Albert Bergeret, Artistic Director
H.M. S. PINAFORE
or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 7:30pm
Words by William S. Gilbert
Music by Arthur Sullivan
First Performed at the Opera Comique, London, May 25, 1878
Directed & Conducted by Albert Bergeret
Choreography by Bill Fabris
Scenic Design: Albère
Costume Design: Gail Wofford
Lighting Design: Benjamin Weill
Production Stage Manager: Genevieve Bergeret
Assistant Stage Manager: Annette Dieli
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty): James Mills*
Captain Corcoran (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore): David Auxier*
Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman): Cameron Smith
Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman): Lance Olds*
Bill Bobstay (Boatswain’s Mate): Matthew Wages*
Bob Becket (Carpenter’s Mate): David Wannen*
Josephine (The Captain’s Daughter): Michelle Seipel*
Cousin Hebe: Victoria Devany*
Little Buttercup (Mrs. Cripps, a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman): Angela Christine Smith*
Sergeant of Marines: Michael Connolly*
ENSEMBLE OF SAILORS, FIRST LORD’S SISTERS, COUSINS, AND AUNTS
Caitlin Borek*, Hannah Eakin*, Michael Galante, Hannah Holmes*, Sarah Hutchison*, Claire Leyden, David Macaluso*, Daniel Z. Miller*, Logan Pitts, Chris-Ian Sanchez*, Nathan Seldin, Laura Sudduth*, Laurelyn Watson-Chase*
Scene: Quarterdeck of H.M.S. Pinafore
THERE WILL BE ONE FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION
*The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Violin I: Richard Adkins (Concert Chair), Sahak Karapetyan, Yin Jiang, Araksia Nazlikian
Violin II: Ruth Siegel, Hripsime Yepremyan
Viola: Matthew Witmer
Cello: Karen Garrity
Bass: Jeffrey Takiguchi
Flute: Catherine Larson
Oboe: Victoria Sabonjohn
Clarinet: Lea Steffens
Bassoon: Christian Webb
French Horn: Melissa Hendrickson
Trumpet: Stephen Charpié
Trombone: June Satton
Percussion: Grant Bubar
Artistic Director/General Manager: Albert Bergeret
Executive Director: David Wannen
Director of Administration & Box Office: Joseph Rubin
Associate Artistic Director: James Mills
Company Manager: Michael Galante
Development Associate: Sarah Caldwell Smith
Wardrobe: Gail J. Wofford, Annette Dieli
Concession Sales: Alan Hill
Company Photographer: Carol Rosegg, William Reynolds
Orchestra Contractor: Steve Charpié
The photographing or sound recording of this performance or possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording is prohibited.
High spirits seem to be the order of the day aboard Her Majesty’s Ship Pinafore, anticipating the visit of Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty. The crew is busy preparing the ship, stopping only to make purchases from Little Buttercup, a peddler, and to exchange compliments with their well-mannered Captain.
The only sad note is struck by Ralph Rackstraw, one of the sailors, who is hopelessly in love with Josephine, the Captain's daughter. Not only is her social position far above his, but her hand has been promised by her father to Sir Joseph.
When Sir Joseph arrives with his female entourage, professing some decidedly eccentric ideas about naval discipline, Ralph is inspired to press his suit with the lady. At first she refuses him, but when he threatens suicide, she admits her love for him and agrees to elope.
That night, Captain Corcoran learns that he, too, has a secret admirer - Little Buttercup - but he puts her off because of the difference in their positions. Sir Joseph, meanwhile, has come to the conclusion that a similar difference is keeping Josephine from accepting his proposal. He tells her that "love levels all ranks," which she takes, however, as an endorsement of her love for Ralph.
