For Immediate Release:Contact: David Kuehn, Executive DirectorCotuit Center for the ArtsPhone: (508) 428-0669Email: David@cotuitcenterforthearts.orgWebsite: ArtsOnTheCape.org

“Pirates of Penzance” Opens September 29 at Cotuit Center for the Arts

Cotuit Center for the Arts presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance; Or The Slave of Duty” September 29 through October 18. Opening performances are Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29 and 30, at 7:30 PM. The show continues, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 1 to 17, at 7:30 PM (the Saturday, October 3 show is a 2 PM matinee), and Sunday, October 3 to 18, at 2 PM.

“Pirates of Penzance” premiered in New York City on December 31, 1879, and has been running strong ever since. “It’s one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular operettas,” said Michele Colley, who is directing. “It’s wacky, goofy fun, with beautiful, beautiful music, and we’re adding some of our own twists, bringing in some tongue-in-cheek, silly stuff.”

“We have a great cast of 21 people, and there is not one person that the audience won’t fall in love with,” said Colley. “The pirates all have their own distinctive personalities, the maidens are all beautiful, and the policemen are all hilarious.”

Michel Ernst, who is the Pirate King, describes the play: "’Pirates’ has a dizzy plot and catchy, familiar songs including ‘I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General,’ ‘Poor Wand'ring One,’ ‘Hail Poetry,’ and ‘On Cat-like Tread.’ This is the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert & Sullivan, with soft-hearted pirates, bumbling policemen, kidnaping, betrayal, burglary and a tempestuous romance, all of which is neatly and absurdly tied up by the final scene.”

Kristen Fehlau plays Ruth, the pirate’s maid-of-all-work, who, as young Frederic’s nursemaid, mistakenly signed him up as an apprentice to a pirate, not to a pilot, as she had been instructed. “She’s wonderful,” said Colley. “She has an amazing voice and is very dynamic on stage. She learned to play the trumpet for her role as Mazeppa in the CCftA’s recent production of ‘Gypsy,’ and is just as willing to try anything in this show. I just love that.”

Hannah Wolfe, a student a Barnstable High School, is Mabel, the young maiden who Frederic is instantly smitten with. “She has the voice of an angel,” said Colley. “She opens her mouth and this big, beautiful voice comes out of her little body. I can’t listen to her without a tear coming to my eye,” said Colley. “The audience is going to love her.”

Frederic is played by Blake Gronlund, who spent the summer singing, dancing, and acting with the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth. When he heard about ‘Pirates,’ he decided to stay on the Cape for the production. “He is a terrific addition to the cast,” said Colley.

Michael Ernst and Daniel Fontneau, who plays the Major General, are old hands at Gilbert & Sullivan. “I fell in love with the work of Gilbert & Sullivan when Daniel and I performed together in Ken Ludwig’s comedy, ‘Sullivan and Gilbert’ at Cotuit in 2008, I as Sullivan and he as Gilbert,” said Ernst. “It was a fun, back-stage view of the real world of the writing team, but also a wonderful sampler of the silly plots, witty word-play, and bright, memorable tunes for which they are famous.”

“Working with Michele Colley is always fun,” said Fontneau. “I’m most excited about performing the Major General song. It is one of the most famous (and difficult) Gilbert & Sullivan numbers to perform… a real tongue twister!”

Both Ernst and Fontneau have considerable acting experience. “Pirates” is Ernst’s 14th main stage appearance at CCftA since 2007. His recent productions include “Gypsy,” “The Beat Goes On,” “Annie,” “33 Variations,” and “Moby Dick! The Musical.” Fontneau has appeared in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Sylvia,” “Dark of the Moon,” and many other show at Cotuit Center for the Arts and theaters across the Cape.

Another familiar face at CCftA is Elliott Sicard, who will be the Sergeant of Police. He has appeared in several recent shows, including “Bark Park” and “Improv!”

In a bit of unusual, but inspired casting, Karen McPherson will play one of the maidens, even though she is actually older than their father, the Major-General. “We just thought it would be funny and fun,” said Colley. She is a wonderful comic actor and has appeared in many shows here at Cotuit.”

Christine Norton, who shared the lead in CCftA’s production of “Annie” and played Young Louise in “Gypsy,” will be a pirate cabin boy.

Norma Atwood is musical director. She recently served as music director for CCftA’s production of “Annie.” “We’re trying to do some unconventional things with the music,” said Colley, “including using ‘pirate-esque’ instruments, such as violin, flute, percussion, and a squeezebox, in addition to the piano. It is not going to sound like a typical community theater production of the show!”

Tami Trask is costume designer. “She is working on really creative costumes to bring color and fun to the set,” said Colley.

Tickets are $28, $25 for seniors, and $22 for members. Premium tables with wine are available. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. For more information, visit artsonthecape.org, or call 508-428-0669.

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What: “Gypsy,” directed by Michele Colley, with music direction by Norma Atwood

Where:

Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit

When: September 29 through October 18. Opening performances are Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29 and 30, at 7:30 PM. The show continues Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

Admission:$28, $25 for seniors, $22 for members

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