26^th Festival Season - 2004

The Mikado

By: Gilbert and Sullivan

Premiere: March 14, 1885

Book By: W. S. Gilbert

Music By: Arthur Sullivan

Comic Opera in two acts.

Known as Gilbert�s greatest, most popular libretto, The Mikado is also Sullivan�s best-known, most popular score. The quotable lines of "Three Little Maids from School" and witty lyrics from "I�ve Got a Little List", explain the great popularity of this operetta.

The use of universal characters in The Mikado is why it has been translated into more languages and is performed in more countries than any other operetta. Characters range from giggling school girls to the bribe-hungry to the cheap. The operetta takes place in Japan, which simply masks the show's attack on English institutions.

Nanki-Poo has fled the court of his father, the Mikado of Japan, to escape marriage with an elderly lady. He disguises himself as a musician, then falls in love with a fair maiden, Yum-Yum. However, he has been prevented from marrying her by her guardian, Ko-Ko, who wishes to marry Yum-Yum himself. Come witness the hilarious antics of this love triangle as mistaken identities unfold.

Production Team
Conductor	J. Lynn Thompson
Stage Director	Julie Wright
Choreographer	Carol Hageman
Set Designer	Kirk Domer
Costume Designer	Jasen J. Smith
Lighting Designer	Shannon Schweitzer

Cast
The Mikado of Japan	Kenneth Kramer Nathan Brian
Nanki-Poo, his son, in disguise as a wandering minstrel	Drake Dantzler Grant Knox
Ko-Ko, Lord High Executionor of Titipu	Frederick Reeder
Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else	Gregory Brookes James Mismas
Pish-Tush, a Noble Lord	Patrick Howle Boyd Mackus
Yum-Yum, ward of Ko-Ko	Penny Hansen Danielle McCormick
Pitti-Sing, ward of Ko-Ko	Betha Christopher Sahara Glasener
Peep-Bo, ward of Ko-Ko	Erin Jackson
Katisha, an eldery Lady, in love with Nanki-Poo	Alta Boover Julie Wright
Women of the Ensemble: Alta Boover, Betha Christopher, Sara Gartland, Sahara Glasener, Penny Hansen, Jessica Hornsten, Erin Jackson, Kemper LeCroy, Danielle McCormick, Dominique McCormick, Sarah Minckler, Elizabeth Mitchell, Sandra Ross, Rachel Rowe, Sarah Walker, Julie Wright
Men of the Ensemble: Carl Bara, Kevin Blickfeldt, Gregory Brookes, Nathan Brian, Drake Dantzler, James Harr, David Haslam, Oliver Henderson, Patrick Howle, Grant Knox, Chris Lyons, Justin Legris, Kenneth Kramer, Boyd Mackus, Lee Matsos, James Mismas, Timothy Oliver, Frederick Reeder