Her father, upon learning of her true plans, halts the elopement. His furious outburst of "Damme!" is overheard by Sir Joseph, who banishes him to his cabin. Sir Joseph is even more outraged, though, when he hears the reason for the Captain's anger. He orders Ralph imprisoned, and is about to turn on Josephine when Little Buttercup makes an extraordinary confession: Ralph and the Captain, entrusted to her care as babies, were somehow exchanged!
The improbability of the revelation proves no obstacle to its immediate acceptance by all concerned, and the sailor and the Captain assume each other's places. Their new stations enable them to marry Josephine and Little Buttercup, and Sir Joseph is claimed by his cousin Hebe.
OVERTURE
ACT I
“WE SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE" (Introduction and Opening Chorus): Sailors
“I'M CALLED LITTLE BUTTERCUP" (Recitative and Aria): Buttercup
“BUT TELL ME WHO'S THE YOUTH” (Recitative): Buttercup and Boatswain
“THE NIGHTINGALE” (Madrigal): Ralph and Chorus of Sailors
“A MAIDEN FAIR TO SEE” (Ballad): Ralph and Chorus of Sailors
“MY GALLANT CREW” (Recitative and Song): Captain Corcoran and Chorus of Sailors
“SIR, YOU ARE SAD” (Recitative): Buttercup and Captain Corcoran
“SORRY HER LOT” (Ballad): Josephine
"OVER THE BRIGHT BLUE SEA” (Barcarolle - off stage): Sir Joseph's Female Relatives
“SIR JOSEPH'S BARGE IS SEEN”: Chorus of Sailors and Sir Joseph's Female Relatives
“NOW GIVE THREE CHEERS”: Captain Corcoran, Sir Joseph, Cousin Hebe, and Chorus
“WHEN I WAS A LAD” (Song): Sir Joseph and Chorus
“FOR I HOLD THAT ON THE SEAS”: Sir Joseph, Cousin Hebe, Female Relatives, and Sailors
“A BRITISH TAR” (Glee): Ralph, Boatswain, Carpenter's Mate, and Chorus of Sailors
“REFRAIN, AUDACIOUS TAR” (Duet): Josephine and Ralph
“CAN I SURVIVE THIS OVERBEARING” (Finale of Act I): Ensemble
ACT II
Entr’acte
“FAIR MOON, TO THEE I SING” (Song): Captain Corcoran
“THINGS ARE SELDOM WHAT THEY SEEM” (Duet): Buttercup and Captain Corcoran
“THE HOURS CREEP ON APACE” (Scena): Josephine
“NEVER MIND THE WHY AND WHEREFORE” (Trio): Josephine, Captain, and Sir Joseph
“KIND CAPTAIN, I'VE IMPORTANT INFORMATION” (Duet): Captain and Dick Deadeye
“CAREFULLY ON TIPTOE STEALING”: Soli and Chorus
“FAREWELL, MY OWN!”: Octet and Chorus
“A MANY YEARS AGO” (Song): Buttercup and Chorus
“OH JOY, OH RAPTURE UNFORESEEN!” (Finale of Act II): Ensemble
DAVID AUXIER (Captain Corcoran) Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement recipient 2015-16. Favorite NYGASP roles: Captain Corcoran (Pinafore), Sergeant (Pirates), Pish-Tush (Mikado). Mr. Auxier has been co-director and company choreographer since 2010 and has worked in or on all 13 G&S operas. He conceived and directed the all-new critically acclaimed, reimagined production of The Mikado and the award-winning hit G&S cabaret revue I’ve Got a Little Twist, and wrote the book for NYGASP’s original G&S à la Carte! David is also a MAC Award nominated songwriter and is currently penning an all-original musical. www.davidauxier.com
CAITLIN BOREK (Ensemble) Caitlin is thrilled to join NYGASP in H.M.S. Pinafore.. She was last seen on the 2019 Pirates and Mikado tours. This past summer she played Cinderella at The Fireside Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Christine in Phantom, Nellie in South Pacific, and Cosette in Les Misérables. She would like to thank her family, her boyfriend Bret and her voice teacher Scott Flaherty for their unyielding love and support.
