"At 69 years old, heavier than he'd like to be, former steel worker Fred Rokasky knew he might not get one of the roles as the scantily clad, buff spear carriers for the Pittsburgh Opera's upcoming production of Verdi's famed ancient Egypt-based opera, Aida. 'You don't get to pick, so I'll probably be a [uniformed] soldier,' said Mr. Rokasky of Squirrel Hill, one of nearly 50 men who turned out Saturday at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History for the Pittsburgh Opera's open casting call for spear carriers, soldiers, priests, slaves, boatmen and litter carriers. Appropriately, the auditions were held in front of the museum's Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt. Still, Mr. Rokasky said, if they need him for one of those roles as a spear carrier -- who would have to appear in front of up to 3,800 opera fans for four shows at the Benedum Center in October wearing what amounts to a mere loincloth -- he is ready. 'It wouldn't bother me, standing there topless,' he said. 'I'm a nudist anyway. So being partially nude wouldn't bother me.' [Source] Optional casting photo after the jump.
"The Lyric Opera of Chicago is looking for extras to play henchmen, soldiers, gravediggers and noblewomen. The Lyric Opera says auditions will start in September and run on certain dates throughout the beginning of next year. They're looking for dozens of extras to play everything from villagers in Mozart's The Magic Flute to Ethiopian prisoners in Verdi's Aida. Auditions take place at the Civic Opera House in downtown Chicago. Extras, or supernumeraries, are unpaid volunteers. They receive $15 per rehearsal and performance to pay for transportation costs. Children who play extras can apply for grants to pay for transportation costs. The opera says attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory." [Source]
