The Mikado, or the Town of Titipu

Libretto by William Schwenk Gilbert and Music by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan

Directed by Terry Kiss Frank, Stage Director and Chris Ocasek, Musical Director

The Mikado, one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s best-loved operettas, will be presented by the Madison Savoyards at Music Hall on the UW-Madison campus for six performances in July: Fridays through Sundays July 18-20 and 25-27. The Sunday performances are 3 p.m. matinees, and Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

In the 46-year tradition of Madison Savoyards productions, The Mikado will feature a highly talented cast of singer-actors and a full orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Christopher Ocasek. The show’s stage director is Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) veteran Terry Kiss Frank, who has appeared frequently in major roles with the Savoyards and directed the highly acclaimed production of Patience in 2006.

The Mikado, which takes place in the mythical Town of Titipu in Japan, is known worldwide for its beautiful music, hilarious plot, unforgettable characters, and amusing dialogue. First performed in England in 1885, it is full of Japanese characters who have universal attributes and “issues”: the wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo, who in fact is the disguised son of the Mikado; his true love Yum-Yum, who sings beautifully and would rather not marry Ko-Ko, the local tailor who also happens to be the Lord High Executioner; the self-satisfied Pooh-Bah, who balances numerous jobs and accepts payment for all of them; and the formidable Katisha, “an elderly lady in love with Nanki-Poo,” who acknowledges that she is an acquired taste (but also sings beautifully, like everyone else in Titipu).

The Madison Savoyards, Ltd., a summer tradition in Madison, stages the full G&S repertoire of 13 operettas (or musical comedies) with full orchestra, remaining faithful to the G&S performance tradition. For more information, see www.madsionsavoyards.org.

Produced by Madison Savoyards at UW Music Hall, 925 Bascom Mall (bottom of Bascom Hill at N. Park St. & UW Library Mall), Madison

Performances: July 18-27, 2008

Performance Times: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 7:30 PM; Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 7:30 PM; Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 3:00 PM; Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 7:30 PM; Friday, July 25, 2008 - 7:30 PM; Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 7:30 PM; Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 3:00 PM

Ticket Prices: (Assigned Seating) $30 Adults, $28 Seniors, $15 Students, $5 Children (under 13). Premium, group and discount seating available. Reserve early as seating is limited!

Tickets are available at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office (262-2201) and Vilas Hall Box Office (262-1500) and online at www.madisonsavoyards.org . Ticket prices range from $20 to $40, with special prices for seniors, students, and children. All tickets are for reserved seating.

Call (608) 231-9005 for reservations.