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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will hold its 10th Gilbert and Sullivan Festival this August with a production of "The Pirates of Penzance," which features some of the duo's best-known and loved songs.

This will be OSU's second staging of "Pirates" since the festival began in the 1980s, according to director Marion O. Rossi. The production presented in 1992 was well-received and sold out, he added.

"The Pirates of Penzance" will play Aug. 6-8 and Aug. 13-15 in OSU's Withycombe Hall Theater, located at 30th Street and Campus Way. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all performances. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and $7 for students. For more information or reservations, call the University Theatre box office at 541-737-2784.

Like most Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, "Pirates" has a story that is "unabashedly simple and delightfully silly," Rossi said. It revolves around Frederic, mistakenly apprenticed years ago to a band of pirates by his loving nurse Ruth, and his efforts to abolish piracy and marry the beautiful maiden Mabel. Complicating his life, though, are the simple band of pirates, a bumbling crew of police officers, and a bevy of young beautiful young women who are wards of the clever-but-clumsy Major-General Stanley.

"Our production will keep alive many of the traditions associated with this Gilbert and Sullivan masterpiece while incorporating some unique and creative artistic license," Rossi said.

Among the songs in the production are "Poor Wand'ring One," "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "A Rollicking Band of Pirates We" and "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General."

Jeff Witt, who just graduated from OSU with a degree in music, plays the lead role of Frederic. Another OSU music student, senior Michelle Pedersen, portrays Mabel. Matt Byrd, a senior in theater arts, is the Major-General; 1994 music graduate Ann Marie Bronson is Ruth; and senior music major Erik Hundtoft is The Pirate King.

The artistic staff includes William Earl, costumes; Richard George, sets and lights; Charlotte Headrick, choreography, Rebecca Jeffers, music; Lisa Ross, vocals; and Rossi as director.

Jen Waters, a theater arts student, is stage manager; and Sheryl Parker, also a theater arts major, is assistant director.

The cast and crew include more than 30 people from Corvallis, Albany, Salem and surrounding areas, including high school students and other community members.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Cast and Crew

ALBANY

Anya Corbitt, an Albany resident, chorus; Dean Keeling, an Albany resident, as Samuel; Rebecca Keeling, a senior in apparel design, as Kate.

CORVALLIS

Joe Battrick, a sophomore at Brigham Young University, chorus; Andrew Beck, a senior at Corvallis High School, chorus; Susie Blair, a 1984 OSU graduate, chorus; Tom Burt, an OSU graduate student in music, as Sergeant; Ken Chambers, a Corvallis resident, chorus; Mary Cihak, a junior at St. Mary's College, chorus; Delaney Deaver, a junior in music and theater, Isabel; Jason T. Graves, a senior in bioresource research, chorus; Evelyn Gunardi, a senior in economics, chorus; Jessie Luna, a freshman at Corvallis High School, chorus; Ann Megowan, a Corvallis resident, as Edith; Erina Megowan, a junior at Crescent Valley High School, chorus; Sheryl Parker, a senior in theater arts, assistant director; Jared Pieterick, a sophomore at Crescent Valley High School, chorus; Reid Sanders, a junior at Crescent Valley High School, chorus; Janani Sreenivasan, a junior at Crescent Valley High School, chorus; Emily Thomas, a freshman at Corvallis High School, chorus; Jen Waters, a junior in theater arts, stage manager.

COTTAGE GROVE

Nick King, a junior in zoology, chorus.

HILLSBORO

Matt Byrd, a senior in theater arts, as Major-General.

LEBANON

Ann Marie Bronson, a 1994 OSU graduate, as Ruth.

PORTLAND

Beverly Anderson, a sophomore in liberal arts, chorus (zip 97230).

SALEM

David Ballantyne, a senior at Sprague High School, chorus; Erik Hundtoft, a senior in music, as The Pirate King; Michelle Pedersen, a senior in music, as Mabel; Garth Schilling, a freshman at Marymount College, chorus; Jeff Witt, a 1998 OSU music graduate, as Frederic.

TANGENT

Julianne Loftus, a resident of Tangent, chorus.

CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO

Stacie Reichmuth, a senior in theater arts and sociology, chorus.