Photo Flash: THE MIKADO at Symphony Space

America's foremost Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble, the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), continues its season with a week-long engagement of "The Mikado" beginning on Wednesday, December 29th (3PM) at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2535 Broadway at 95th Street). The production will play thru Sunday, January 2nd and feature a special New Year's Eve gala performance on December 31st!

Each performance of this season's production of The Mikado brings with it a special treat for each audience: Wednesday, December 29th (3PM) - Bring Your Grandparents Day - Respect your favorite elders with a backstage tour featuring the character of your choice following the performance! Thursday, December 30th (8PM) - Savoy Dialogue - Enjoy a dazzling discourse about all matters G&S with members of the cast and the NYGASP artistic staff before the show! (6:30-7:30pm in the theater) Friday, December 31st (7PM) - New Year's Eve Gala! - Updated topical references, The Mikado's beloved score, and a little bubbly at intermission is just the beginning. An exclusive invitation to the cast party afterward, completes the elegant affair! Saturday, January 1st (3PM) - Family Overture - You're invited to a free musical introduction and plot summary made entertaining and informative for the entire family. (1:45pm in the theater). All extra events are free with purchase of full-price ticket!

Under the artistic and music direction of Albert Bergeret, the company has presented over 2,600 performances throughout the United States, Canada, and England. Incorporating a 25-piece orchestra, its productions feature contemporary energy while retaining a traditional respect for each of the G&S masterpieces. New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players is considered by many to be the nation's "leading custodian of the G&S classics."

In The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, the location is a fictitious Japanese town full of colorful characters - 3 little maids from school, a wandering minstrel, a hilariously corrupt public official, and a Lord High Executioner who may have a list of potential victims but is too tenderhearted to actually perform his duties. Beautiful school girl Yum-Yum loves the romantic minstrel Nanki-Poo but is engaged to Ko-Ko the executioner. This romantic triangle takes the usual course of thwarted romance, until the arrival first of the fearsome Katisha, claiming Nanki-Poo as her "perjured lover," and later of the emperor, or Mikado, himself - with his own list of punishments to fit the crime. In order to resolve the ensuing complications, Ko-Ko must use his wits to convince the most unattractive Katisha to marry him - in record time. That done, all other potentially dangerous circumstances are settled by the Mikado's all encompassing pronouncement "nothing could possibly be more satisfactory."

The NYGASP 2010-11 season is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties.

The G&S season will continue in 2011 with productions of: Trial by Jury with the revue G&S a la Carte (March 20th) and a special G&S Sing-Along -- a NYGASP first -- (May 22nd)! All performances will feature the full score and dialogue with NYGASP's cast and orchestra!

Tickets for The Mikado on December 29th (3PM) & 30th (8PM) and January 1st & 2nd (3PM) at The Peter J. Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space range in price from $82 - $62 for adults; $74 - $56 for seniors; $42 - $32 for children. Tickets for the gala New Year's Eve performance on December 31st (7PM) range in price from $92 - $72 for adults; $84 - $66 for seniors and $52 - $42 for children. All tickets can be purchased by: phoning (212) 864-5400; in person at the Peter Norton Symphony Space Box Office; or by visiting www.nygasp.org or www.symphonyspace.org

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NYGASP company performs
"The Mikado"
photo credit :  Noah Strone

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