Opera Unlimited Summer Youth Opera Day Camp Present Gilbert and Sullivan's IOLANTHE, 7/12-7/13

The students of the Opera Unlimited Summer Youth Opera Day Camp will present a fully-staged abridged production of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta Iolanthe on July 12th and 13th at 7 PM in the Highland High School Performing Arts Center. Pianist NataliaTikhovidova will accompany the forty eight cast members.

Both Gilbert and Sullivan were at the height of their creative powers when Iolanthe was written in 1882, and many people feel that it is the most perfect of their collaborations.

Strephon, a shepherd, wants to marry Phyllis, an orphan. Phyllis does not know that Strephon is half fairy (his upper half - his legs are mortal!) and when she sees him kissing a seemingly young woman, she assumes the worst. But her "rival" turns out to be none other than Strephon's own mother, Iolanthe, a fairy (fairies never grow old).

Phyllis' guardian, the Lord Chancellor, and half the peers in the House of Lords are sighing after her. Soon the peers and the fairies are virtually at war, and long friendships are nearly torn asunder. But all is happily sorted out, thanks to the "subtleties of the legal mind", all punctuated by a magnificent score.

Iolanthe features some of Gilbert and Sullivan's best music including their most famous patter song ("Love, Unrequited, Robs Me of My Rest" - The Nightmare Song), the trio "He who Shies at Such a Prize," and very funny dialog.

The production is directed by Cy & Jane Hoffman, with musical direction by Loretta Robinson and choreography by Rebecca Dawson.

IOLANTHE will be presented on July 12th and 13th at 7 PM in the Highland High School Performing Arts Center, near the corner of Jackson St. and Zuni Rd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Admission is free with donations requested to benefit Opera Unlimited's educational programs throughout New Mexico. For information call 822-0849.

Opera Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing music education for school children.

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