What Is The Durham Savoyards, Ltd.?

The Durham Savoyards, Ltd. is a community theater company based in Durham, North Carolina, that has been producing the musical comedies of Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur S. Sullivan since 1963. It is the organization behind durhamsavoyards.org, and its site is useful if you want to follow upcoming Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) productions, attend auditions or sing-throughs, or use free study materials to learn the music.

What the organization is

The company takes its name from London's Savoy Theatre, where many Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were first performed. According to the site, its charter members included academics and "townies" alike, many from Duke University. The group describes its mission as educating and entertaining through Gilbert & Sullivan, and it has pursued that mission in Durham for more than six decades.

What the website offers

The site is primarily a hub for production news and participation, not a ticketing or streaming platform. Its main sections are:

• About the Durham Savoyards — the company's history and origins.
• News & Events — upcoming productions, sing-throughs, and auditions.
• Our Supporters — recognition of backers, with a "Sponsor a Production" option.
• Study materials — a link to SavoyARJ.org, a separate site of audio learning tracks.
• Email updates — a subscription form for performance announcements.

Upcoming productions and events

The homepage lists the following schedule:

It also lists a Sing Through on Sunday, November 8, 2:00–5:30 PM, and auditions on Monday and Tuesday, December 7 and 8, 6:30–9:00 PM. The site does not state which production these December auditions are for, so confirm with the company before planning to attend.

Study materials on SavoyARJ.org

Alan Riley Jones, a former music director of the Durham Savoyards, built a collection of audio tracks as learning aids for performers, along with a website to share them. The Durham Savoyards now operate and maintain the refreshed SavoyARJ.org site, and the materials remain free of charge as part of the company's educational mission. If you are preparing to audition or sing in a G&S production, these tracks are the most directly useful resource the organization points to.

Who this site is for

• Audience members in the Durham area looking for upcoming G&S performances.
• Singers and actors interested in auditions, sing-throughs, or learning tracks.
• Supporters who want to sponsor a production or receive email updates.

The site does not publish ticket prices or detailed venue information on the homepage, so check the News & Events section or subscribe for updates if you need those details.