SPONTANEOUS SORCERER: Our October 4 meeting will take place at noon at Emmanuel College, and will include a Spontaneous production of SORCERER. Roles are open to Emmanuel College students as well as NEGASSers -- so many of the plum roles may be snapped up by bright, energetic Young Persons who will be lots of fun to watch and hear as they discover the joys already so dear to Us all. Whether you want to seize a first-rate opportunity for a lead role, sing with the chorus, offer your services as pianist, or just listen, get in touch NOW with Program Chair Rebecca Consentino (see last page for contact info) for details.
In case you don't remember the roles:
Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre (bass-baritone)
Alexis Pointdextre (of the Grenadier Guards) (tenor)
Dr. Daly (vicar of Ploverleigh) (lyric baritone)
Notary (bass)
John Wellington Wells, Sorcerer (patter baritone)
Lady Anabella Sangazure (contralto)
Aline Sangazure (soprano)
Mrs. Partlett (a pew-opener) (mezzo-soprano)
Constance Partlett (soprano)
HOW TO GET THERE: EMMANUEL COLLEGE (400 The Fenway, Boston, MA): The following is excerpted from a Web page called "How to get to Emmanuel College," at <http://www.emmanuel.edu/directions.html>
From Route 93 and other points north: Take Route 93 South or Route 95 South towards Boston. After the merge of Routes 93 and 95 in Boston, take a right onto the down ramp to Storrow Drive West and proceed through tunnel. Stay in the middle lane (follow "CARS ONLY" signs). Get in the left lane after the Copley Square exit. Take Kenmore Square, Fenway 1S exit (on left). At fork in exit, bear left and follow Fenway 1S. Stay in right lane on exit ramp; bear right towards Boylston Street, Outbound, Riverway 1. At first traffic light, take left onto Park Drive. Follow Park Drive, staying in left lane, until lights at Exxon Station. Proceed through lights; at next set of lights bear sharp left onto the Fenway. Stay in second lane from right. Proceed through intersection at Brookline Avenue and turn right into Emmanuel College.
From Massachusetts Turnpike: Take Exit 18, Allston, Cambridge (left exit). Stay in right lane after toll. Bear right towards Guest Quarters Suite Hotel, getting in far right lane. At traffic light, take right toward Downtown Boston, Storrow Drive. Follow Storrow Drive to Fenway 1S exit. Stay in right lane on exit ramp; bear right towards Boylston Street, Outbound, Riverway 1. Continue as above
From Harvard Square, Cambridge, Route 2, Memorial Drive: Follow Route 2 East/Memorial Drive until you pass the Polaroid Corporation. Immediately afterwards, take the 2 East, Brookline/Kenmore Square exit. Off the exit, bear right at the traffic light, and go over the Boston University Bridge. At traffic lights, cross trolley tracks and bear left onto 2-20 East, Kenmore Square. Follow the sign for 2 East and go through two sets of lights. Bear right onto Mountfort Street, which becomes Park Drive. Follow Park Drive (1 North, Storrow Drive) as it becomes Fenway. Proceed through lights at intersection with Brookline Avenue and turn right into Emmanuel College.
Via MBTA Rapid Transit: Option 1: Take the MBTA's Green Line -- "Riverside" Branch/D Train -- to Fenway stop. The campus is a short walk across Park Drive.
Option 2: Take the MBTA's Green Line -- Huntington Branch/E Train -- to Museum stop. The campus is a short walk up The Fenway, just beyond the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Simmons College.
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PICNIC IN BRISTOL: Sunday, August 23 saw a large and enthusiastic gathering of NEGASS members at the Shepherd estate in Bristol, Rhode Island for the End-of-Summer/Beginning-of-Fall Season. Swimming, eating, drinking and gossiping formed much of the daytime agenda, with the subsequent gathering of the clans around 4:30 PM to begin a sing-through of Yeomen. The superb pianistic expertise of David Goldhirsh was aided and abetted by the six-piece Concord Wind Ensemble, which also serenaded the afternoon activities.
A large chorus accompanied the soloists for the rousing rendition of Yeomen which featured Larry Seiler as Jack Point, Marion Leeds Carroll as Elsie, Amy Allen as Phoebe (reprising her starring role from the Sudbury Yeomen of two years ago), Sheldon Hochman as Sir Richard Cholmondeley, Carl Weggel as Colonel Fairfax, Richard Freedman as Sergeant Merryl, Steven Levine as Leonard Merryl, Peter Cameron as Wilfred Shadbolt, Katherine Bryant as Dame Carruthers, Rebecca Burstein as Kate, Mark Woodruff as Second Yeoman and new-comer Todd Long as a sonorous First Yeoman. Todd is a veteran of Washington Savoyards and VLOC -- lyric baritones around here had better watch out for the competition!
