A Celebration of Gilbert & Sullivan featuring Cox & Box

Adam P. Blais Director	John Neal Music Director	Jim Alexander Lighting Designer	Erin Fauble Lighting Technician & Production Assistant
Michelle Handley Costume Designer	Meg Lydon* Stage Manager	Rew Tippin Set Designer

Cast

Patrick Brady* Box/Tenor

Quinn Corcoran Cox/Baritone

Michelle Seipel Mrs. Bouncer/Soprano

Musicians

Ben Bridges Cello

Gary Fuller Percussion

John Neal Piano

From the Director

In 1953 the American Savoyards, an off-Broadway and touring repertory company that produced light operas, performed their first ten-week summer season in Cumston Hall. They returned to Monmouth each summer until 1958, performing a different Gilbert & Sullivan show each week (six evenings, two matinees, and no Sunday performances) for ten consecutive weeks. As the summers progressed, the American Savoyards introduced a small handful of non-Gilbert & Sullivan operas into their repertoire including F. C. Burnand and Arthur Sullivan’s one act comic opera Cox and Box.

Based out of New York, The American Savoyards were believed to be the only professional company to actively perform the entire Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire, as many titles had been retired by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. In fact, it is believed that The Grand Duke made its North American professional debut right here in Cumston Hall. Under the direction of Dorothy Raedler and siblings Rue and Sally Knapp, each American Savoyard production was carefully researched and performed in the “traditional” style of D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Costumes, scenery and staging were meticulously replicated and the productions were often accompanied by only a piano and a Hammond organ. The principal actors were all members of Actors Equity Association and the company often used young local talent to round out their ensembles.

In 2001, Theater at Monmouth brought the music of Gilbert & Sullivan back to Cumston Hall with a production of HMS Pinafore. Since then, they have gone on to produce seven Gilbert & Sullivan titles and eleven unique productions. Taking inspiration from the American Savoyards, many of these productions were supported by a dedicated and talented group of local performers. Some of which might even be in the audience today.

This Fall, we gather to celebrate the influential work of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as we once again fill Cumston Hall with the “topsy-turvy” and tuneful repertoire of “Gilbert and Sullivan.” Today, you will hear musical from all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas, some of which have not been sung in this historic opera hall since the American Savoyards 70 years ago.