MICHAEL J. CONNOLLY (Sergeant of Marines) Michael has performed the entire G&S canon with NYGASP. Other credits include The Cherry Orchard and A Christmas Carol (both at the McCarter Theatre), Alan Ayckbourn's Joking Apart (Rev. Hugh Emerson), a world premiere with Centenary Stage Company in New Jersey, a new adaptation of Chekhov's Platonov (Sergei) at Columbia University, Twelfth Night (Malvolio), She Loves Me (Arpad), Bye Bye Birdie (Hugo) and Sweeney Todd. Michael trained at LAMDA in London (M.A.), studied engineering at Princeton and has also been caught behind the scenes playing the trombone.
VICTORIA DEVANY (Cousin Hebe) NYGASP: Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo (Mikado), Mrs. Partlet (Sorcerer), Edith (Pirates), Inez (Gondoliers); numerous concerts, children's shows and tours with the company. Other venues performed: Carnegie Hall, Wolf Trap, Resorts International, Westbury Music Fair, and many others. Vicky is married to violinist David Aron Steinberg. Cabaret acts: NYC, NYS and Japan; Berta (Barber of Seville) and Annina (La Traviata); plus non-singing roles. Playwright/ Dramaturg/ Instructor also a proud Isaac Asimov Awardee, and currently performs myriad Shakespearean roles for the NYPL.
HANNAH EAKIN (Ensemble) Last seen in the 2022 productions of Pirates and The Gondoliers, Hannah is delighted to return for a third show with NYGASP. Favorite credits include: Borderland (Roulette Intermedium), Outside of Eden (New Ohio Theater), Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, The Bridges of Madison County (Arkansas Repertory Theatre); Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Singin’ in the Rain, Fiddler on the Roof (Barn Theatre); Sister Act (Westchester Broadway Theatre). Also a filmmaker and writer, her work has been recognized by PAGE International Screenwriting Awards and ScreenCraft Drama Screenplay Competition, among others. Proud graduate of Oklahoma City University. www.hannaheakin.com
MICHAEL GALANTE (Ensemble) NYGASP since 1987! Michael has performed the entire G&S canon and The Rose of Persia with NYGASP. Credits include Lord Dramaleigh in Utopia, Limited, and Francesco in The Gondoliers. Other theatre credits include: Flute (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Fenton (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Lennie (Of Mice and Men) and Moonface (Anything Goes). Michael was the 2008-2009 recipient of NYGASP’s Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement.
HANNAH HOLMES (Ensemble) joined NYGASP with Mikado in 2016, and has since performed in Pirates (Edith), Ruddigore, Iolanthe, and H.M.S. Pinafore. An Iowa native, Hannah’s love for G&S began at Ohio Light Opera, where she performed both Ruth and Kate (Pirates) and Vittoria (Gondoliers). Other favorite roles at OLO include The Witch (Into the Woods), Molly Gray (Girl Crazy), Lois Lane (Kiss Me, Kate) and The Old Lady (Candide). In the City, she performs regularly with the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project, as well as a number of professional choral ensembles including the Bard Festival Chorale & the Virtuoso Singers.
SARAH HUTCHISON (Ensemble) Proud NYGASP-er both in New York and on tour since 2009! Other recent projects: Tennessee Williams' Not About Nightingales (Empirical Theatre); various readings at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and recording projects at Avatar Studios and with Grammy Award-winning sound engineer/producer Mikaelin "Blue" BlueSpruce. She is grateful for her amazing family & friends' continued love and support. Graduate of Muhlenberg College; proud member of Actors’ Equity and the Patrick Page Studio. "Keep calm and patter on..."
