OPERAPRESS RELEASE

OPERADELAWARE
Julie W. Van Blarcom, Executive Director
Leland P. Kimball III, General Director

Telephone: (302) 658-8063, ext. 3159 Fax: (302) 658-4991
Box Office: The Grand Opera House, 1-800-37-GRAND
Post Office Box 432, Wilmington, DE 19801-0432

Contact: Cindy Frankey
e-mail: cindyf@desymphony.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


OPERADELAWARE, THE DELAWARE SYMPHONY AND THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE PRESENT H.M.S. PINAFORE Gilbert & Sullivan Favorite

WILMINGTON, DE - March 12, 2002 - OperaDelaware, the Delaware Symphony and the Grand Opera House will present Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore Wednesday, April 17th through Saturday, April 20th at the Grand Opera House. The show will be conducted by Delaware Symphony Orchestra musical director Stephen Gunzenhauser, and stage directed by Bill Fabris. Performances are at 8:00 P.M. each evening. Prices are $19 to $53 and may be ordered online at www.grandopera.org or by calling 1-800-37-GRAND. There is a special Family Saturday matinee at 2:00 P.M., with $10 tickets available for children 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. High tea will also be available at the Saturday matinee in the Baby Grand for $5.

H.M.S. Pinafore is a bright shipboard comedy and one of Gilbert & Sullivan's best-loved shows. An operetta in two acts written by Sir Arthur Sullivan with libretto by W.S. Gilbert, it is the story of the upstanding Captain Corcoran, who is in love with a woman beneath his station in life, and whose daughter is in love with a common sailor. H.M.S. Pinafore was first performed in London at the Opera Comique in May, 1878.

H.M.S. PINAFORE --THE CAST

The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., First Lord of the Admiralty -- Steven Quint. Stephen Quint has worked with regional theater companies all over the US. He has performed the "patter" roles in every one of the thirteen G & S operas. Recently he directed Trial by Jury for the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players (NYGASP), his starship version of H.M.S. Pinafore for Village Light Opera, and a basically normal, traditional-type "Pinafore" for the Theater at Monmouth (Maine).

Captain Corcoran, Commander of H.M.S. Pinafore -- Keith Jurosko. Mr. Jurosko celebrates his 23rd season with New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. He has already appeared in over 600 performances in 17 principal roles with the Company. He has been a guest-artist with many leading regional companies: Chautauqua Opera (Ko-Ko), Augusta (GA) Opera (Pooh-Bah), Mobile (AL) Opera (Captain Corcoran), Whitewater Opera (Pirate King) and Boston Academy of Music (Sir Joseph, Pooh-Bah and Don Alhambra). He is also one of the original members of the internationally acclaimed parody troupe, La Grand Scena Opera, which recently celebrated its Gala Twentieth Anniversary Season.

Dick Deadeye, Able Seaman -- Duane McDevitt. Duane returns for a fourth year with NYGASP. Favorite roles include Pirate King: Pirates and Sgt. Meryll: Yeoman (NYGASP), Gregorio: Roméo and Fiorello: Barbiere (San Diego Opera), Dr. Falke: Fledermaus (San Diego Comic Opera), and Anthony: Sweeney Todd (Des Moines Metro Opera). No stranger to Oratorio, Duane made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in 1999. He has sung around the world on Radisson Seven Seas Cruise Line with his wonderful wife Michele McConnell.

Little Buttercup, a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman -- Angela Smith. Angela is making her debut as Little Buttercup in her 5th season with NYGASP, where she has appeared as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, Katisha in The Mikado and ensemble in Yeomen of the Guard, u.s. Dame Carruthers and Princess Ida, u.s. Lady Blanche. Other credits include Miss Todd in Old Maid and the Thief and Zita in Gianni Schicci with the Liederkranz Opera. Angela received her BA in Music at St. Olaf College.

Stage Director -- Bill Fabris. Bill is a director with a growing national reputation with opera and musical theatre. Recent critical acclaims: The Mikado and Barber of Seville (Chautauqua Opera), Fiddler on the Roof and Oklahoma! (Ash Lawn-Highland). Opera: Carmen, Flying Dutchman, Fledermaus, Pagliacci (OperaDelaware); Rigoletto, Tender Land (Mobile Opera); Roméo & Juliette (Opera Colorado). New York credits: Desert Song, Merry Widow, Countess Maritza; Off-Broadway: Boy Meets Boy and NYGASP since 1987. International: Music of Leonard Bernstein - Grand Teatre Liceu, Barcelona; European tours - Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair. Choreographer: world première – Tonkin and award-winning short film Boot Camp.

Ralph Rackstraw, Able Seaman -- David Christopher
Josephine, the Captain's Daughter -- Heather Buck
Conductor -- Stephen Gunzenhauser
Chorus Master and Principal Accompanist-- Jeffrey Miller
Lighting Designer -- Troy Martin-O'Shia
Set Designer -- Gary C. Eckhart
Costume Designer -- Bonnie Holt Ambrose
Stage Manager -- Helen Boyle
Production Manager -- Maureen Mooney

The Delaware Symphony, OperaDelaware and the Grand Opera House are supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed to promoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. The AIG Companies of Delaware, DuPont, and First USA sponsor this concert.
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