Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about the sing-out. Have other questions? Please email us at [email protected]
What is the 50th Anniversary Sing-Out?
A weekend of singing through all 13 extant Gilbert & Sullivan operettas to commemorate the 50th year of the New England Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Dialogue will be omitted except for Saturday evening’s read-through of The Gondoliers, which will include both dialogue and a full orchestra. Participants can request roles to sing or operettas to conduct or accompany. We will do our best to honor your requests. Everyone is welcome to sing chorus throughout.
Registration will open in April 2026 and role requests will close in June. General registration (for those not wanting a role) will remain open until mid-August. The registration fee will cover meals throughout the event, which will run from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
How is the Sing-Out cast? When will I find out if I got the part I wanted?
The Sing-Out is cast by a committee of NEGASS members, who will “well and truly try” to honor registrants' requests. Role requests will be due in June and we expect to complete casting by mid-July. It is possible that due to the popularity of certain roles and an overabundance of certain voice parts, not everyone will be given a principal role.
The role request form will allow you to indicate all roles that you are interested in and select your top three choices. You will also be able to list roles that you could cover should they suddenly become available due to cancellation or illness.
Do I have to pay when I submit my role request?
Yes! Registration must be paid in order to be considered for casting. Those who wish to conduct receive 50% off their registration. Accompanists and orchestral instrumentalists may register for free.
Middle school, high school, and college-aged students should register using the student registration rate. Children 12 and under are free.
I don’t want a role. I want to sing in the chorus. When do I have to register?
General registration will close on August 21, 2026, two weeks before the event, so that we know how many people to plan for.
Can my non-singing friends and family come too?
Yes, absolutely! Each person should register by August 21, 2026 to participate in receptions and meals. One-day and evening passes will be available for those not wanting to attend all weekend.
Are children welcome?
Yes, absolutely! Children 12 and under can attend with their parents without registering them individually.
Middle school, high school, and college-aged students should register using the student registration rate.
I just came to watch. Is food available?
Meals are reserved for Sing-Out registrants only. Register by August 21, 2026 so that we can include your food order in our planning. One-day and evening passes will be available if you want to attend for part of the weekend.
Looking for somewhere to eat? You can find a list of recommended local restaurants HERE.
If I just come to watch, what can I expect to see?
All the music in the operettas will be sung, but there will be no dialogue or surtitles, except on Saturday evening when dialogue will be included. Leading roles will be precast, but there are no rehearsals. Many people will be singing the chorus parts throughout. You are encouraged to join in the singing at any point. We will have a limited number of vocal scores available for people who don’t have their own.
Singing will be accompanied by piano, except for The Gondoliers on Saturday evening, which will include orchestra.
Seating is general admission and you may come and go as you like.
Where can I find the music?
A limited number of vocal scores will be available to borrow from NEGASS at the event, but we strongly encourage you to bring your own. If you choose to purchase your scores, we recommend the G. Schirmer editions. We hope you will seek out your local music vendor and order what you need from small business store fronts. There is no set edition used for the event.
Prefer to read your music from a device or print at home? Links to free digital copies of scores can be found on The Gilbert & Sullivan Archive
Where can I stay?
The Colonial Inn and North Bridge Inn are within walking distance of the venue in Concord. There is a Residence Inn 2.7 miles away. Please see our Lodging Options page for more information.
Can I get to the venue by public transport?
Yes! Concord Station on the commuter rail is a 0.5-mile walk from the venue. The MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line connects Concord with Boston to the east and Fitchburg to the west, stopping in many communities along the way. See
https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Fitchburg/timetable
Where can I park?
Concord has both free municipal parking lots and metered on-street parking. The municipal lots off Walden St. (behind the Post Office) and on Keyes Road are most convenient to 51 Walden Street. There are charging stations in both lots. See
https://visitconcord.org/about/parking/
May I take photographs/video?
Yes! Photography is permitted. Please be respectful of the performers and participants and do not interrupt their experience while taking photos or video of performances.
Will the performances be recorded?
No. The performances will not be recorded in full. Portions may be recorded for use on social media or for future publicity, but NEGASS will not record the full weekend. Participants are welcome to record on their own devices.
That was fun! How can I get involved with NEGASS?
Peruse the NEGASS website for information about community sings and other events. We’d love to have you become a member! For more information, go to our Membership page.