CLAIRE LEYDEN (Ensemble) is excited to return for a third season with NYGASP! National Tours: Mrs. Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Other G&S: Mabel (Pirates) at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts; Aline (Sorcerer) and Kate (Yeomen) with College Light Opera Company; Princess Ida with Village Light Opera Group. NYC/Regional: Heartbeat Opera, Bristol Valley Theater, Victor Herbert Renaissance Project, Axelrod Performing Arts Center. Proud Williams College grad! www.ClaireLeyden.com
DAVID MACALUSO (Ensemble) Most recently, Mr. Cox and Creative Producer in NYGASP’s film, Cox & Box. Credits include Sir Joseph and Buttercup (simultaneously) in the NY Drama Desk Award-nominated Pinafore (Vortex Theater), and Robin Oakapple/co-producer of The House of Murgatroyd. Other roles: Sir Joe (Pinafore), Ko-Ko (Mikado), Major General (Pirates), Grosvenor (Patience), Strephon (Iolanthe), Luiz (Gondoliers), Che (Evita), Molina (Kiss of the Spiderwoman), Falke (Fledermaus). Graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Asimov Award Recipient. Visit: www.DavidSings.info
DANIEL Z. MILLER (Ensemble) NYGASP debut! National Tours: Anastasia. Regional: West Side Story, Godspell, A.D. Players, Seasonal Entertainment, Universal Orlando Resort. BFA in Musical Theatre from TXST, favorite credits from there include Quasimodo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and Father (Ragtime). A writer and composer as well, his musical Dylan Spencer’s Cat Obedience School was the recipient of the KCACTF Best New Musical Award in 2019. All my love to Allie. Soli Deo Gloria. DanielZMiller.com
JAMES MILLS (Sir Joseph Porter KCB) is the 2019/2020 recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement. Entire G&S canon onstage with NYGASP for over a decade, as well as stage managing, tech directing, and associate directing. Recently: Lord Chancellor (Iolanthe), Jack Point (Yeomen), John Wellington Wells (Sorcerer), Major-General Stanley (Pirates), Reginald Bunthorne (Patience). A fixture of the NYC Nightlife community, James is co-star and co-creator of the all-new drag musical, The Hell’s Kitchenettes. Proud member of AEA.
LANCE OLDS (Dick Deadeye) NYGASP since 1997. Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement recipient 2017-18. Credits include Antonio (Gondoliers), Calynx (Utopia, Limited), and Strephon (Iolanthe with Light Opera Company of Salisbury). First National Tour: Footloose. Off-Broadway: Mark Twain’s Blues. Regional: Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, Weston Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, and St. Michael’s Playhouse. Film/TV: MTV’s Eye Candy, Far From Heaven, principal dancer in Disney's Enchanted, Stepford Wives, Mona Lisa Smile, and Kate & Leopold.
LOGAN PITTS (Ensemble) is an NYC-based director, performer, and collaborative artist across theater, opera, film, dance, and music. Favorites: as a Director– Barbecue (SUNY Conservatory), Paradise Blue (Gloucester Stage), Noir Femme Avengers (Harlem9). As a Baritone– Bran Castle (Signature), Bach & Bleach (LaMaMa), West Side Story (Cap21), On the Town (Waxler), ALICE (Tank). As an Actor– The Light Years (NYSAF), I Am Antigone (Theater for a New City), N’MoTion (ARTPARK). As a NYGASPer– Yeomen, Iolanthe, Mikado, Pinafore, Pirates, and now Logan is thrilled to join in the merry delight of his 6th production, The Gondoliers!
CHRIS-IAN SANCHEZ (Ensemble) NYGASP since 2004: entire G&S canon! Other credits include Passing It On (Coconut Grove Playhouse with Len Cariou), Gastone in La Traviata (Queens Symphony Orchestra), Thuy in Miss Saigon (Actor’s Playhouse - Carbonell Nomination, Virginia Music Theatre, Carousel Dinner Theatre, and Surflight Theatre!), Mereb (Aida), Judah (Joseph), Roger (Grease) and Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun (Surflight Theatre), James the Elder in Jesus Christ Superstar (K.C. Starlight Theatre). Worked with NY City Opera in Dead Man Walking, Carmen, and L’étoile.
