The Mikado

Season: Spring 1995

Dramatis Personæ:

Nanki-Poo (his Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel, and in love with Yum-Yum):

Scot P. Reeder

Go-To (a Noble):

Bill Hammond

Pish-Tush (A Noble Lord):

James Caffrey

Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else):

Brian Smith

Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner of Titipu):

Sandy Foster

Three Sisters — Wards of Ko-Ko:

Yum-Yum:

Kathy Perconti

Peep-Bo:

Amelia Winger-Bearskin

Pitti-Sing:

Amanda Lobaugh

Katisha (An Elderly Lady, in love with Nanki-Poo):

Pamela Good

The Mikado of Japan:

Jimmie B Lobaugh

Gentlemen of Japan:

Terry Benedict, Tracy Burdick, Stephen M. Gullo, Christopher Lehman, Jamie Loehr, Alexander Miltsch, Sam Nelson, David Schafer, Jerry Scrivens, Bob Weeks

Chorus of Schoolgirls:

Lynette Blake, Fran Carlisi, Barbara A. Dick, Nancy A. Galletto, Mary Ann Hanlon, Sally Harmon, Isabele Henry, Jordu Kelly, Angela Maloney, Mary Carol Maloney, Michelle Meminger-Schaffer, Linda Minier, Patricia A. Montrois, Laurel Schneiderman, Pamela Walker, Dale Williams

Production Staff:

Directors:

Jean Ryon & Joseph T. Washington

Musical Director & Accompanist:

Leanne DeVane

Production Committee:

Amanda Lobaugh, Mary Carol Maloney & Bob Weeks

Costumes Designer:

Joseph T. Washington

Costumes Coordination:

Jerry Scrivens

House Managers:

Ronald S. Herman, Anne Virgil & Byron Wilmot

Lighting Designer:

Michele Denber

Make-up:

Molly Moore

Program Illustration:

Joseph T. Washington

Props:

Bodie McCaffrey

Sets Designer:

Joseph T. Washington

Sets Coordination:

James Caffrey

Director's Notes:

The Mikado was born, it is said, when a Japanese ceremonial sword fell off the wall of Gilbert's study while he was pacing around trying to come up with an idea for the next operetta. The sword made him think of a Japanese exhibition that he had recently opened in London and was all the rage, and by the next morning, he had formed a concept and outlined a plot for what was to become one of the most popular operettas of all time.

Our production was inspired by an exhibition as well. Last summer we viewed the Japanese prints at the Memorial Art Gallery. We liked their colorfulness, their flatness, the way the printer's stamps are built right into the picture, and we wanted to incorporate these elements into our set to create a picture-book fairy-tale Japan, the backdrop to a cartoon. Getting practical, we found a book of postcards of Japanese prints, tore out one we liked, and reproduced it on our stage.

Of course, The Mikado is not really about Japan at all, but about Victorian England. Gilbert places his satire in an exotic locale to make it easier to exaggerate. He made no attempt to recreate authentic Japanese culture, and neither do we.

Here then, is our show: a Japanese print come to life, a postcard from a Japan that never was.

Jean Ryon and Joe Washington

Photos by Katherine M. O'Donnell

   

   

 

   

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Last updated: 02/18/10