Wolf Trap Announces Bill Cosby, HMS PINAFORE, & More for Summer Season

Wolf Trap Presents a Week of Lighthearted Laughs, a Gilbert & Sullivan Classic, and Brings Bayou Back to the Beltway

Bill Cosby

Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 8 p.m.

$40 in-house, $20 lawn

Comedian Bill Cosby returns to Wolf Trap for a night of stories and anecdotes that have entertained audiences for decades. Best known for his memorable role on The Cosby Show, America's favorite dad has achieved legendary status as an entertainer since he began doing standup in the '60s. His success paved the way for comedians of all racial and cultural backgrounds to overcome barriers, and Cosby made history as the first African American to ever win an Emmy award for the 1965 show, I Spy. His comedy albums have won five GRAMMY Awards and his performance on The Cosby Show garnered him three additional Emmys and three Golden Globes. In addition to acting and comedy, the entertainer is a successful author and singer. Most recently, he co-wrote and produced the album State of Emergency (2009), a hip-hop compilation performed by The Cosnarati, a group of three rappers committed to community activism. Cosby's various talents have made him a highly respected star and a staple in the history of entertainers.

 

H.M.S. Pinafore

New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players

Friday, June 3, 2011 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 8 p.m.

Tickets range $8-$50

 

Having performed at Wolf Trap annually since 1995, New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players return this year with a production of the international blockbuster H.M.S. Pinafore. Since its founding in 1974, the company has staged more than 2,000 performances created by librettist and composer duo Gilbert & Sullivan. This year's selection from the G&S canon tells the humorous story of two lovers aboard the British ship H.M.S. Pinafore. The operetta originally opened at the Opera Comique in London in May 1878, and has been called the true father of musical theater for its union of popular music hall and operatic elements. Audiences will enjoy classic songs such as "I'm Called Little Buttercup," and "We Sail the Ocean Blue" by a company that New York Magazine calls "the widely acknowledged specialist in this repertory for 32 years."

 

Video - New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players perform H.M.S. Pinafore in Cerritos, CA

 

Wolf Trap's 22nd Annual Louisiana Swamp RompTM

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Sonny Landreth, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, and Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys

Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 2 p.m.

$25 General Admission

 

It's that time of year when Wolf Trap's annual Louisiana Swamp Romp returns for a celebration of the energetic culture and eclectic sounds of the South. Louisiana-based band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue brings its Signature Sound dubbed "Supafunkrock," an innovative blend of jazz, funk, rock, and hip-hop, to the stage. The band has also been nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Singer/songwriter Sonny Landreth uses storytelling in his music and has collaborated with musicians such as Eric Clapton to produce a blues/rock sound reflective of his southern roots. Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie also use their Louisiana heritage as a strong influence in their music. The group's contemporary zydeco blend has led to a GRAMMY-nominated album, Le Cowboy Creole (2007), which illustrates their Creole roots. Finally, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys bring their Cajun sounds to the Louisiana Swamp Romp with a fresh take on the style that incorporates an electric bass and horn with the more traditional accordion and fiddle.

 

Video - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys perform on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts

 

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Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (877) WOLFTRAP; or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, call Wolf Trap at (703) 255-1868.

 

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