MICHELLE SEIPEL (Josephine) NYGASP company member since 2012, most recently seen as Casilda in The Gondoliers. Credits include Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (Geneva Light Opera), Frasquita (New York City Opera’s Carmen European tour), and Musetta in La Bohème (St. Petersburg Opera). Other career highlights: the televised Lincoln Center Carousel, Oliver! national tour, Nellie (South Pacific, Asheville Lyric Opera), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor, Opera Vivente). Originally from Wisconsin, this former actuary earned her MM at the Peabody Conservatory. More at www.michelleseipel.com.
NATHAN SELDIN (Ensemble) a baritone from Staten Island, NY, Nathan is an alum of Mannes and Manhattan School of Music. He is thrilled to be returning to NYGASP after his debut with the company in The Gondoliers. Career highlights: Gaston in Broadway Theatre of Pitman's Beauty and the Beast, Featured Concert Soloist in Trident Festival's Save Ukraine Fundraiser, The Multiple Voice Project at MSM featuring the premier of "Extrovert's Zoom Birthday," the title role of Jake Grimm in Discover Opera's Grimm Reality, the American debut of Last Train to Tomorrow at Lincoln Center.
CAMERON SMITH (Ralph Rackstraw) began his NYGASP career in 2009 with Edwin in Trial by Jury, and has gone on to play Nanki-Poo, Prince Hilarion, The Duke, Ralph Rackstraw, Lord Tolloller, and Leonard Meryll. Operatic credits include Lake George Opera, Tanglewood, and Caramoor. He holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and SUNY Purchase. When not singing, he enjoys running marathons, playing guitar, and spending time with his awesome family.
ANGELA CHRISTINE SMITH (Little Buttercup) recently appeared as Junon in Orphée aux enfers with Opera Company of Middlebury, and Duchess of Plaza-Toro with Winter Opera Saint Louis. Ms. Smith has completed the G&S canon with NYGASP: Dame Hannah, Katisha, Queen of the Fairies, Little Buttercup, Ruth, Lady Blanche, Lady Jane, Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Baroness von Krakenfeldt and Mrs. Partlet. Ms. Smith is a proud member of NYGASP’s award-winning cabaret show I’ve Got a Little Twist, and a recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement.
LAURA SUDDUTH (Ensemble) Laura made her NYGASP debut at New York City Center in the 2012-2013 season, and has twirled around the stage as Isabel, Zorah, Giulia and various wards/fairies/sisters/cousins ever since. Laura's professional credits range from Broadway (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) to TV (HBO's The Undoing, Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), as well as regional theatre (including world premiere musicals at Kansas City Repertory Theater and Arkansas Rep). Favorite roles performed span opera, operetta, musicals and plays, including Anne in A Little Night Music, Amor in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (Pacific Opera Theatre-UOP).
MATTHEW WAGES (Bill Bobstay) 2022/2023 Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement. In addition to Shakespeare, Musical Theatre and Educational Series, Mr. Wages has performed 18 different principal bass and baritone roles with NYGASP since 2015. Dramatis Personae: Pirate King, Pooh-Bah, Lord Mountararat, Giuseppe Palmieri, Sergeant of Police, Sir Despard Murgatroyd, Wilfred Shadbolt, Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, Florian, Major Murgatroyd, Samuel, Bouncer (Cox & Box), Tare/Poppytop/de Vere (Ages Ago/Mr. Jericho), I’ve Got A Little Twist, Roderic (Ruddygore: Revisited) G&S Festival, U.K. Director and Adapter of Cox and Box, the Film! Numerous independent films and shorts. Traveled to 36 countries. Love to Kenji, Jo Jo & Kento. Keep up to date: MatthewWages.com, FB: The Matthew Wages, IG: @MatthewWages.