Mrs. Shepherd was presented with a plaque commemorating the many years of happy association between her and NEGASS. The consensus of the attendees was that the daytime picnic and sing were a great success and should be continued (even if OSLO sees the error of its ways and returns to doing G&S at the appropriate time) and everyone left to drive home happily during the daylight hours.
-- J. Donald Smith
| 11/22: | Trip to SLOC’s 2 PM matinee of GONDOLIERS |
| 12/?: | Early December: Sing-through of A G&S Christmas Carol |
| Sometime in the spring: | A concert of G&S by performers from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge |
~ NEXT BRAY COPY DEADLINE: October 25 ~
Next Bray Stuffing: Sunday, November 1 at 3 PM. Call Us at (617) 253-5810 during the day, at (781) 646-9115 evenings and weekends, or email mlcar@mit.edu at any time, for directions to Our slightly drier home. -- mlc
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Welcome, Welcome, Welcome We New Members Emily Burt-Hedrick, Stephen Grover and Barbara (Bobbie) Herman.
We know nothing about Emily besides the fact that her membership appears to have been sponsored by Thomas Drucker. [Hi, Tom! - good seeing you in Rockville!] Stephen, who describes himself as an "Itinerant Baritone," writes, "I discovered your organization on the 'web' and have found it to be an invaluable source of information, certainly worthy of financial support. {Why, thank’ye!] I hope that my residence in far-off Connecticut will represent no obstacle to our union, and that I can be an active participant in your activities in spite of the distance." Well, if the indefatigable Lee Patterson can travel down to Massachusetts from Maine for NEGASS meetings, We hope that We’ll see Stephen at one or two meetings this winter!
Bobbie, who also lives in Connecticut, writes: "My name is Bobbie Herman, and my husband is Paul Cohen. I learned of this group through Don Smith, whom Paul and I met at Buxton last month. Actually, I should say we met Don face-to-face for the first time. We’ve been corresponding with him on SavoyNet for awhile.
We are both G&S aficionados, and have been since childhood…Our local affiliation is with the Troupers Light Opera Company, based in Fairfield County, CT. [Good - please send Us audition notices, performance dates and reviews of future productions! - mlc] This past spring we put on PATIENCE, in which I played a Rapturous Maiden. Paul did all the computer work (flyers, programs, etc.)
We have traveled far and wide to attend G&S performances. Buxton was the furthest we’ve gone, but we’ve been down to Philly (for Savoy), NYC (NYGASP and VLOG) [That’s the New York G&S Players and the Village Light Opera Group, for the Uninitiated - mlc], Middletown and Simsbury, CT. to name just a few….
If I might make a suggestion - please put the state ID after each location mentioned in the newsletter. [Forgive Us Our past laziness - We will correct Our behavior henceforth! - mlc] …you mentioned the Savoyard Light Opera Company in Carlisle. Carlisle where? [We beg to offer an unqualified apology! - Carlisle, MA!] I called the number listed, but… "
OK - We rise from Our grovel to exclaim: If people send Us incorrect phone numbers, e-mail addresses and/or URLs, We are pretty helpless. We do not have time to check every fact, alas. So PLEASE, folks - thank you for sending Us information - please try to make sure it’s correct. And We will try harder to check each factoid before printing it - although Our hectic life does not always permit Us to spend the time, and somehow, whenever life seems about to calm down, We have another flood in Our basement… In all events - Hearty Greetings Offer We!
