Gilbert & Sullivan's
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Cast
The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. - Gary Sullivan
Captain Corcoran, commanding the Pinafore - John Perine Ralph Rackstraw, able seaman - Jacy D'Aiutolo Dick Deadeye, able seaman - Blair Eig Bill Bobstay, Boatswain's Mate - Tom Goode Bob Becket, Carpenter's Mate - Alex Dennis Josephine, the Captain's daughter - Jesica Abel Cousin Hebe - Patricia Portillo Little Buttercup, a Portsmouth bumboat woman - Melissa Kornacki Sir Joseph’s Sisters and his Cousins and his Aunts - Molly Brigham, Peggy Dennis, Annie Gribbin, Tuyet Gunter, Tara Hockensmith, Laura Hubbard, Jane Maryott, Jaime McGaughey, Anabel Milton, Tina Munoz-Pandya, Madeleine Smith, Elizabeth Spilsbury, Guenevere Spilsbury, Julie Stevens British Tars - Alex Desjardins, Noah Friedlander, Jonathan Guzman, Rand Huntzinger, David Jackson, Ralph Johnson, Carlton Maryott, Philip McLeod, Joshua Milton, Ed Vilade Orchestra
Violin 1 - Steve Natrella (CM), Bonnie Barrows, Irv Berner, Carolyn Larson
Violin 2 -Martin Brown, Peter Mignerey, Andrew Schneider, Grace Brigham Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Victor Ontiveros Cello - Michael Stein, Laurie Brown, Sheryl Friedlander Bass - Pete Gallanis, Kimberly Johnson Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill Oboe - Gwen Earle Clarinet - Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft, James Bensinger Bassoon - John Hoven, Steve Rennings Horn - Joe Cross, Alex Rogers Trumpet - Curt Anstine, Tom Gleason, David Helms Trombone - Steve Ward, Frank Eliot, Al Potter Percussion - George Huttlin |
Crew
Producer - Felicity Ann Brown
Assistant Music Director - Jenny Craley Bland Stage Manager - Ben Walsh Choreographers - Jonathan Guzman, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Philip McLeod, Tina Munoz Pandya, Madeleine Smith, Guenevere Spilsbury, Guillaume Tourniaire Set Design - Felicity Ann Brown Scenic Artist - Rebecca Meushaw Costume Designer - Linda Swann Lighting Designer - Jonathan Zucker Make–Up & Hair Designer - Renee Silverstone Make-Up Assistants - Margie Perine, Alice Drew Audition Pianist -Jenny Craley Bland Rehearsal Pianist -Jenny Craley Bland Master Carpenter - James Douglass Carpenters & Painters - Felicity Brown, Tony Dwyer, Ed Vilade, Alice Drew Props - Jane & Carlton Maryott Photography - Harvey Levine Program - Denise Young, Laura Hubbard Surtitles - Douglas Maryott Graphic Design - Denise Young Publicity - Ed Vilade House Management - Merle Haber Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center |
Director's Note
Welcome to our production of H.M.S. Pinafore, aboard the paddle steamer Victoria. We would like to share with you a couple pieces of history that led us to this concept:
“H.M.S. Pinafore had no…difficulties in establishing itself on [this] side of the Atlantic. In the absence of international copyright agreements, the opera was first performed in the United States by a ‘pirate’ company in Boston on 25 November 1878. Within a few months, Pinafore mania was sweeping the States, and more than fifty unauthorized companies were playing the piece across the country. In New York alone, the opera was at one stage being performed simultaneously in eight separate theatres within five blocks of each other. There were all-negro and all-Catholic productions and performances on canal boats and Mississippi paddle steamers.”
This last mention sparked our idea for the locale. As an American company often performing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, we decided to take on the guise of one of these “pirate” companies during Gilbert & Sullivan’s first American tour, in 1880.
“The first authorized performance of H.M.S. Pinafore in the United States opened at the Fifth Avenue Theater, New York, on 1 December 1879. Unbeknown to the audience, among the sailors disporting themselves on deck as the curtain went up was the librettist himself, complete with false beard, making a rare appearance in one of this own works.”
That last bit, as well as the fact that Gilbert & Sullivan were traveling the United States, led to one other conceit, which we hope you will indulge for its whimsy.
Lastly: “When Gilbert and Sullivan went to the United States in the winter of 1879 to present the authorized version of H.M.S. Pinafore, one impresario suggested that they should Americanize the opera, changing its name to U.S.S. Pinafore, hoisting the Stars and Stripes instead of the White Ensign, and anchoring the ship off Jersey Beach. Gilbert, who was appalled by the idea, humored the man (and himself) by suggesting a new version of the boatswain’s song. Needless to say, that version was never performed.”
That is, until now.
[Quotations from: Sullivan, Arthur, W S. Gilbert, and Ian C. Bradley. The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.]
“H.M.S. Pinafore had no…difficulties in establishing itself on [this] side of the Atlantic. In the absence of international copyright agreements, the opera was first performed in the United States by a ‘pirate’ company in Boston on 25 November 1878. Within a few months, Pinafore mania was sweeping the States, and more than fifty unauthorized companies were playing the piece across the country. In New York alone, the opera was at one stage being performed simultaneously in eight separate theatres within five blocks of each other. There were all-negro and all-Catholic productions and performances on canal boats and Mississippi paddle steamers.”
This last mention sparked our idea for the locale. As an American company often performing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, we decided to take on the guise of one of these “pirate” companies during Gilbert & Sullivan’s first American tour, in 1880.
“The first authorized performance of H.M.S. Pinafore in the United States opened at the Fifth Avenue Theater, New York, on 1 December 1879. Unbeknown to the audience, among the sailors disporting themselves on deck as the curtain went up was the librettist himself, complete with false beard, making a rare appearance in one of this own works.”
That last bit, as well as the fact that Gilbert & Sullivan were traveling the United States, led to one other conceit, which we hope you will indulge for its whimsy.
Lastly: “When Gilbert and Sullivan went to the United States in the winter of 1879 to present the authorized version of H.M.S. Pinafore, one impresario suggested that they should Americanize the opera, changing its name to U.S.S. Pinafore, hoisting the Stars and Stripes instead of the White Ensign, and anchoring the ship off Jersey Beach. Gilbert, who was appalled by the idea, humored the man (and himself) by suggesting a new version of the boatswain’s song. Needless to say, that version was never performed.”
That is, until now.
[Quotations from: Sullivan, Arthur, W S. Gilbert, and Ian C. Bradley. The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.]
