Musical Theatre Salisbury
Musical Theatre Salisbury is a community theatre group in Salisbury, England. It was founded in 1908. In 2011, the company changed its name from Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society to better to reflect their major activity, which is to produce two fully staged and costumed musical theatre shows per year in Salisbury. Their repertoire varies from classic Broadway shows to contemporary musicals, as well as the Gilbert and Sullivan operas and occasional operettas.
History
The society was formed in 1908, and the first show it performed was Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. Until 1926, the company performed exclusively the Gilbert and Sullivan shows. After this for several decades, they performed a mix of operettas, Gilbert and Sullivan and Edwardian musical comedies. Until 1946 only one show was performed each year, but from 1946 onwards 2 shows have been played each year, with a couple of exceptions. In 1961, the company produced Me and My Girl, and thereafter generally mixed one Broadway show with one operetta or Gilbert and Sullivan opera each year. In 1986, the society produced two musicals, and since then it has focused mostly on musicals.
Productions were suspended from 1914 to 1921 and from 1939 to 1945 during to the two world wars.
The company generally produces its shows in the 600+ seat City Hall, Wiltshire's largest venue, although performances have occasionally been given at the Playhouse, Salisbury. Performance dates are usually in May and early December.
Structure
The group consists of acting and non-acting members, patrons, and is run by a central committee. The committee is made up of any members of the society who are voted in. The society is a member of National Operatic and Dramatic Association.