The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company

H.M.S. Pinafore 2003

July 12, 2003

This was the one time that the Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra performed an operetta for only one performance.  This was due to a decision made by the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Board.  Subsequently, the Company and Minneapolis Pops Orchestra agreed to an arrangement by which they would perform a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta together on both Saturday and Sunday, but would do so only every other year.  As a result there were no joint concerts in 2005 or 2007.  The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company was pleased when this arrangement was set aside and the Company and orchestra returned to performing two shows every year, beginning in 2009.

This performance was also noteworthy as it was the one for which the Lake Harriet Bandshell’s sound system failed and the performance had to be done without any amplification.

The cast for this concert production of H.M.S. Pinafore included:

Women’s Chorus

Mary Mescher Benbenek, Amy Bonhag, Marlene Dahl, Marlene Doll, Dianne Friebe, Mary Gregory, Franny Gustafson, Madeleine Hage, Lesley Hendrickson, Kathy Hering, Ari Hopstock, Lisa Horton, Michelle Jackson, Lark Lewis, Anita Lyons, Holly MacDonald, Carol Manning, Carol Parshall, JoAnn Pasternack, Susan Schoenecker, Janet Scovill, Ruth Staus, Kathy Stuebner, Brianna Sullivan, Rhea Sullivan, Jean Van Heel

Men’s Chorus

Ethan Edwards, Peter Erickson, Jim Garretson, Stephen Hage, James Hart, Dean Laurance, Warren Loud, Kristefor Lysne, Mychael Myers, John Orbison, Peter Parshall, Matthieu Peterson, Richard Rames, Eric Pasternack, Scott Sandberg

Artistic Director

Wendy Evans

Staging Assistant

Lisa Horton

Dialogue Adaption

Lesley Hendrickson

Rehearsal Accompanist

Jean Van Heel

Production Coordinator

Waldyn Benbenek