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NO DOUBT -YET, SPITE OF ALL YOUR PAINS: A member who joined last month writes to our President: Dear Richard: When I wrote to open a membership with NEGASS I didn't enclose information about myself. I am sorry and owe you and the group an explanation. You see my age is a most delicate matter. You see, I am a little boy. I am only thirteen and I was afraid that detail might damage my credibility. Pray don't misconstrue what I say, I am reasonably knowledgeable about matters relating to G&S. I am in 8th grade at the Fayerweather St. School in Cambridge. I am interested in theatre very much and singing. I have never been in any G&S but I am looking for a children's group in which to perform. Warmest regards,
-- Josh BIllings
Dear Josh - Oh joy, oh rapture unforseen! Your age shall be no obstacle to our union. We are delighted to welcome members of all ages, and are particularly delighted to watch as the Immortal Fire decends upon members of the next generation of Savoyards. (We, Ourself, were just 13 when We were first introduced to G&S, and have been lost- lost- lost ever since!) We’re glad that President Dick has sent you information about MITG&SP, which has been known to cast pre-college-age folks in its chorus, and which is even now, as We type, holding auditions for THE MIKADO. He’s right that the Methuen childrens’ G&S group is probably too far out of the way for a non-driving Cambridge resident like yourself - but if you’d like to try to get there, We’ll ask Peter Cameron, our NEGASS/Methuen expert, to try to find contact information for you. On the other hand, the Sudbury Savoyards have a formal policy which allows minors to take part in their shows if they have an adult sponsor - if you can find an adult willing to drive you out to Sudbury and stay with you throughout rehearsals - perhaps as a fellow chorus member (Sudbury accepts chorus members with no audition), then perhaps you could take part in their winter show, IOLANTHE. Good luck!
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No possible doubt whatever: We know that Lois Ambler used to live in Clearwater, FL Our Membership Chair has her address there. But her latest Bray was returned marked "Not deliverable as addressed - unable to forward." Does anyone know where she is?
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A capital plot: Theodore Koban writes, on his renewal form (you’ve all remembered to send in your renewals, haven’t you?!): I would be interested in working with others to create materials for introducing elementary school age children to G&S. Is there anyone else out there with a similar interest? Ted - did you know that the Hancock County, Maine group was doing something on that order last winter? - could some of the Hancock NEGASSers get in touch with Ted and tell him how the project went? And everyone else - Send Ted a note at 1031 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 if you’d like to join his project - and, Ted - please keep Us updated on your progress, and let Us know how We can help out Ourself, on either the developing or the presenting end of the project! -- mlc
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SING HIGH, SING LOW, WHERE-EVER THEY GO: Fred Hughes, on his renewal form, suggests that We consider rotating Bray stuffings among different members’ homes, specifying homes with pianos. Alas, Fred - stuffing in someone else’s home can’t work - We’ve tried it and We know. We are always finishing the Bray at the last minute, and find that arranging to bring the finished product to someone else’s home is beyond Our capacity.
As for the piano - yes, Bray stuffings used to feature sing-throughs of G&S shows, which many of us really enjoyed. But a piano without a PIANIST is worthless. So the real question becomes: Is there anyone interested in attending an upcoming Bray stuffing and accompanying a show while we fold and stuff? Let Us know two months ahead of time, and We’ll advertise far enough ahead so that NEGASSers interested in trying out a role in a living-room setting will be able to prepare. -- mlc
WHO TAUGHT ME TO SWING UPON A WEB? On his renewal form (you’ve all sent in your renewal forms, no?) Walt Howe notes that the NEGASS Web page <http://www.negass.org> is a year old, although the Trumpet Bray page <http://diamond.idbsu.edu/GaS/societies/Trumpet_Bray.html> is kept up-to-date, and asks, "Need a Webmaster?" New Program Chair Rebecca Consentino has also been offering her services in this capacity. Do we need a frequently-updated Web page in addition to our constantly updated Bray page, and in further addition to the excellent G&S Archives page <http://math.idbsu.edu/gas/index.html> to which we’re linked? Let Us know your opinion! --mlc
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Tom Pezzullo, on his renewal form (you have renewed, too, haven’t you?!) says he’d like to purchase a tape of The Gilbert & Sullivan Story, and asks if there are plans to air it on TV in the near future. At this point, We are under the impression that the new videotape version is available in standard videotape-selling places (sorry - We don’t own a VCR -yet - and know nothing about these things) - and We know of no plans to air the film on TV. Can anyone enlighten Us?
