Opera Columbus Presents THE MIKADO, 6/8-10

Opera Columbus' 2011-12 season concludes with the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) in The Mikado, one of the world's most popular pieces of musical theatre. In this two-act, comedic opera, beautiful school girl Yum-Yum loves the romantic minstrel Nanki-Poo, but is engaged to Ko-Ko the executioner.

This romantic triangle takes the usual course of thwarted romance until the arrival of Katisha, who claims Nanki-Poo as her "perjured lover," and the emperor (or Mikado) himself with his own list of punishments to fit the crime. In order to resolve the ensuing complications, Ko-Ko must use his wits to convince the most unattractive Katisha to marry him (in record time).

Opera Columbus presents the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players in The Mikado at the Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.) on Friday, June 8, at 8 pm; Saturday, June 9, at 8pm; and Sunday, June 10, at 2 pm. Tickets are $38-$98 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000.