The Pirates of Penzance

The UC Santa Cruz singers and orchestra come together to present a fully-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.

The Pirates of Penzance, or, The Slave of Duty is a comic operetta in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from a mistaken apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Difficulties ensue when Frederic swears it his duty to erase piracy from the face of the earth, only to discover that, as his birthday falls on February 29th (on leap-year), his apprenticeship is not yet over because he is legally only five.

The Pirates of Penzance features the well-known “I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major-General” (the tune of which many know as "The Elements Song" by Tom Lehrer).

The production features costume design in collaboration with Academy of Arts University, sets and lighting by Dave Dunning and Legend Theatrical, hair and makeup by Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Jessica Carter, with choreography by Makenna Bantillo.

Bruce Kiesling conducts the UCSC Orchestra and singers. Sheila Willey directs. Sung in English, with English supertitles.

Performances:
May 30-June 2
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 PM
Sunday at 3:00 PM

photo: Steve DiBartolomeo, Westside Studio Images