NEGASS BUSINESS: The NEGASS Board is making plans to incorporate NEGASS as a registered Non-Profit Organization. We would appreciate it if one of our legal members would volunteer to work with us on this transformation. To save legal time, we’ve already started work on the Articles of Incorporation which will have to be submitted with a lawyer’s help. Bill Venman, who has experience in this sort of thing, has already engaged us in a Virtual Meeting via e-mail, with some very good suggestions concerning the Articles and the Constitution, which will also have to be revised. Please get in touch with President Dick Freedman (see last page for contact info.) if you would like to discuss this matter further. -- mlc |
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WE CAME, WE SANG, WE CONQUERED!: G&S Sing-Out at Rockville. A doughty band of NEGASS members were among the 200-odd Savoyards (yes, "odd" seems to fit the occasion) who gathered at the end of August at Rockville MD, for the Victorian Lyric Opera Company's 2nd Great Gilbert & Sullivan Sing-Out -- a near-nonstop sing-through of 13 (no THESPIS) Savoy operas, concert style, piano accompaniment, no overtures or dialogue, but no cuts, either. Elapsed time: 18+ hours-- 8:15 am Saturday to 2:24 am Sunday, with no reported casualties. Those not able to make this event (or the 1st Sing-Out five years ago) should resolve to get to the next one-- yes, VLOC promises another -- for a truly unusual experience. (Your faithful correspondent has done both, but has qualms about surviving another.) From an excellent reception Friday night at a nicely preserved mansion, through the Main Event all day (and night) Saturday in a fine smallish theater, to a satisfying Sunday Brunch, VLOC produced a heroic event, and those who came responded in kind.
In addition to the fun and novelty of seeing/singing/hearing the whole canon in one fell swoop, the Sing-Out affords participants an opportunity to experience the talents of performers from G&S companies they might otherwise never encounter. NEGASSers enjoyed a number of such treats, and those not fortunate enough to be New Englanders-- native or transplanted-- got a sample of our wealth of G&S riches. In addition to chorus participation, open to any and all, NEGASSers took on a number of principal roles. Sara Ballard was Ruth (Pirates); her son Rick was Foreman of the Jury (Trial). Katherine Bryant was Buttercup (Pinafore). Irv Hodgkin was Ludwig (Grand Duke), as well as Sorcerer's Notary. David Jedlinski was Mr. Goldbury (Utopia). Phyllis Wilner was Katisha (Mikado). Peter Zavon was Captain Corcoran redux (Utopia). Bill Venman conducted Patience and Mikado. And drawing particular notice from on-the-spot "critics" and subsequent SavoyNet commentators were Amy Allen's (very) Mad Margaret (Ruddigore); Rebecca Consentino's no-nonsense but polite Rose Maybud (Ruddigore) -- she also did Phylla in Utopia; Todd Allen Long (for both quantity and quality) as-- count-em-- Counsel for the Plaintiff (Trial), Luiz (Gondoliers), Pish-Tush (Mikado), and, on short-notice substitution, Strephon (Iolanthe). It was more-or-less a toss-up 'twixt Todd and Lee Patterson for the Iron Man Medal: Lee did Defendant Edwin (Trial), Alexis (Sorcerer) and Frederic (Pirates), plus nearly non-stop chorus when he wasn't up front. And since modesty and conflict-of-interest notions may inhibit her own account elsewhere of the proceedings, be it noted that our Esteemed Editor, mlc, attracted particular note for her shamelessly over-acted Julia Jellicoe (just kidding, kidding, KIDDING!)-- actually, her masterful and definitive creation-- vocally and dramatically-- of The Grand Duke's Prima Donna Julia Jellicoe. She is, of course, forbidden to tamper with this text. [As Prima Donna Assoluta, We suppose We must accept this homage without blushing... - mlc]
Abject grovel if I've forgotten or neglected anyone. I'm still recovering. But a Good Time Was Had By All.
