PIRATES OF PENZANCE Comes To The Strand Theater 4/24-5/10

Atlanta Lyric Theatre brings the swashbuckling romp THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, to The Strand Theatre: Home of Atlanta Lyric Theatre (117 N. Park Sq., Marietta). April 24 through May 10, 2009. This production is your chance to get carried away by pirates, bumbling British Bobbies, frolicsome Victorian maidens, and the delightfully dotty "modern Major-General," for a rollicking romp over the rocky coast of Cornwall.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, an exuberant musical theater masterpiece directed by Robert Wayne with choreography by Jeff McKerley, is performed in its original format, while The Lyric's vibrancy, energy and contemporary sense of humor keep the show alive and exciting to a modern audience.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE was first performed at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City in 1879. It was the only Gilbert and Sullivan operetta to have its world premiere in the United States and it has remained popular ever since. Gilbert's wit and Sullivan's memorable score are among the most valuable treasures of musical theater history. PIRATES features one of the most beloved scores of Gilbert and Sullivan including the most famous song of them all, "I am the very model of a modern Major-General".

The plot of PIRATES centers on the dilemma of young Frederic who, as a child, was mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Since he was born in leap year on Feb. 29, he is honor bound to remain a pirate until the distant date of 1940, despite his moral objection to piracy. Helping Frederic to deal with this unusual predicament are the brash Pirate King, Ruth - the pirate maid-of-all-work, romantic Mabel, and the delightfully stuffy Major-General Stanley. THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE is a true delight.

With Jeff McKerley as Major General Stanley, Jay Scoville as The Pirate King and Ingrid Cole as Ruth, the company includes Bradley Bergeron (Sergeant of Police), Cynthia Watters (Mabel), Wesley Morgan (Frederic), Brett Parker (Samuel) Katie M. Baughman (Edith) and Natalie Barrow (Kate).

Performances of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE begin April 24 and run through May 10. Performances are at 8:00 PM with matinees on Sundays at 2:00 PM at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre (117 N. Park Sq., Marietta). Tickets are on sale now at www.atlantalyrictheatre.com, or by calling 404-377-9948.