very first time, we’ll be bringing to life the only Gilbert and Sullivan operetta we’ve never produced before.

Behind the scenes, a troupe of actors is caught up in a secret plot to overthrow their ruler. A misplaced word leads to a rigged duel, a sudden shift of power, and a cascade of romantic entanglements that spiral delightfully out of control. With mistaken identities, unexpected claims, and just the right legal twist, everything teeters between chaos and comedy.

Join us as we proudly present “The Grand Duke, or, The Statutory Duel,” –a sparkling, rarely performed gem you won’t want to miss!

Stay tuned for more details… the drama is just getting started!

Come see Princess Ida, or, Castle Adamant at the Grand!

The cast of GSSME’s 2026 show, Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant, has been hard at work preparing for our March performances!

Princess Ida has rejected the rule of men, and the marriage contract forced upon her in infancy. But when the time comes to fulfill it, her defiance may spark a war.

When Ida fails to appear for the long-promised wedding, her determined suitor, Hilarion, disguises himself and his companions as women and infiltrates Castle Adamant, a university devoted entirely to women. Once their deception is exposed, Ida and her peers face an impossible choice: should she surrender her ideals and accept Hilarion’s devotion, or stand firm and risk war between two stubborn kings—and the destruction of the university she loves?

Come find out at The Grand in Ellsworth on March 6th and 13th at 7:00, and March 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th at 2:00! Tickets are available for purchase online now!

Princess Ida Cast List

We are proud to present the cast of our 2026 production of Princess Ida and the Lee Patterson Scholarship winners!

Want to join the chorus? There’s still time! Send an email to info@gilbertsullivanmaine.org to learn more.

Princess Ida Auditions

Come audition for Princess Ida!

Auditions will take place at the Moore Center in Ellsworth on October 30th from 6:00 to 8:00PM, and November 1st from 10:00AM to 1:00PM. The final arrival time is 30 minutes before the end (7:30PM and 12:30PM).

No audition is necessary for chorus.

We can’t wait to see you there!

2025 | Ruddigore

A jilted bride driven to madness, a baronet cursed to perform wicked deeds, a local guild of disgruntled professional bridesmaids, the village beauty held hostage by etiquette, the shy farmer she loves, the heroic sailor prepared to sacrifice friendship to win her hand, and ghosts!

An ancient witch’s curse has condemned each heir of Ruddigore to commit a crime a day or perish in agony. Refusing to submit to this fate, the latest baronet of Ruddigore fakes his death and goes into hiding in the local village as timid farmer Robin Oakapple, leaving his younger brother, Sir Despard, to shoulder the family curse. When his identity is betrayed, will the shy and honest Robin be able to stomach the family tradition of moustache-twirling villainy-for-life, or will his exasperated ancestors return from the grave to haunt him?

Gilbert and Sullivan’s satirical take on Melodrama and the Victorian obsession with the supernatural, Ruddigore turns the gothic romance tropes of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Picture of Dorian Gray on their head in this zany comedy operetta that will delight the whole family.

Performances of Ruddigore will be at The Grand in Ellsworth on March 7, 8, 9 & 14, 15, 16 (2025).

View Ruddigore Gallery