The NAU Lyric Theater is bringing Gilbert and Sullivan\u2019s comic operetta, \u201cThe Pirates of Penzance,\u201d to Northern Arizona University\u2019s Ardrey Memorial Auditorium from Oct. 12-15, with the director promising a unique spin on the show that audiences will love.<\/p>\n
Enjoyed by audiences across the globe for more than 125 years, the musical includes famous tunes such as \u201cPoor Wand\u2019ring One\u201d and \u201cWith Cat-like Tread\u201d (known as \u201cHail, Hail, The Gang\u2019s All Here\u201d).<\/p>\n
The story is about Fredric, who believes his pirate days are coming to an end at his 21st<\/sup> birthday, but he soon discovers more swashbuckling adventure awaits.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>We\u2019ve set it in the 1960s. It\u2019s\u00a0definitely different from\u00a0anything you\u2019ve seen before,\u201d Lyric Theater director Eric Gibson<\/strong> said. \u201cWe don\u2019t do anything to alter the script or the meaning of the show, but the updates to the look and the feel of it are hilarious.\u201d<\/p>\n The set is an elaborate \u201cBrady Bunch\u201d looking living room of a seaside villa. Shag carpet, plastic rolling chairs, an old television and a gigantic liquor-stocked bar set the scene for more than 40 students to sing their hearts out. An additional 60-plus students are getting experience in other roles, such as playing in the orchestra, working with costumes or running the technical side of the production.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of wonderful freshmen joining us for the first time on stage in the chorus, and we\u2019re proud of our upper-division students who occupy most of the principle roles,\u201d Gibson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great group.\u201d<\/p>\n Seniors Staci Dickens<\/strong> and Alan Williams<\/strong> star in key roles\u2014a pirate named Ruth and the Pirate King, respectively.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Pirates of Penzance\u201d shows at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12-14, with a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on Oct.15, in Ardrey Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are on sale at the NAU Central Ticket Office in the University Union, by phone at (928) 523-5661 and at nau.edu\/cto<\/a>. A community parking pass is available for the Thursday performance at nau.edu\/guest<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"