Iolanthe

June 13 - 23, 2019

Gilbert & Sullivan Austin presented as its 2019 Summer Grand Production "Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri." Nine performances were performed at the Worley Barton Theater at Brentwood Christian School, June 13-23. “Iolanthe” delighted Austin audiences of all ages with a topsy-turvy love story involving fairies and members of the House of Lords – a political fairy tale that only Gilbert & Sullivan could conceive.

About the Show

GSA Artistic Director Ralph MacPhail, Jr. returned for his 18th season. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, returning for his 22nd season as Music Director, conducted the Gillman Light Opera Orchestra. Bill Hatcher returned as Production Manager.

First performed in 1882, “Iolanthe” is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert and Sullivan. It is universally regarded as one of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s most beautiful scores - a high water mark in terms of music, wit, cleverness, and color – with incredible choruses, wonderful solos and orchestration beyond compare. Peers, British noblemen and honorable members of Parliament encounter Peris, lovelorn fairies from a golden glen – a collision of powerful mortals with feet of clay and immortal beings wielding magic wands. The result - havoc is wreaked in the House of Lords!

Critic Reviews

CTX Live Theater (Review #1)
CTx Live Theater (Review #2)
Austin Chronicle Arts & Culture (feature pg. 24)

Press

Press release
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Libretto