The Opera House Co.’s Spring 2010 production will showcase the most popular Gilbert and Sullivan work of all: The Mikado, a two act comedic opera situation in ancient Japan.

Prince Nanki-Poo (Isaiah Barnfield, Benton) has fled the court of his father, The Mikado of Japan (Jim Ford, Benton), to escape an arranged marriage to the elderly Katisha (Michelle Benjamin, Christopher), disguised as a wandering minstrel. Nanki-Poo travels to Titipu, where he falls in love with the scrumptious Yum-Yum (Tiffany Kesler, Marion), the Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko’s (Quinton Sledge, Mt. Vernon) intended wife. This witty tale of tangled law and love is a thinly veiled commentary on Victorian England. Musical highlights include the well known “Three Little Maids From School Are We” and “Willow, Tit Willow. "The cast of The Mikado also includes David Walters (Mt. Vernon) as Pooh-Bah, Levi Overturf (Mt. Vernon) as Pish-Tush, Brittanie Graham (Woodlawn) as Pitti-Sing, and Jenny McCollom (Christopher) as Peep-Bo. The chorus of school girls and Japanese Noblemen: Christie Barnfield and Agnes Semeneck (Benton), David, Grace, Jesse, Jonathan, and Rachel Gomes (DuQuoin), Trey Cockrum and Anthony Pierce (Tamaroa), and Jayne Ballantyne, Emily Dixon, Kaitlyn Hagene, and Emily Schmidt (Pinckneyville).
 

he Opera House Co. debuted in 2007 with Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. Every Spring the group presents a different G & S work. To purchase tickets for The Mikado please call 618-625-5322. Group rates are available for parties greater than 10.

The Opera House Co. Publicity-
Ned Mitchell
618-927-0860
nedmitchell@verizon.net