Holiday Fun for the Whole Family
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THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE could have been called THE PIRATES OF BROADWAY. Gilbert & Sullivan lost thousands and thousands of dollars when their first big hit, HMS PINAFORE, was ‘pirated’ in New York and other cities in the USA. Due to a loophole in the copyright laws they received not a cent in royalties. They were certain that their next show would cause a tumult at the Box Office and so to avoid an economic fiasco – see HMS PINAFORE! – they premiered THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE in New York at the Fifth Avenue Theater and made sure that all the profits made their way back to their account at the Bank of England! Our brand new production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE is sure to be a huge success and, with such a stellar cast, promises to be the most Gilbert and Sullivan-esque of them all.
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COLIN AT CENTRE STAGE Canadian Superstar Colin Ainsworth as the apprentice … pirate that is. Now all we need is someone to yell “You’re fired”. Colin first appeared for TOT as Don Luis in EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES in 2005. His career has bloomed and now he is in demand for leading roles with the Edinburgh Festival, Chicago Opera Theater, the Brooklyn Academy in New York and of course across Canada. In addition to Frederic, his G & S roles include Ralph in H.M.S. PINAFORE.
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KEEPING IT TOGETHER
Derek Bate has been our man on the podium since he first conducted THE WHITE HORSE INN at the Winter Garden Theatre. With apologies to Messrs G & S, ‘a conductor’s job is not an easy one’. There may be tenors who forget their lines, a bassoonist who turned two pages instead of one or the chorus didn’t all get on stage in time for their first cue. No matter, Derek is calm, unflappable and most of all, he loves Gilbert and Sullivan! He conducted LES MISÉRABLES and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for Mirvish and for LIVE ENT and continues his residency at the Canadian Opera Company. He brings to our PIRATES a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm of great value to our artists and our public.
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A PAIR OF KINGS
Sometimes kings come in twos and thus we have Janaka Welihinda AND Nicholas Borg as the dashing leader of that fierce but comic band of pirates from Penzance. From Sri Lanka, Janaka was heard as Papageno in THE MAGIC FLUTE for the Stratford and Indian River Summer Music Festivals and has also been heard at Accademia Europa della Opera. Nicholas Borg provoked laughs as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. PINAFORE for the U of T Opera Division and has also appeared as Masetto in DON GIOVANNI for Opera Nuova in Alberta. So, tell us boys … is it a glorious thing to be a pirate king???
Right: from top Janaka Welihinda and Nicholas Borg
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The phrase is overused but it’s true! Elizabeth Beeler, Vania Chan and Curtis Sullivan ‘need no introduction’ to TOT patrons. Elizabeth thrilled us as the title role in COUNTESS MARITZA, amazed us as Lisa Elliot in the Canadian Premiere of Kurt Weill’s LADY IN THE DARK as well as Anna Glawari in THE MERRY WIDOW.
(Left: Elizabeth Beeler with Keith Klassen in TOT’S THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER, 2003/04)
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Vania was a most winsome Princess Mi in LAND OF SMILES, while Curtis Sullivan was her severe uncle Prince Tchang. Curtis was in SOUND OF MUSIC for the Stratford Festival and starred for TOT as Prof. Higgins in MY FAIR LADY. Welcome back…!
(Right:Curtis Sullivan Vania Chang in TOT’S THE LAND OF SMILES, 2013/14)
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GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES
For the first time, TOT has instituted THREE TIER PRICING, $95 / $69 / $49, allowing you to get the very best seats for your entertainment dollar. Working closely with the St Lawrence Centre Box Office staff, we have revised our pricing to make it even more affordable for you to enjoy the great music of Gilbert and Sullivan! Call the STLC now, to learn how you can save … (416) 366-7723 or visit www.stlc.com.
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IN FEBRUARY, CHASE THE WINTER BLAHS AWAY AT
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If you know DIE FLEDERMAUS, you know about Prince Orlovsky, that Russian Prince so rich and so bored! The Prince will be there as bored as ever but willing to welcome you to his masked ball. He will even have a mask ready for you, if you don’t want to wear your own costume to the party. The Prince will regale us with his famous ditty Chacun a son gout, (To each his own). For an extra added attraction, our TOT stars will entertain you and the Prince with some of the best tunes from DIE FLEDERMAUS. So…make a date with TOT and Prince Orlovsky! It promises to be the hottest ticket in Toronto and at a very accessible price.
Saturday, February 25, 2017 is the date and the Churchill Ballroom at the Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto is the place!!! A Mardi Gras costume ball that would make Prince Orlovsky pleased and impressed. Chandeliers and champagne, dancing and dinner. Luxurious items to tempt you at the Silent Auction. Call your party hearty friends and fill up your table today.
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