Kentucky Opera's production of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan operetta "The Pirates of Penzance" is hilarious and upbeat — and it makes reference to Louisville.
The comedic story centers around a young Englishman named Frederic, who, after years of being apprenticed to a crew of pirates whose bark is far worse than their bite, tries to leave his trade when he turns 21. His leap-year birthday puts those plans into jeopardy, however, and threatens his future with his newfound love, Mabel.
In this production, the most famous number in the show, "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," features a number of added lines that feature Louisville references. (Kentucky Opera asked us not to quote the lines, however, to avoid spoilers for guests.)
The production has five shows at the Brown Theatre — Friday, February 16, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 18, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, February 20, at 1:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 22, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, February 24, at 8 p.m.
Tickets start at $28 or $15 for students, not including fees, but guests can also contact the box office for pay-what-you-can pricing.
The cast includes Troy Cook (Major-General Stanley), Craig Irvin (The Pirate King), Martin Bakari (Frederic), Brennan Blankenship (Mabel), Katherine Calcamuggio-Donner (Ruth), Tara Durnil (Isabel), Georgia Belmont (Edith), Rebekah Hardin (Kate), Erik Nordstrom (Samuel), and Joshua Thomas (Sergeant of the Police).
LEO photographed the show's final dress on Wednesday. Check out our photos in the gallery below.
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