DAVID WANNEN (Bob Becket) NYGASP since 2004: favorites include Pirate King (Pirates), Wilfred Shadbolt (Yeomen), Colonel Calverley (Patience), Paramount (Utopia), Pvt. Willis (Iolanthe), Sultan (Rose of Persia), Arac (Princess Ida), Bill Bobstay (H.M.S. Pinafore) and title role in The Mikado. Tours: Beauty and the Beast (Beast u/s), Camelot with the late Robert Goulet (Lancelot u/s); Regional: Nominated Best Featured Actor by Philadelphia Inquirer for Camelot (Media Theater). Producer, 2017 The Mikado; Co-Producer & Original Cast, I've Got a Little Twist!; Executive Director, NYGASP.
LAURELYN WATSON CHASE (Ensemble) NYGASP since 96/97, performed 15 principal soprano roles with the Company at home & on tour throughout the USA & England. “Laurie” wrote and directed “The Heroines of G & S: We Really Know Our Worth” video presentation and is the 2006/07 recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award. Many solo appearances with regional opera companies, orchestras, & solo recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Graduate: University of North Texas, Manhattan School of Music, & Bel Canto Institute. Oceans of love to family & friends!
ALBERT BERGERET (Founder/Artistic Director/General Manager) Mr. Bergeret is a career-long professional specialist in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, having performed, staged, conducted and designed every opera in the repertoire over a 40 year period. He has directed G&S productions for university students and residency programs for elementary schools. He has been hailed as “the leading custodian of the G&S classics” by New York magazine (Peter Davis) and his work as both stage and musical director has been widely acclaimed in the press both in New York and on tour throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK. Mr. Bergeret founded NYGASP in 1974 and has served as Artistic Director/General Manager since its inception. He has conducted and staged all 13 of the works in the G&S canon as well as the company’s smash hit production of George Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing. He has conducted programs with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Orchestra London in Ontario Canada, Northwest Indiana Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic in a program featuring Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Goodloe. With NYGASP he has also conducted and directed such diverse personalities as Hal Linden, Steve Allen, John Astin, Pat Carroll, Noel Harrison, John Rubenstein, Louis Quilico, Lando Bartolini, and John Reed, O.B.E.
ANNETTE DIELI (Assistant Stage Manager) Credits include crew for Hartford Stage Co., costume assistant at Bronx Opera, Artistic Director of her own puppet company, Assistant stage manager for New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players at City Center and national touring venues. Completed the entire canon of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Stage Manager: A Brand-New World at The Three Act Theater Company, Separate Tables at Out of the Box Theatre Company. Assistant Stage Manager: The End of Hester at New Light Theater Project. Wardrobe for several NYMF productions.
JAMES MILLS (Associate Artistic Director) is a native of New Mexico and a graduate from the UNM Department of Theatre and Dance. He has worked onstage and off with NYGASP for fifteen seasons. Most known for his “patterman” roles, James has stage managed, tech directed, and assistant directed productions for NYGASP, as well as having helmed the many pandemic-era digital presentations. James is a stage director for The College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, MA. As a member of the CLOC National Honorary Committee of Alumni, James takes pride in sharing the legacy of Gilbert & Sullivan with students from around the country.
JOSEPH RUBIN (Associate Conductor/Director of Administration) A native of Canton, Ohio, he founded the nonprofit American Musical Productions in 2003 and has restored, produced and conducted such forgotten works from the musical stage as The Prince of Pilsen, Madame Sherry, The Rose of Algeria and the original 1902 The Wizard of Oz. Other productions include The Student Prince, The Chocolate Soldier and Naughty Marietta. An expert on American music 1890-1949, recent concerts include tributes to Ohio born1930s-40s bandleaders Freddy Martin, Clyde McCoy and Isham Jones. Upcoming: George M. Cohan: The Man Who Owned Broadway. www.josephnrubin.com
DAVID WANNEN (Executive Director) is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in vocal performance and holds a post-baccalaureate in business from Columbia University. Mr. Wannen is a veteran of the NYGASP stage and a member of the NYGASP board of directors. Mr. Wannen is producer of the all-new critically-acclaimed production of The Mikado, and co-producer of I’ve Got a Little Twist, NYGASP’s original cabaret. His other responsibilities for NYGASP include fundraising, marketing, board development, and strategic planning. Mr. Wannen is a past president of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents, recently completing six years of service as an officer of the board. He is the recipient of the 2018 Western Arts Alliance Award for Mentorship and an Association of Performing Arts Professionals Leadership Fellow.
