Photo Gallery

H.M.S. Pinafore is feast for the eye and the ear
as beautifully captured in images by official Anchorage Opera Photographer Kathleen Behnke​

Performance Dates

Friday, Nov 2, 2018 @ 8:00 PM – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, Nov 3, 2018 @ 8:00 PM  – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, Nov 4, 2018 @ 4:00 PM – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

About H.M.S. Pinafore

Set sail for hysterical hi-jinks on the high seas with Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved comedy of star-crossed lovers, mismatched marriages and mistaken identities. The captain’s daughter has caught the eye, and the heart, of two men; a lowly sailor and the pompous First Lord of the Admiralty himself. Will true love prevail? What long-held secret holds the key to happiness for all? This effervescent musical romp, overflowing with infectious tunes, jaunty dances and hilarious action, is a bitingly funny parody of class and society that still makes a modern-day splash! Leave your cares on dry land and chart a course for this beloved, light-hearted classic operetta, suitable for audiences of all ages.

In English with English Supertitles

Media Coverage

Stage Director/Choreographer, Allison Grant and Jonathan Hays, “Sir Joseph Porter” sat down with Scott Rhode at the IHeart Radio studios for a great interview about the making of our production of H.M.S. Pinafore!


Conor McDonald stopped by the KLEF 98.1 FM Studios to chat with Rick Goodfellow about his role in H.M.S. Pinafore (Captain Corcoran), about his path to Anchorage Opera and about all things Gilbert & Sullivan. It’s a great listen (in two parts)!

Conor McDonald interview Part 1

Conor McDonald interview Part 2

 

Allison Grant, Stage Director/Choreographer of H.M.S. Pinafore sat down with Rick Goodfellow at the KLEF 98.1 FM Studios to talk about her concept for the show, her career in opera and the state of the genre itself in our times and in times gone by. A fascinating & delightful listen!

Allison Grant, Stage Director/Choreographer interview

Cast

Production Team


Chelsea MillerJosephine


John Riesen – Ralph Rackstraw


Charles Prince Conductor


Allison Grant – Stage Director


Conor McDonald – Captain Corcoran


Jonathan Hays – Sir Joseph Porter


Carrie Yanagawa – Set Designer


Cedar Cussins – Lighting Designer


Lisa Willis – Little Buttercup


Kathryn Strock – Cousin Hebe


Kyle Gantz – Dick Deadeye


Elle Janecek – Hair/Makeup Designer


Neda St. ClairChorus Master / Rehearsal Accompanist / Coach


Lynn Murphy – Costume Coordinator


Emily Butzi – Stage Manager

Synopsis

TIME: late 1800’s
PLACE:  Portsmouth, England

ACT I – Noon on the H.M.S. Pinafore

Anchored in the harbor at Portsmouth, the proud sailors of the H.M.S. Pinafore are busy scrubbing the decks and readying a luncheon for the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty.

Buttercup, a bumboat woman, comes aboard to sell her stock to the sailors. She harbors secrets and has a romantic interest in the Pinafore’s Captain.

A handsome and accomplished sailor, Ralph, tells his messmates that he is in love with the Captain’s daughter, Josephine. Dick Deadeye, the grim and ugly realist of the crew, reminds the starry-eyed seaman that Captain’s daughters don’t marry foremast hands.
The Captain arrives to inspect his crew. Josephine is sought in marriage by Sir Joseph, but it seems that she has no enthusiasm for that union – secretly, she is in love with a lowly sailor, Ralph.

Finally, Sir Joseph arrives for the luncheon, attended by his many relations, including his loyal, but jealous, cousin Hebe. He explains how he rose to the top post in the Navy. Sir Joseph and the Captain retire.

Ralph finds Josephine alone on deck and declares his love for her. She rejects his proffered love and cannot forget the disparity in their ranks. But, when Ralph threatens suicide, Josephine relents and declares her love for him. With the help of the crew and Sr. Joseph’s relations, the lovers plan to elope that very night. Dick Deadeye warns the pair of the impropriety of their plan, but he is forced to retreat.

ACT II – Night

Captain Corcoran, watching his sailors flirt with the young women, reflects on his current dilemmas, singing to the moon for consolation. Buttercup comes to him and reveals her affection. He tells her that because of his rank he can never be more to her than a friend, but she hints ominously that a change is in store for him.

Sir Joseph returns, complaining about Josephine’s inattention. The Captain guesses that Josephine is dazzled by his lofty station, and he suggests that he plead his cause on the ground that “love levels all ranks.” When Josephine hears this argument, she is overjoyed – it might justify her union with Ralph.

Dick Deadeye reveals the planned elopement. Exasperated, the Captain confronts the elopers and the entire crew. Sir Joseph orders the Captain to retire to his cabin.

Sir Joseph learns of Ralph and Josephine’s affair and orders the sailor to the brig. Buttercup finally discloses her long-concealed secret – as their foster mother, she had exchanged the Captain and Ralph while they were both babies. This revelation conveniently now levels the ranks of at least two of the couples, Josephine and Ralph and the Captain and Buttercup.

Again alone, Sir Joseph finally agrees to marry is longtime admirer, cousin Hebe, making it three loving pairs who on the same day will be united.

Free Pre-Opera Talks

Plan to join us one hour before each performance of H.M.S. Pinafore to learn the interesting background, tidbits of information and fascinating insights into this laugh out loud Gilbert & Sullivan favorite. We are proud to present our colleague in the arts, Michael Jungreis, as your Pre-Opera Talk Host for H.M.S. Pinafore. Michael is well-known to Anchorage audiences as the host of KLEF’s “Saturday Night at the Opera”.
Friday, Nov 2 at 7:00 pm – Discovery Theatre Parterre
Saturday, Nov 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm – Discovery Theatre Parterre
Sunday, Nov 4, 2018 at 3:00 pm – Discovery Theatre Parterre

Free Student Final Dress Rehearsal

Anchorage Opera would like to open the final dress rehearsal to K-12 students at no cost for our production of H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan on Oct 31, 2018 at 7:00 pm performed in English with projected Supertitles in English. This production will be held at The Discovery Theater, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts and seating is limited. We will do our best to accommodate any K-12 student that would like to come, however some parties may receive fewer tickets than requested based on availability.

Please contact Kaylee Wagle at 907-279-2557 or email kwagle@anchorageopera.org to request your vouchers.

As this is a coveted event for many schools in the Anchorage area, please do not request more tickets than you will use. If you are promised a certain number of tickets and find you will not be able to use them all, please contact us as soon as possible so that people on the wait list can be notified and make arrangements to attend.

We hope to see a full house of  K-12 Students there! BRAVO