What is the 50th Anniversary Sing-Out?
A weekend of singing through all 13 extant Gilbert & Sullivan operettas to commemorate the 50th year of the New England Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Dialogue will be omitted except for Saturday evening’s read-through of The Gondoliers, which will include both dialogue and a full orchestra. Participants can request roles to sing or operettas to conduct or accompany. We will do our best to honor your requests. Everyone is welcome to sing chorus throughout.
Registration will open in April 2026 and role requests will close in June. General registration (for those not wanting a role) will remain open until mid-August. The registration fee will cover meals throughout the event, which will run from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
How is the Sing-Out cast? When will I find out if I got the part I wanted?
The Sing-Out is cast by a committee of NEGASS members, who will “well and truly try” to honor registrants' requests. Role requests will be due in June and we expect to complete casting by mid-July. It is possible that due to the popularity of certain roles and an overabundance of certain voice parts, not everyone will be given a principal role.
The role request form will allow you to indicate all roles that you are interested in and select your top three choices. You will also be able to list roles that you could cover should they suddenly become available due to cancellation or illness.
Do I have to pay when I submit my role request?
Yes! Registration must be paid in order to be considered for casting. Those who wish to conduct receive 50% off their registration. Accompanists and orchestral instrumentalists may register for free.
Middle school, high school, and college-aged students should register using the student registration rate. Children 12 and under are free.
I don’t want a role. I want to sing in the chorus. When do I have to register?
General registration will close on August 21, 2026, two weeks before the event, so that we know how many people to plan for.
Can my non-singing friends and family come too?
Yes, absolutely! Each person should register by August 21, 2026 to participate in receptions and meals. One-day and evening passes will be available for those not wanting to attend all weekend.
Are children welcome?
Yes, absolutely! Children 12 and under can attend with their parents without registering them individually.
Middle school, high school, and college-aged students should register using the student registration rate.
I just came to watch. Is food available?
Meals are reserved for Sing-Out registrants only. Register by August 21, 2026 so that we can include your food order in our planning. One-day and evening passes will be available if you want to attend for part of the weekend.
Looking for somewhere to eat? You can find a list of recommended local restaurants HERE.
If I just come to watch, what can I expect to see?
All the music in the operettas will be sung, but there will be no dialogue or surtitles, except on Saturday evening when dialogue will be included. Leading roles will be precast, but there are no rehearsals. Many people will be singing the chorus parts throughout. You are encouraged to join in the singing at any point. We will have a limited number of vocal scores available for people who don’t have their own.
Singing will be accompanied by piano, except for The Gondoliers on Saturday evening, which will include orchestra.
Seating is general admission and you may come and go as you like.
Where can I find the music?
A limited number of vocal scores will be available to borrow from NEGASS at the event, but we strongly encourage you to bring your own. If you choose to purchase your scores, we recommend the G. Schirmer editions. We hope you will seek out your local music vendor and order what you need from small business store fronts. There is no set edition used for the event.
Prefer to read your music from a device or print at home? Links to free digital copies of scores can be found on The Gilbert & Sullivan Archive
Where can I stay?
The Colonial Inn and North Bridge Inn are within walking distance of the venue in Concord. There is a Residence Inn 2.7 miles away. Please see our Lodging Options page for more information.
Can I get to the venue by public transport?
Yes! Concord Station on the commuter rail is a 0.5-mile walk from the venue. The MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line connects Concord with Boston to the east and Fitchburg to the west, stopping in many communities along the way. See
https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Fitchburg/timetable
Where can I park?
Concord has both free municipal parking lots and metered on-street parking. The municipal lots off Walden St. (behind the Post Office) and on Keyes Road are most convenient to 51 Walden Street. There are charging stations in both lots. See
https://visitconcord.org/about/parking/
May I take photographs/video?
Yes! Photography is permitted. Please be respectful of the performers and participants and do not interrupt their experience while taking photos or video of performances.
Will the performances be recorded?
No. The performances will not be recorded in full. Portions may be recorded for use on social media or for future publicity, but NEGASS will not record the full weekend. Participants are welcome to record on their own devices.
That was fun! How can I get involved with NEGASS?
Peruse the NEGASS website for information about community sings and other events. We’d love to have you become a member! For more information, go to our Membership page.