-- Gama, Rex
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More on Rockville: Although We try to avoid writing reviews, We must mention at least some of the non-NEGASS talent We were privileged to enjoy during that glorious weekend. Having been outrageously praised on SavoyNet by Sam Silvers, We cannot refrain from mentioning his quintessential KoKo (including an entrance with a large and unwieldy snicker-snee which sent the folks near him scrambling for cover!) - not to mention his wonderful ensemble performances as Phantis and Despard. We enjoyed meeting and singing with Tamara Hicks Syron, Lisa to Our Julia. We enjoyed Our reunion with New York’s Frances Yasprika, who sang Olga in DUKE and Nekaya in UTOPIA. Anyone must have enjoyed Dennis Blackwell’s polished performances as Don Alhambra, Grosvenor and Pooh-Bah. It was a treat to hear John Adams perform a true comic-baritone Bunthorne, and then turn around and give us an operatic-tenor Tolloller. Gina Leichtung was a charming coloratura Patience who then produced a charming lyric Yum-Yum. Oh - We know We are going to insult someone and/or kick Ourself for leaving someone out -- the forceful Fairy Queen, Barbara Namkoong, whose scepter not only glowed but, when it came time to kill Iolanthe, smoked as well -- the Iolanthe herself, Olive McKrell, with a voice and presence to show the role to advantage, who - gee - it didn’t look like the same lady, but Our program says it was, and it was the same glorious voice! - also sang a gorgeous Lady Sophie while carrying her sleeping infant strapped to her in a species of sarong… and speaking of sarongs, watching David Craven turn from Captain Corcoran into King Paramount by removing his upper garment and donning a sarong did nothing to distract Us from enjoying his big lyric baritone voice… Of course We, as a soprano, are neglecting the sopranos like Elizabeth Evans-Emory, who performed Princesses Zara and Ida (of course - say We in Our Julia mode, not as well as We did at the last Sing-Out! - but still) beautifully and to great applause -- Enough! We had a fabulous time, and hope VLO or another group will host this again! -- mlc
ÒÔ INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL NEWS ÒÔ Reflected Buxton Glory for NEGASS: Irv Hodgkin has sent Us a number of messages, in many cases gleaned from SavoyNet, concerning the International G&S Festival in Buxton. Much glory has been reflected upon NEGASS via our new Vice President's activities. For instance, here's an excerpt from one of Peter Zavon's Buxton diaries, which includes a description of a rehearsal for the SavoyNet production of TRIAL. Peter says: Suffice it for now to say that Don Smith, as The Associate, may well be the "dark horse" hit of the production. Irv also sent Us a review of the production, which stated, in part: ... First was Don Smith as the Associate, taking his notes on a laptop. Don typed in rhythm to the music throughout and must surely have learnt his style of typing from watching videos of Liberace. Every time I receive an email from Don from now on I shall have a mental image of it having been typed in a rhythmic and flamboyant manner. This gag was not a pointed gag in any way. There was no moment when it was suddenly spotted and got a huge laugh, but it was there throughout and every time I noticed it I had to raise a smile. -- Chris Webster As some of you may know, the International Festival is adjudicated, and awards are handed out for best production, best performer, best director, etc. Don sent Us a list of award-winners from this year’s Festival, which include: International Champions: Trent Opera - Patience (a modernized version.) First Runner Up: Houston G&S Society - Yeomen of the Guard Second Runner Up: Derby G&S Company - Pirates of Penzance Houston also gleaned honors (either gaining the title or serving as runner-up) in the fields of Best Musical Director, Best Female Singer, Best Supporting Actor, Best Chorus, etc., etc… So the honor of the USA was defended by Texas! We owe them great thanks, and hope that more Americans will travel to Buxton next year to compete and enjoy. For all the details of this year’s Festival - reviews, photos, diaries and a general sense of the ambiance of a wonderful experience, visit the Buxton Daily Diary at: http://www.btinternet.com/~richards.gands/buxton98/welcome.htm This site was made possible in part by NEGASSer Peter Zavon. |
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While We’re being International, We’d like to remind folks: To subscribe to SavoyNet, the G&S chat line, send the message Subscribe SavoyNet (your full name) to the address listserv@bridgewater.edu - and you’ll be sent all the information you need.
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Sir Arthur Sullivan Society festival in October. [Janice Dallas sent Us this gleaning from SavoyNet in May. Now that the other Festivals are over, maybe it’s time to run it again?!) On 23, 24 and 25 October my society, the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, is holding its eighth Sullivan Festival in the market town of Retford, 150 miles north of London. We have an intensive programme of performances and activities that includes the following:
The whole package, including 2 nights bed and breakfast accommodation, local transportation and meals, costs GBP 190 (small single supplement).
Stephen’s note last spring suggested that visitors might like to link a visit to his festival with several other performances nearby planned for the previous week:
...Carl Rosa productions of Mikado and Pirates. Rosa will be giving these two operas a week's run at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland (30 miles from where I live and only 150 miles north of Retford) during the week ending 24 October.. so you could have five days as follows:
If you are interested, or want to know more, please get in touch! --- Stephen Turnbull
[We have not been able reach Stephen, at SHTURNBULL@aol.com, to confirm that this festival is still as planned, or whether his offer to arrange tours for visitors from the US is still valid - but We’ll keep trying, and publish something about it next month. - mlc]
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ACOUSTIC TO CD: Chris Webster has begun a major project: Re-recording old acoustic recordings of G&S onto CDs. His first effort, now available for purchase, involves a 1921 HMV Acoustic Recording of Patience. (His next release will be a 1924 recording of RUDDIGORE.) Chris has been basing his work on as many copies of the original as he can find, editing and splicing to produce the best quality possible, and apparently the results have been worth-while. To purchase a copy with US dollars, send $26 to NEGASS’s own President Dick Freedman, who has the resources to exchange the dollars for pounds. Or send 15 UK pounds to Chris Webster, Victoria House, 228 B High Street, CROYDON, Surrey, CR0 1NF.
