NYGASP's Reworked MIKADO Enters Final Week at The Kaye Playhouse

The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, finishes up its winter season with the final five performances of its new production of The Mikado - Thursday, January 5th at 7:30; Friday, January 6th at 7:30, Saturday January 7th at 2 & 7:30PM and Sunday, January 8th at 3PM at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues).

In NYGASP's new production of The Mikado, the location is an imaginary town full of colorful characters - three little maids from school, a wandering minstrel, a hilariously corrupt public official, and a Lord High Executioner who may have a list of potential victims but is too tenderhearted to actually perform his duties. At the heart of this tale is a love story: a beautiful school girl loves the romantic wandering minstrel, but she is engaged to the executioner. This romantic triangle takes the usual course of thwarted romance, until the arrival first of the fearsome fiancé claiming the minstrel as her "perjured lover," and later of the emperor, or Mikado, himself - with his own list of punishments specially tailored to fit every crime. In order to resolve the ensuing complications, the inept executioner must use his wits to convince the most unappealing minstrel's fiancé to marry him instead - in record time.

In director David Auxier's new production of The Mikado, elements of Victorian England and Japanese culture have been carefully curated and combined with fantasy to enhance the production.

The production features original choreography and direction by NYGASP Associate Stage Director David Auxier with Assistant Director Kelvin Moon Loh. Aaron Gandy serves as music director and conduct the 25-piece orchestra. The production showcases a new production design including scenery designed by Anshuman Bhatia, costumes designed by Quinto Ott and lighting designed by Benjamin Weill.

Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Albert Bergeret, The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players has been hailed as "the leading custodian of the G&S classics" by New York Magazine and has created its own special niche in the cultural mosaic of New York City and the nation. Since its founding in 1974, the company has presented over 2,000 performances of the G&S masterpieces throughout the United States, Canada and England, captivating audiences of all ages.

Tickets for The Mikado at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues) are $95 - $25. Select Premium Orchestra seats are available for $95 and include a complimentary drink at intermission. Discount Offers include: 50% off children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult; 10% off seniors 65 and older. *Premium tickets for The Mikado are not available at discounted prices. For more information and tickets for the NYGASP 42nd season which includes The Mikado (December 28-31, 2016 and January 5-8, 2017) and the limited engagement of Patience (April 29-30, 2017) at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues) visit www.nygasp.org or phone the Kaye Playhouse box office (212) 772-4448.

Pictured: David Macaluso as Ko-Ko and Sarah Caldwell Smith as Yum-Yum in character for the new production of The Mikado. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

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