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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).

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Ruddigore 2025

The cast of GSSME’s 2025 show has been hard at work preparing for our March performances!

This cast includes Christien Breau as young Robin Oakapple, Rogan Winch as his foster brother Richard Dauntless, and Aidan Pasha as Sir Despard Murgatroyd of Ruddigore. Will Robin marry his love, Rose Maybud (Alexandria Winch), or will they be stopped by Sir Despard? Will Despard marry Rose, or will he return to his beloved Mad Margaret (Sara Phillips)? Will young Robin remain in Basingstoke, or be whisked away with his faithful servant Old Adam Goodheart (Daniel Clement)?

With a full troupe of professional bridesmaids, led by Zorah (Sonia Berghoff) and Ruth (Olivia LaSalle), excitedly waiting for the next village wedding, and Dame Hannah (Deb Hangge) guiding their way, we see many classic Gilbert and Sullivan tropes come to pass. Will Dame Hannah truly have a life of eternal maidenhood, or will someone overpower her everlasting love for Sir Roderick Murgatroyd (Roland Dube)?

Come see Ruddigore this March at the Grand in Ellsworth to find out!

Ruddigore rehearsals are starting next Saturday!

The first rehearsal for our 2025 production of Ruddigore is on
Saturday, January 4th from 12-5pm at The Moore Center in Ellsworth!
If you’ve ever been curious about joining us for a production, stop by The Moore Center on Saturday and check it out! Join the chorus (no audition needed), crew, orchestra, or volunteer in other ways!  If you are planning on singing in the chorus this year and have not yet signed up, please send an email to president@gilbertsullivanmaine.org. 

Rehearsals: at The Moore Center (125 State Street, Ellsworth) on Saturdays (12-5 pm) and Sundays (1-5 pm) starting January 4th.

Performances: at The Grand in Ellsworth March 7-9 and 14-16.

Thank you to everyone for their support of The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine this past year.  We wish you all Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year!

Annual Meeting 2024

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine will host its Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 26th at 1 pm.

The meeting will be held at Dotti Schaller’s house in Sullivan, Maine (email us at info@gilbertsullivanmaine.org for the address). This is a potluck event and a time for us to gather and speak about upcoming Gilbert and Sullivan events. It is open to everyone!

We hope to see you there! 

Ruddigore Auditions

Auditions for lead roles in Ruddigore will be held on on Saturday, October 19 from 1-3 PM and Monday, October 21 from 6-8 PM at the Moore Center (125 State Street) in Ellsworth.

If you plan to audition, send us an email at info@gilbertsullivanmaine.org so we know when to expect you.

Come prepared to sing something–a song from the show is preferred or something similar to a Gilbert & Sullivan song. At the audition, you will also be given some dialogue to run through. If you absolutely can’t make the available audition times, contact us.

Plus audition for the Lee Patterson Classical Voice Scholarship. The Lee Patterson Scholarship for Classical Voice Training, a $500 award for voice lessons available to anyone 14 years or older willing to sing a lead role or in the chorus in this year’s show.

Auditions for Ruddigore will be at The Moore Center (125 State Street, Ellsworth) on Saturday, October 19 from 1-3 PM and Monday, October 21 from 6-8 PM.

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

Performances of Ruddigore will be at The Grand in Ellsworth on March 7, 8, 9 & 14, 15, 16.
Rehearsals will be at The Moore Center Saturdays (12-5 pm) and Sundays (1-5 pm) starting January 4th.