The Yeomen of The Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid

2025/2026 Production

The Yeomen of The Guard
HAS BEEN CAST!

Congratulations to all our principals!

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Chorus Members Still Welcome!

If you wish to join the Yeoman chorus, it’s as easy as attending a rehearsal!
You may be required to sing a simple melody or scale to place your voice part.

Contact gaslocoli1954@gmail.com for information on upcoming rehearsals!

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Director Gayden Wren

Rehearsal Music Director Steve O’Leary
Conductor Michael C. Haigler
Rehearsal Assistant Farah Chandu

Full Orchestra Performances
June/July 2026

Principal Only Performances April/May
(Piano)

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ABOUT

The Yeomen of the Guard; or The Merryman and His Maid, is the darkest and most emotionally engaging of the Savoy Operas.

The operetta takes place in the Tower of London during the reign of King Henry VIII.

At the start, the gentleman Colonel Fairfax is wrongly accused of sorcery and sentenced to death within the hour.
Fairfax hatches a plan to avoid letting his estate fall into the hands of his scheming cousin (incidentally, his accuser) by secretly marrying Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer.
She agrees to be blindfolded during the ceremony and expects to be a wealthy widow upon Fairfax’s imminent demise, leaving her free to marry the jester Jack Point. However, Fairfax miraculously escapes his fate and chaos ensues.

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ROLES:

All roles are open:

Kate, Dame Carruthers’ niece, craftswoman employed at the Tower. Earnest, scared of her aunt. Teens-20s female.
One beautiful quartet, a couple of lines, chorus singing, no dancing.
Soprano.

Sir Richard Cholmondeley, lieutenant of the Tower. Authority figure, 40s-60s male.
Some dialogue, some singing, no dancing.
Bass-Baritone.

Colonel Fairfax, war hero unjustly sentenced to die. Dashing, charming, witty and caddish. 20s-30s, male.
Extensive dialogue, extensive singing, no dancing.
High tenor.

Sergeant Meryll, leader of the Tower warders. Fatherly authority figure. 40s-50s male.
Some dialogue, some singing, no dancing.
Bass-baritone.

Leonard Meryll , war hero assigned to the Tower. Earnest, ambitious, a bit of a prig. 20s-30s male.
Some dialogue, some singing, no dancing.
Low tenor.

Jack Point, strolling player/jester. Professionally funny, personally depressive. 20s-40s male.
Extensive dialogue and singing, some dancing.
Patter Baritone.

Wilfred Shadbolt , head jailer and assistant tormentor. Surly, ambitious, madly in love. 20s-30s male.
Considerable dialogue, considerable singing, some dancing.
Bass-baritone.

The Headsman, executioner. Big, imposing and very formal.
No singing, no dialogue, no dancing. Only one rehearsal.

First Yeoman, member of the Tower Warders. Earnest, soldierly. 30s-60s male.
Some solo singing, sings with chorus. No dialogue, no dancing.
Baritone.

Second Yeoman, member of the Tower Warders. Earnest, soldierly. 30s-60s male.
Some solo singing, sings with chorus. Some dialogue, no dancing.
Baritone.

First Citizen, craftsman employed at the Tower. Sexual harasser. 20s-40s male.
Chorus singing, some dialogue, no dancing.
Voice range unimportant.

Second Citizen, craftsman employed at the Tower. Sexual harasser. 20s-40s male.
Chorus singing, some dialogue, no dancing. Voice range unimportant.

Elsie Maynard, strolling player/singer. Earnest, insecure. 20s-30s female.
Extensive dialogue and singing, some dancing.
High soprano.

Phoebe Meryll, craftswoman employed at the Tower. Passionate, impulsive, naïve. Teenage female.
Considerable dialogue, considerable singing, no dancing.
Mezzo-soprano.

Dame Carruthers, housekeeper of the Tower. Severe, judgmental. 40s-60s female.
Some singing, some dialogue, no dancing.
Contralto.