BENJAMIN WEILL (Lighting Designer) is happy to be in his 7th season as resident lighting designer for NYGASP. He is the recipient of the BroadwayWorld New Jersey award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical. He was recently involved in Emma: The Musical and No One Called Ahead, available on StreamingMusicals.com. Other shows include: The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, Ruddigore, South Pacific, …Charlie Brown, Songs for a New World, The Diary of Anne Frank, Into the Woods, Book of Days, The Crucible, Cloud 9, Cyrano de Bergerac.
GAIL J. WOFFORD (Costume Designer/Co-Founder of NYGASP) holds a Masters of Arts in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University. As resident costume designer, she designed and constructed costumes for The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Iolanthe, Trial by Jury and other operettas. Gail was Costume Coordinator for N.J. State Opera for 12 years and head of wardrobe for the NY Grand Opera. She has executed projects for WNET, Channel 13, National Tour of Dreamgirls, the film Mission Apollo and worked with numerous opera companies throughout the U.S.
by New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Artistic Director Albert Bergeret
When the barbs of the satirist’s pen are meant to draw blood, they frequently become dated in short order. One reason for the continued popularity of H.M.S. Pinafore, and the rest of the Gilbert & Sullivan canon, is the lack of malice in its otherwise biting satire.
Gilbert was quite clearly a product and an upholder of the society which he lampoons. H.M.S. Pinafore is a rather trenchant commentary on the injustice of class distinction, overblown nationalism, and petty personal ambition, yet the frothy mix of buffoonery in which this commentary is mixed leaves the listener with both the message and a joy derived from an ability to laugh at one’s own foibles. Of course, Sullivan’s highly memorable settings of each character and group’s signature entrance adds to this sense of delight. In cases such as H.M.S. Pinafore, the satire itself has outlived the object of its parodic thrust. Many of the musical elements which Sullivan drew upon are from obscure bel canto operas. Others, such as the similarity of Buttercup’s revelation to Verdi’s Il Trovatore, remain more familiar. Likewise, Gilbert’s parody of the melodrama staple “switched in infancy” ploy is viewed as a cliché on its own, rather than the ridiculous twist it was intended to be. Don’t try to make the age differences add up logically - the ending is part of the joke.
Despite the theme of social injustice, no revolution occurs here - the status of the characters is changed to fit the order rather than the other way around. Note that the villain, Dick Deadeye, is the only one to speak reasonably about the behavior of sailors involved in military activities (“when people have to obey other people’s orders, equality’s out of the question”). It is also interesting to note that Deadeye joins in the final refrain of “Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen”, because, after all, he was right all along and the proper relationships within class structures have been maintained!
H.M.S. Pinafore is a model of theatrical brevity, and much of its charm derives therefrom. Each group or individual is introduced with a catchy tune and/or sequence. Then a single element of dramatic tension (the marriage of Josephine without her father’s consent) is introduced and quickly resolved by role reversal. When New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players undertook a “Reader’s Digest Version” of the show as a joke, the essence of the plot was easily acted out in less than one minute!
