Virginia Opera: The Pirates of Penzance at Center for the Arts at George Mason University

Set sail with this classic comic operetta fit for all ages. Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance has everything—whimsical melodies, hilariously memorable characters, and one of the most terrific earworms of all time, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” It’s no surprise it has been beloved since 1878! Frederic is ready to resign from his life of piracy upon his 21st birthday, but fate is determined to alter his course. Add the undying affection of a girl, a long-winded but well-intentioned father, a band of merry pirates set on finding sweethearts of their own, and the resulting confection is pitch-perfect pandemonium. Virginia Opera’s colorful production makes for an ideal outing for arts lovers young and old. Sung in English with English surtitles.

Conducted by Artistic Director Adam Turner and directed/choreographed by Kyle Lang (The Marriage of Figaro, 2022), the production will feature a cast including bass-baritone Aubrey Allicock as the Pirate King; soprano Amy Owens as Mabel; mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer as Ruth; distinguished alumni of Virginia Opera’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists Program tenor Martin Bakari and baritone Troy Cook; and current Program members Kaileigh Riess, Taylor-Alexis DuPont, Kyle White, and Jeremy Harr.