NEGASSers in CT: New member Stephen Grover, know ye not that you are not the only CT dweller in our ranks? Ted Wiseman of Waterford, CT., tells Us that he and his wife Jean are Honorary Life Members of the Opera Comique of Portsmouth, England, which performed PIRATES on a boat docked at Mystic Seaport this summer. Ted played Major Gen. Stanley, and Jean was costumier for the production. What a wealth of talent in the NEGASS fold!
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INTERVIEWS WITH THE SOURCE: Wally Mason writes: I should tell you about a book called Gilbert and Sullivan: Interviews and Recollections.. Edited by Harold Orel, published by the U. of Iowa Press, Iowa City. It is available from The Scholar’s Bookshelf, 110 Melrich Rd., Cranbury, NJ 08512. - No. 800, strictly by mail - check or credit card. The book is just what the sub-title says - a pulling together in one place of many (40, actually) pieces that were scattered about in contemporary (and later) magazines, books and journals. For anyone who has done any reading about G&S, there’s not too much new here, but the useful thing is to have it all together in one place. I believe the price is $12.95… well worth the money.
-- WALLACE MASON
We’ve been sent a SavoyNet review by Dan Kravetz from the NYG&SS of a TER CD with the title Sullivan & Co.: The Operas that Got Away, which apparently is a recording by top-notch Savoyard singers of many works by Sullivan and Others. For the most part, Dan’s review was positive -- with his permission, We’ll try to publish all or part of his comments next month.
THE Gilbert & Sullivan Society (of England) 1998-99 meeting plans include the dates Sept. 22, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Feb. 24, April 9, and May 5 -- if you’re on that side of the pond, give them a look-in! Write to Honorary Secretary Margaret Bowden, 1 Nethercourt Avenue, Finchley, London, N3 1PS for more info.
NYG&SS (the New York society) plans meetings on Tues., 10/20; Fri. 11/13; Wed., 12/16; Sat., 1/9; Wed., 2/10; Fri., 3/19; Thurs., 4/15; Fri., 5/14 and Sat., 6/12, all at CAMI Hall, 165 W. 57th St., NYC. Doors open at 7:30; the meeting starts at 8, and the Inner Brotherhood go out for coffee afterwards.
Auditions for the Winnepeg G&S Society’s April ‘99 production of GONDOLIERS will be held 9/25-6-7. In Winnepeg, Canada call 488-8440 [sorry - We don’t have an area code!] for audition information.
The Titipu Times of Western Australia (as opposed to the Titipu Times of Winnepeg, Canada!) tells Us that the G&S Soc. of WA is planning the first-ever production in their neighborhood of Cole Porter’s Bittersweet. If you’ll be in the area 9/23-26, call 9484-1133 for tickets.
Savoyard Light Opera Co's fall production, GONDOLIERS, will be performed Nov. 13-15 and 21-22 (and Dame Rumour whispers that the sketches for the sets are grand, and the budget, magnificent!). Directors: Scott Gagnon, stage, and Philip Lauriat, music. NEGASS stars: Amy Allen (Tessa), Rebecca Consentino (Casilda), Dave Jedlinsky (Don Alhambra), and Todd Allen Long (Giuseppe). In fact, in honor of so many NEGASSers in so many vital roles, NEGASS plans to visit Carlisle, MA, for SLOC’s Nov. 22 matinee. (We’ll publish any get-together-before-or-after plans next month.) For more info, call (978) 371-SLOC, e-mail sloc@tiac.net, or check their web page: http://www.tiac.net/users/sloc.
MITG&SP’s MIKADO, which is holding auditions at this very moment, will be performed November 5-8 (yes - only one week-end this semester, so make your plans early! Stage direction is by Andrew Sweet, music direction by John McKay and Don Robinson. For more info, contact them via e-mail at savoyards-request@mit.edu, call (617) 253-0190, or visit http://www.mit.edu/activities/gsp/home.html. Their spring ’99 show will be YEOMEN. More news as it breaks!
