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
Arthur DiBianca
The Lord Chancellor
Sam Johnson
Earl of Mountararat
Dalton Flake
Earl Tolloller
Russell Gregory
Private Willis
Holton Johnson
Strephon
Bethany Ammon
Queen of the Fairies
Shelby Schisler
Iolanthe
Corinna Browning
Celia
Janette Jones
Leila
Leann Fryer
Fleta
Angela Irving
Phyllis
Amy Selby
Courtney Katzmeyer
Sofia Follman
Stefanie Taylor
Jasmine Groff
Alexandra Roubinek
Chrishawn Michelle Floyd
Linda Grace Perez
Tess Jackson
Abbie Brown
Andy Fleming
Brett Hardy
Garrett Cordes
Ian Stillwell
Jeffrey C. Brister
Trinidad Agostino
Frederick Bothwell III
Jay Young
Julius Young
Matthew Leary
Gavin George
Royanne Kelly
The Lord Chancellor's Train Bearer
Ralph MacPhail, Jr.
Artistic Director
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona
Music Director
Bill Hatcher
Production Manager
Adam Gunderson
Stage Manager
Ann Marie Gordon
Set Designer
Jennifer Rogers
Lighting Designer
Pam Fowler
Costumes & Make-up Designer
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