Who we are and what we do
Founded in 1975, The Savoy Society of Ottawa is an organization of people who share a common interest in performing the comic operas of Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. The name "Savoy" is taken from the London Theatre of the same name, where Gilbert and Sullivan's operas were performed in the late 19th century.
Our first production, The Pirates of Penzance, opened on April 29, 1976, at L'Ecole Secondaire de LaSalle on Old St. Patrick Street, and played for 4 performances. We moved to the Centrepointe Theatre in Nepean when it opened in 1988 (as its first client), and until 2008 played 7 public performances a year, including a Sunday Matinee, plus a Benefit performance. In 2009 we reduced the number of performances to 4 and as of this year (2011 / 2012) you'll find us performing at the Adult Highschool in Ottawa (300 Rochester Street).
Savoy is an organization in which we take great pride. It is comprised of a large number of devoted and talented people who produce a very high quality of performance on stage, and is self-supporting through ticket sales and donations. Although dwidling attendance has resulted in our relocation out of Centrepointe Theatre, Savoy enjoys a solid reputation in the community, and takes pride in its creation of a strong family atmosphere which allows individuals to engage in artistic expression in a warm and supportive environment.
Membership
Our membership is drawn from all walks of life in the National Capital Region. For those who wish to perform, our casts are selected through open auditions each year, and are usually in the range of 40 people. For those interested in offstage roles, some 150 people are required each year to fill all the back stage positions necessary to present the show. Except for directors and a professional orchestra, all cast and back stage members are volunteers.
For more information on becoming a member of the Savoy Society, see our Getting Involved section.
Community Service
The Savoy Society has a tradition of service to the community, which we perform in several ways:
Until 2010 we presented a Benefit Performance, which took place on the Thursday evening before the public Opening Night, to which we invited individuals who could not otherwise enjoy the humour and charm of Gilbert & Sullivan. Some 800 complimentary tickets are made available annually through more than 50 agencies to seniors' centres and residences and a wide variety of community support groups. Savoy hopes to renew this tradition as soon as possible.
From the outset, Savoy has supported a local charity. We've done this by offering our show program without charge, but encouraging patrons to make a contribution to our 'Wishing Well'. The proceeds are forwarded to the agency, and we add to the amount when we can. In the past we have supported the Children's Wish Foundation and over the years we have raised over $75,000 in this fashion. Savoy has not yet decided which local charity it will support for our 2011/2012 season.
For the annual Kiwanis Music Festival, we sponsor the Robert Van Dine Scholarship for the Gilbert and Sullivan music category. This scholarship is named after our first Music Director.
Where we can, we take the music of Gilbert and Sullivan to those who would otherwise not be able to hear and enjoy it. In recent seasons we have been holding our orchestra rehearsal at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Care Centre, enabling the residents there to hear and enjoy the music of the show that we are presenting that season.