Roughly 100 students have contributed to the Department of Music and Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance.”
The Pirates of Penzance, the classic comic operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, will be performed this week in Fisher Auditorium, showcasing the work of a handful of IUP ensembles.
Director Oliver Lo emphasizes that, beyond the participants the audience can see, the production relies on the work of many more contributors behind the scenes—about 100 students total from a variety of disciplines.
“We started planning last spring and have rehearsed four nights per week since September,” Lo said. “The students go beyond what the class requires, and the faculty also go beyond their job requirements. But we have had such fun and have built a fantastic rapport and friendship.”
Lo notes that the group photo shows only part of the company.
“We do have an ‘army’ of design and technical students who work tirelessly behind the scenes,” he said. “They are the unsung heroes for the production.”
The operetta follows the story of Frederic, the apprentice to a band of pirates who completes the terms of his service and attempts to leave and find a wife.
IUP Music Theater, Theater-by-the-Grove, Dance Theater, Symphony Orchestra, and Chorale present Pirates of Penzance on Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Auditorium. Tickets are for sale on the Lively Arts website.