H.M.S. Pinafore 2015

July 11, 12 2015

This year marked the twentieth anniversary of The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra’s collaboration, presenting Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas in concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell since 1995.

This year’s concert presentation of H.M.S. Pinafore was unique in that it featured the swing version of “Fair Moon to Thee I Sing,” which had been arranged for the company’s spring production of the operetta, which had been set in the 1940s. In the role of Captain Corcoran, Waldyn Benbenek sang the song at the top of Act II, accompanied by a bevy of bubble blowing beauties!

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

Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B.    Tom Berg
Captain Corcoran              Waldyn Benbenek
Ralph Rackstraw                Kai Brewster
Dick Deadeye                    Will Dierenfield
Bill Bobstay                       Joe Allen
Bob Becket                       John Orbison

Josephine                        Victoria Valencour
Cousin Hebe                    Amanda Weis
Little Buttercup                Lara Trujillo

Women’s Chorus

Mary Mescher Benbenek, Kirsten Bighia, Tanya Brody, Maggie Burton, Marlene Doll, Victoria Erickson, Mary Gregory, Carly Hayes, Shawn Holt, Jennifer Lovitt, Holly MacDonald, Anna Maher, Jo Pasternack, Kara Schrapp, Brianna Sullivan, Rhea Sullivan, Eryn Tvete, Keelin Yenney-Henderson, Sarah Zuber

Men’s Chorus

Jim Brooks, John Byram, Christopher Erickson, Stephen Hage, Keith Luizzi, Eric Pasternack, Aaron Roloff, Roger Shaver, Alexander Stokes, Jason Vogen, Jacob Wellington,

Production Coordinator:

Waldyn Benbenek

Casting:

Waldyn Benbenek, Lesley Hendrickson, Marina Liadova

Rehearsal Accompanist:

Jean Van Heel

“Fair Moon to Thee I Sing” Arrangement:

Mitchell Johnson, Charlie McCarron