"The Pirates of Penzance" Opens Friday Night at UAO

Come ride the high seas and frolic on the coast of Cornwall as Union Avenue Opera opens its sixteenth season with the celebrated Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance. Frederic, mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates as a little lad by his nursery maid Ruth, is now 21 and thus freed from his piratical indentures. Having fallen in love with Mabel, a lovely daughter of a Major-General, his life as a noble member of society seems all secure...but once the Pirate King discovers a loophole in the terms of Frederic's indentures, the plot thickens! Enjoy the antics of soppy, silly pirates, virtuous Victorian maidens, bumbling British bobbies and a modern Major-General.

UAO last produced The Pirates of Penzance as a concert performance in 2002. For a full synopsis of the operetta, please click here.

(Photo: Robert Boldin & Victoria Botero)

In an interview with Sarah Bryan Miller of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Scott Schoonover offers his thoughts on the production and its director's vision:

"[Pirates is] one of my favorites," he says. "It was the obvious choice for me."

"It's one of the best things Mark has ever done for us," Schoonover says. "He's choreographed every minute of the show. It's taking a lot of energy, especially from our chorus. They're drilling, drilling, drilling everything. There's going to be something to watch at every moment."

Tenor Robert Boldin, who audiences will remember as King Kaspar in last December's Amahl and the Night Visitors, returns to sing the role of Frederic. Soprano Victoria Botero returns to sing Mabel after her critically-acclaimed debut in 2008 as Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore. Mezzo-soprano Denise Knowlton, last seen as Mistress Quickly in 2005's Falstaff, sings Ruth. Baritone and UAO veteran David Dillard sings the Sergeant of Police. Baritones Todd von Felker as the Pirate King and Andrew Papas as Major-General Stanley make their UAO debut in this production.

Stage Director Mark James Meier, fresh from staging a successful Madama Butterfly at Muddy River Opera with internationally known Soprano Michèle Crider, returns for his eighth production with Union Avenue Opera. UMKC graduate student Fiona Carmody serves as Stage Manager. Among the production designers are Patrick Huber (sets), Teresa Doggett (costumes) and Kimberly Klearman (lighting). Pianist Vera Parkin serves as production répétiteur. Scott Schoonover conducts.

Two weeks ago, UAO Artistic Director/Conductor Scott Schoonover and Denise Knowlton sat down with Steve Potter of Cityscape on 90.7 KWMU to discuss the production of The Pirates of Penzance as well as the coming season. Click here to listen.

Be sure not to miss a free opening night lecture on the operetta, taking place July 9 at 7pm in the Chapel of Union Avenue Christian Church. (Non-ticket buyers welcome.)

The Pirates of Penzance opens Friday, July 9th and will run for four more performances July 10, 16, 17, 18(M). All performances begin at 8pm (matinee on 18th begins at 3pm) and take place at Union Avenue Christian Church located at 733 N. Union Blvd in St. Louis. Sung in English with projected English supertitles.

To purchase tickets or find more information about Union Avenue Opera, please call 314.361.2881 or visit the UAO Website.