The audience does not need to know that Sir Joseph was a specific parody of a book seller made First Lord of the Admiralty, nor the history of the British navy, nor the exact customs of Victorian society - the types of human nature are depicted simply and straightforwardly. It is no wonder that H.M.S. Pinafore was an immediate hit on both sides of the Atlantic and established its creators’ reputation throughout the English-speaking world! Gilbert & Sullivan never obtained international copyrights, but it is documented that as many as five different unauthorized versions of the show were running in New York City alone at one point in time.
H.M.S. Pinafore launched not only Gilbert & Sullivan but also the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, which performed the G&S canon for over 100 years. As the first great G&S success story, one can point to this work, with its union of popular musical hall and more elite operatic elements, as the true father of musical theatre as we know it. Its descendants have been going back and forth across the Atlantic ever since.
Now in its forty-eighth year of operation, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) is America’s preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble. Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Albert Bergeret, who has been hailed as “the leading custodian of the G&S classics” by New York Magazine, NYGASP has created its own special niche in the cultural mosaic of New York City and the nation. Since its founding in 1974, the company has presented over 2,500 performances of the G&S masterpieces throughout the United States, Canada, and the U.K. captivating audiences of all ages.
Mr. Bergeret’s vision for his company’s mission is clear: to build and maintain an ensemble of professional repertory singers, actors, dancers, and musicians dedicated to bringing quality performances of the Gilbert & Sullivan masterpieces to as wide an audience as possible. To do so he has developed a unique blend of creative spontaneity and classical precision which is neither revisionist in nature nor mired in the rigidity of the more typical view of “tradition”. NYGASP’’s productions are charged with contemporary energy while retaining that traditional respect for the shows themselves which is so important to Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiasts. The use of elaborate, but relevant, choreography and movement is a particularly important element. Where possible, topical references from the nineteenth century are updated when the original intent would be lost on a modern musical theatre audience, but without disturbing the shape or scope of the material as written. Gilbert’s satire of human foibles and sophisticated wit remain intact, while Sullivan’s evocative scores, which need no revision at all, are given the full range of vocal and orchestral color for which they call.
The company has in its repertory thirteen different complete G&S operettas (cast, orchestra and crew of 50-80 people), special versions of the most popular operettas designed for children’s audiences, and a variety of charming concert programs created especially for NYGASP’s “Wand’ring Minstrels” ensemble.
The company’s recognition and stature continue to grow. In January of 2002 the company mounted its first triumphant season at New York’s venerable City Center, playing 3 of its most popular productions to over 20,000 G&S enthusiasts in 3 weeks. NYGASP has now played a total of 9 seasons on the City Center stage.
NYGASP’s annual New York season has included performances at the Peter Norton Symphony Space on Manhattan’s Upper West Side since 1978. NYGASP is performing at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College for its 48th Season. Productions include The Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore, and I’ve Got A Little Twist.
The company’s celebrated ensemble of G&S experts, developed by introducing new singers each year from New York’s immense pool of vocal and theatrical talent, has collaborated with such guest artists as world-renowned G&S exponent the late John Reed, O.B.E. in numerous comic baritone roles, Tony winner John Rubinstein and Frank Gorshin both as King Gama in Princess Ida, John Astin as Sir Joseph in H.M.S. Pinafore, Hal Linden and Noel Harrison as the Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, Pat Carroll as Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore, and Steve Allen as The Mikado.
The company has also produced a unique cabaret act. I’ve Got a Little Twist, created and directed by NYGASP principal David Auxier-Loyola, won a 2010 Bistro Award, is currently touring throughout the country, and appeared on Lincoln Center’s 2011 Atrium series. “Take Gilbert & Sullivan, add a TWIST of Broadway, and stir!” is Twist’s recipe. Highlighting Musical Theatre’s roots in Gilbert & Sullivan, the show is entertaining for all ages.
Touring activities continue throughout the year, frequently featuring productions from the New York season. In June 2010 NYGASP was part of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Gettysburg, PA. The company returned in August 2014 to the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate, England. NYGASP’s 2023 tours bring the company to venues throughout the Midwest, South, and West.
The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
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