The Arrata Opera Centre Presents THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Now thru 8/25

The Arrata Opera Centre is abuzz as rehearsals begin for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, the centrepiece of Canada's first outdoor summer opera festival - Opera in the Village, tonight, August 22 - 25, 2013 - on RiverWalk Plaza in Calgary's East Village.

"As the artists arrive, the tent goes up and the rehearsal process starts, you can't help but feel the excitement building for the opening of the festival," says Calgary Opera General Director and CEO Bob McPhee. "I want to invite everyone who has ever loved, or even just been curious about opera to join us for this cultural celebration in East Village."

The Pirates of Penzance follows the comical story of Frederic, a young man who is celebrating his 21st birthday, and thus about to graduate from his apprenticeship to a group of tender-hearted pirates. After he meets and falls in love with the lovely Mabel, the pirates return, claiming that being born in a leap year makes him only 5 years old! Gilbert and Sullivan's classic comedy of errors abounds with familiar tunes, silly antics and a host of hilarious characters making it their most loved operetta.

The Pirates of Penzance features a renowned Canadian cast with Brett Polegato as The Pirate King, Tracy Dahl as Mabel,Colin Ainsworth as Frederic, Elizabeth Turnbull as Ruth, local actor David LeReaney as Major General Stanley, Thomas Goerz as the Sergeant of Police, Michelle Minke as Edith, Tyler Fitzgerald as Samuel and Jennifer Sproule as Kate. The production is directed by Robert Herriot, with a live orchestra conducted by Gordon Gerrard, the set designed by Terry Gunvordahl and lighting designed by Harry Frehner.

In addition to the mainstage performance, Opera in the Village includes numerous free activities such as Swashbuckling on the Bow stage fighting demonstrations, Arrrias in the Afternoon concerts featuring famous opera tunes, Pirate Movie Nightsprojected on the side of the historic Simmons Building, the return of the So You Think You Can Sing Opera competition as well as numerous costumed characters up to pirate shenanigans!

This family-friendly event will also include a two-week opera camp for children ages 9-14, which will culminate in a free public performance of their very own production of The Pirates of Penzance on the festival site.

Opera in the Village is supported by the Province of Alberta, the City of Calgary through the Event Stimulus Program, the Remarkable Experience Accelerator Program through the Downtown Hotel Association and Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Tourism, presenting sponsor the Imperial Oil Foundation, Festival Founders Cenovus, FRAM+Slokker, Embassy Bosa, and Big Rock Brewery, Tourism Calgary, and our site partner Calgary Municipal Land Corporation.

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