Sinfonia da Camera and Lyric Theatre @ Illinois
Ian Hobson, music director and conductor
Dawn Harris, director
I want to welcome you to the third Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration between Lyric Theatre at Illinois and Sinfonia da Camera!
HMS PINAFORE is an enduring tale of love set on the high seas, created by the brilliant team of Gilbert and Sullivan. PINAFORE is the fourth comic opera the "Victorian Duo" wrote for the Savoy Theater. It opened in London in 1878 and ran for 571 performances. Although it opened to rather mixed reviews, it caused a sensation when it played in New York in 1879. Soon after, ardent fans were singing the show's catchy tunes and amateur operatic societies on both sides of the Atlantic were mounting their own productions. For over forty years, I have sung both major and minor roles, sung in the chorus and directed thirteen out of fourteen G&S comic operas with professional opera companies, amateur theaters, and high school productions nationally. It is not an understatement to say that I have had a lifelong love affair with this unique style of operetta. It is my hope that everyone who participates in one of my productions, as well as the audience, will experience the charm and humor of a gentler and more gracious time in the history of lyric theater. Whether this is your first experience with HMS PINAORE or another chance to hum along the songs from this classic comic opera, I hope you leave the performance with a smile on your face! -Dawn Harris, Director |
Cast
THE RT. HON. SIR JOSEPH PORTER, K.C.B.- Boyd Mackus CAPTAIN CORCORAN- Dennis Jesse RALPH RACKSTRAW- Benjamin Krumreig RALPH RACKSTRAW COVER- Royce Brown DICK DEADEYE- Timothy Bostwick BILL BOBSTAY- Connor Stout BILL BOBSTAY COVER- Nicholas Koch BOB BECKET- Geoffrey Schmelzer JOSEPHINE- Marla Moore JOSEPHINE COVER- Caitlin Richardson COUSIN HEBE- Caitlin Richardson COUSIN HEBE COVER- Kara Taft LITTLE BUTTERCUP- Dawn Harris LITTLE BUTTERCUP COVER- Thereza Lituma CHORUS- Soprano: Caitlin Richardson*, Lauren Falk*, Katherine Stenzel*, Kara Taft*, Sophia Byrd*, Jamille Brewster Alto: Thereza Lituma*, Sarah Durbin*, Molly Thornberry, Stephanie Shelburne, Sydney Hoel Tenor: Royce Brown*, Craig Moman*, Dane Brandon*, Matthew Yaniz, Michael McAndrew Bass: Timothy Bostwick*, Owen Conor Stout*, Geoffrey Schmelzer*, Nicholas Ian Koch*, Richard Murphy, Richard L. Kaplan, Frank Thomas *Indicates featured actors/dancers Production Team CONDUCTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR- Ian Hobson DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER- Dawn Harris REHEARSAL PIANIST- Michael McAndrew ASSISTANT DIRECTOR- Berit Johnson ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER- Nicholas Koch STAGE MANAGER- Elisabeth Schapmann COSTUME ASSISTANT- Thereza Lituma |