BAM (The Boston Academy of Music) will perform Pinafore at 3 PM and 8 PM on November 27-29 at the Emerson Majestic Theatre. Tickets are $18, $33, and $47.50. For more info, phone: 617-824-8000; e-mail: majestic@emerson.edu; WWW : http://www.emerson.edu/majestic.
Valley Light Opera of Amherst, MA is planning Patience for November 6, 7, 8, 13, and 14, 1998. Check their web page for current info: http://www-ims.oit.umass.edu/~dial129/vlo/
Connecticut G&S Society's Bob Cumming sends news of their upcoming show: YEOMEN, performed 8 PM Friday & Saturday, Nov. 13,14; 2 PM Sunday Nov. 15; at Middletown High School. Also planned is A Night at the Operetta, a double benefit for CG&SS and the East Haddam Historical Society, on 10/5/98. Call 1 (800) 866-1606 for more information, or write to CG&SS, Box 2152, Middletown, CT 06457-2152.
The Footlight Club of Jamaica Plain plans Pirates, directed by Richard Repetta, for November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. For more information, call Jim Ansart at (617) 277-4740
Harvard-Radcliffe G&S plans Gondoliers (directed by Frank Habit '92-'93 and Logan McCarty '96) in December: 12/3,4,5,11,12 at 8 PM, 12/5,6,12 at 2 PM. For more info, contact tmoore@fas.harvard.edu, or phone 617- 496-4747 - or visit their Web page: http://www.hcs. harvard.edu/~hrgsp/
Hancock County G&S Society will perform Trial/Pinafore February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14. July 15, 16, 17, 1999 at the Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth, Maine.
The Sudbury Savoyards plan IOLANTHE as their spring í99 show. Stage and music direction will be by Kathy Lague. Visit their Web site at http://www.sudburysavoyards.org/ or call 508 443-8811 for more information.
The Huntington Theater's run of Mikado will be May 21-June 20, 1999. The Huntington now has a web site at http://www.bu.edu/HUNTINGTON. President Dick promises to get audition info (for small roles only - leads will come from NYC) when it's available.
The Valley Light Opera plans to present a double bill of TRIAL and The Foundling (libretto by Mary Finn, music by Bob Weingart) in the fall of the year 2000. We’re looking forward to it - it’ll be the first time this very deserving little Finn/Weingart opus will be staged since its debut several years ago.
We’re told: PIRATES with Yiddish lyrics (in simultaneous English translation) will feature Israeli cantor Dudu Fisher, star of Broadway's 'Les Miserables'. Performances will be April 10th to May 2nd, 1999 at the Jewish Repertory Theatre's PLAYHOUSE 91, 316 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128. Eleanor Reissa and Zalmen Mlotek, the director/musical director team of such hits as 'Those Were the Days', will be at the helm. For a brochure listing the schedule of performances or for additional info, call (212) 831-2000 or (212) 831-2001.
We learn from no less an authority than the Titipu Times, newsletter of the G&S Society of Winnepeg, that "Over the next two and one half years, the Chorus 802 of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York will be performing all 13 G&S operettas in chronological order, concert style with full orchestra." Anyone know any more about this?
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We’ve been sent information concerning a shift in focus by the New D’Oyly Carte Co., which apparently plans to do more to please a more traditionally-biased audience this year - but - We confess - We’ve left the material on Our other computer (along with much other vital material) and can’t access it right now! - So We’ll tell you more next month. --mlc
Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC this winter for a celebration in honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding if The Blue Hill Troupe. On Sat., Oct. 24 at 4 PM there’ll be a panel discussion on Gilbert led by Jane Stedman, followed at 7 PM by a concert by the Savoy Company of Philadelphia. Sat., Dec. 12 at 4 PM will feature a panel discussion on Sullivan led by F. Woodbridge Wilson, followed at 7 PM by a concert featuring 4 NYC groups (The Village Light Opera Group, The Bronx Opera, the NY G&S Players, and Theatre Ten Ten). And On Sat., Feb 27, Ralph MacPhail will lead a panel discussion on the partnership among G, S, and D’Oyly Carte, which will be followed by a concert at 7 PM by The Blue Hill Troupe. How many of us will make how many of these events?!
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