Lyric Opera of Chicago announces auditions for the spoken role of Der Haushofmeister in Ariadne auf Naxos.
Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions in Chicago for local German-speaking actors to portray the role of
Der Haushofmeister in Richard Strauss’s opera Ariadne auf Naxos. The rehearsal period begins Monday,
February 15, 2027, opening performances on Thursday, March 11, 2027, with six performances closing on
Friday, March 26, 2027.
Artists should be local to the Chicagoland area and have daytime availability for rehearsals and performances.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive casting and encourages all
highly accomplished actors to audition.
Ariadne auf Naxos is an opera in two parts, the Prologue and the Opera, which is an opera-within-the-opera.
The richest man in Vienna has hired two companies of performers to entertain his guests: a commedia dell’arte
troupe is meant to perform a burlesque after a young composer’s serious, dramatic opera. Due to dinner running
late and a fireworks show scheduled to begin immediately after the performances, Der Haushofmeister – the
Major-domo of the house – informs the performers that his employer would like the comedy and the tragedy to
take place at exactly the same time.
Audition schedule
Auditions will take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago, 40 North Wacker Drive (stage door) on Thursday,
September 3, 2026 at 2:00pm.
Auditions are by invitation only.
To be considered, please complete a submission form at this link: https://forms.gle/m9DCHvahQw33Rxtv6,
including a link to a German-language monologue or scene, and submit resume and headshot to
soloaud@lyricopera.org.
Deadline for submission is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Not all applicants are guaranteed an audition, and all auditions must be done live in Chicago. Applicants will be
notified if they have been granted an audition by Friday, August 28, 2026.
Audition requirements
Successful applicants should prepare the two Haushofmeister Sides found in the audition notice. Audition sides
do not need to be memorized. Auditions will take place on the stage of the Lyric Opera House and will not be
amplified. Amplification of the role in performances will be determined by the production and creative teams
during the rehearsal process.
Additional information
Artists at Lyric Opera of Chicago are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Should
an artist be hired, they will be required to join this union if they are not already a member. Auditionees must be
United States citizens or possess, at the time of the audition, legal permission to work in the United States of
America during the rehearsal and performance period.
This role will be paid $2,227.00 per week for the six-week engagement. Lyric Opera of Chicago will engage
two actors at this rate, one to perform the role and one to cover the role.
For more information please email soloaud@lyricopera.org, or visit our website at
www.lyricopera.org/about/auditions.
About Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory
power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the
nation, and to advance the development of the art form. To learn more about Lyric’s current and future season,
visit lyricopera.org.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to
be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color,
national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic
information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by
applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.