|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Olson and crew prepare for ‘Pirates of Penzance’ performances
Pirates are set to storm Demens Landing Park in the 23rd annual American Stage in the Park production.
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
Article published on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 |
 |
![[Image]](/content_images/040108_lestage-01.jpg) |
| From left, Zach Nadolski (Frederic), Darrel Blackburn (Pirate King) and Gina Varchetto (Mabel) star in the 23rd annual American Stage in the Park production of the Gulf Coast styled “The Pirates of Penzance.” |
|
ST. PETERSBURG – American Stage Theatre Company will produce Gilbert and Sullivan’s hit musical comedy “The Pirates of Penzance” from April 12 through May 4, at Demens Landing Park, on the corner of First Avenue North and Bayshore Boulevard.
Performances will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8 p.m. Ticket prices for general admission lawn seats range from $11 to $13 for Thursday and Sunday performances and $14 to 16 for Friday and Saturday performances.
Reserved chair seating is $27 and premium blanket seating is $21 for all performances. Kids 12 and under are free on the lawn.
The American Stage box office is at 211 Third St. S. Call 823-7529 or visit www.americanstage.org.
A comic opera performed in two acts, “The Pirates of Penzance” remains one of the most popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas alongside “The Mikado” and “H.M.S. Pinafore.” Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on Dec. 31, 1879.
The story revolves around young Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice, who seeks to leave the Pirate King and his band of scalawags on his rapidly approaching 21st birthday. Frederic falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of a Major General. Seeking to protect his new family from the Pirate King, Frederic must simultaneously break free from his obligations to his pirate family.
Director Todd Olson helms this production of “The Pirates of Penzance,” and faced all of the logistical hurdles one expects in putting together an outdoor production.
“It’s like going out into a field, building a theater six times larger and more expensive than the one you’re used to working in, and doing theater for six weeks,” Olson said in a recent e-mail interview. The obstacles clearly don’t outweigh the perks for Olson, though. “It’s a blast, it’s a challenge, it’s exhausting, and it’s theatre under the stars the way it was meant to be 2,500 years ago.”
Olson discussed how American Stage selects candidates for the annual American Stage in the Park production.
“I would say that there are technical considerations out there to be sure,” Olson said. Some musicals, according to the director, have too many sets that are integral to the work and must be discounted. “We had thought about ‘The Producers’ this year, for instance,” Olson said. Other works are eliminated because of cast size, or because the company feels the musical or dance needs could not be fully achieved in the setting. “Actually, finding the right work out there is hard, but we think we have found one in ‘Altar Boyz’ for next year.”
According to the director, the theater’s present stock set was inspired by Shakespeare’s Globe for maximum flexibility.
“Then,” he explained, “whatever play we have chosen lives ‘over’ that set, if you will.”
This year, American Stage’s modern interpretation of “The Pirates of Penzance” will come to life on the stage beneath the stars in downtown St. Petersburg.
Directed by Olson, with music director Vince DiMura, the cast includes Zach Nadolski (Frederic), Darrel Blackburn (Pirate King), Gina Varchetto (Mabel), Jack Eddleman (Major General), Joey Panek (Samuel), Kelly Sardinas (Betty), Steven Flaa (Sergeant), Michael Titone (pirate), Lauren Wood (Kate), Jane Strauss (Ruth), Katti Christopher (Edith), Kathryn Ohrenstein (Isabel), Derek Baxter (police) and JT Crowder (pirate).
Olson said the show will feature plenty of regional references and will appeal to younger audiences.
“We wanted a ‘Pirates’ retuned slightly for younger ears,” Olson said. He explained that the audience in the park is significantly younger than on the mainstage. “We wanted not to copy traditional productions of ‘Pirates’ because there are so many companies that do that so well.” Since keeping it placed in 1879 didn’t make much sense, Olson and his crew moved it into the present. “We added some bikinis, some Gasparilla-inspired pirates, and a lot of fun and contemporary-sounding music that is still respectful and true to the score.
“It’s the world premiere,” Olson said. “It’s very contemporary and it’s the kind of wild ride that I think Gilbert and Sullivan would have loved.”
|
Article published on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
