OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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CORVALLIS - After a string of sellouts this summer, the Oregon State University adaptation of "The Pirates of Penzance" will return to the University Theatre stage with a three-night revival, Oct. 1-3.
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night in OSU's Withycombe Hall theater, at 30th Street and Campus Way in Corvallis. Tickets, priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and $7 for students, may be reserved beginning Sept. 28 by calling the University Theatre box office at 541-737-2784.
The classic English operetta features some of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-known and most-loved songs, including "Poor Wand'ring One," "When the Foeman Bares His Steel," "A Rollicking Band of Pirates We" and the witty and tongue-twisting, "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General."
The story, like most Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, "is unabashedly simply and delightfully silly," said director Marion O. Rossi.
It revolves around Frederic, mistakenly apprenticed years ago to a band of pirates, and his efforts to abolish piracy and marry the beautiful Mabel. Complicating his life are the simple band of pirates, a bumbling crew of police officers, and a bevy of young women who are wards of the clever-but-clumsy Major-General Stanley.
The artistic staff for the show has framed the play as a re-enactment of a production by an amateur theatrical group from years past, Rossi pointed out.
The staff includes William Earl, costumes; Richard George, set and lights; Charlotte Headrick, choreography; Rebecca Jeffers, music; Lisa Ross, vocals; and Rossi as director. Jen Waters, a theater arts major, is stage manager; and Sheryl Parker, also a theater arts major, is assistant director.
The cast for "Pirates" includes more than 30 people from OSU, Corvallis, Albany, Salem and the surrounding area, including numerous veterans of past Gilbert and Sullivan festivals at Oregon State, and a number of newcomers.
The Cast of "The Pirates of Penzance"
Anya Corbitt, a community member, chorus; Dean Keeling, a community member, as Samuel; Rebecca Keeling, a senior in apparel design, as Kate.
Joe Battrick, a sophomore at Brigham Young University, chorus; Andrew Beck, a senior at Corvallis High School, chorus; Susie Blair, a 1984 OSU graduate in physical education, chorus; Tom Burt, an OSU graduate student in music, as the Sergeant; Ken Chambers, a community member, chorus; Delaney Deaver, a junior in music and theater, as Isabel; Jason T. Graves, a senior in bioresearch engineering, chorus; Jessie Luna, a freshman at Corvallis High School, chorus; Ann Megowan, a community member, 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.
Nick King, a junior in zoology, chorus.
Matt Byrd, a senior in theater arts, as the Major-General.
Ann Marie Bronson, a 1994 OSU graduate in music, as Ruth.
David Ballantyne, a senior at Sprague High School, chorus; Erik Hundtoft, a senior in music, the Pirate King; Michelle Pedersen, a senior in music, as Mabel; Jeff Witt, a 1998 OSU graduate in music, as Frederic.
Julianne Loftus, a community member, chorus.
CALIFORNIA
Stacie Reichmuth, a senior in theater and sociology, chorus.
INDONESIA SURABAYA
Evelyn Gunardi, a senior in economics, chorus.
Marion Rossi, 541-737-2853
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