Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance
promises side-splitting laughter

FOR RELEASE January 15, 2004

HUNTINGTON, IN—   The Huntington College Theatre and Music departments are proud to present The Pirates of Penzance, a W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan show, on January 30 and 31, and February 6 and 7.  Performances will begin each night at 7:30 p.m., in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts.  There will be also be a 2:00 p.m. matinee on January 31, in addition to the regular evening show.

The public is cordially invited to attend.  Admission in the form of reserved seating will be $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors.  For additional ticket information or to make reservations, call the Merillat Centre Box Office at (260) 359-4261 or visit www.huntington.edu/mca.

In The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic, the show’s main character, was as a child apprenticed to a band of kind, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Upon completing his 21st year, Frederic rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. But being born on February 29 in leap year, Frederic learns that he must remain apprenticed to the pirates until his actual 21st birthday. By the end of the show, the pirates, a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy and his large family of beautiful but unwed daughters, along with the timid constabulary, all contribute to a cacophony that can be silenced only by Queen Victoria's name.

The Pirates of Penzance is this year’s second major collaboration of the HC Music and Theatre departments.  Students and faculty perform together in what is considered the most famous of all Gilbert and Sullivan shows.  A rip-roaring, rollicking, rib-tickling spoof, this show promises to leave the audience in “side-splitting” laughter!

Cast members for The Pirates of Penzance include:

  • MAJOR GENERAL – Justin Geiger, a senior music major from Huntington, Ind.
  • SERGEANT GENERAL – Daniel Neil Olson, a junior theatre performance major from Shullsburg, Wis.
  • SAMUEL – Noah Varness, a junior theatre performance major from Morris, Ill.
  • FREDRICK – Chris Betz, a freshman choral education major from Blissfield, Mich.
  • MABEL – Marissa Chittick, a junior music major from Indianapolis, Ind.
  • EDITH – Julie Porter, a junior choral education major from Addison, Mich.
  • KATE – Kendra Nelson, a junior English education major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • ISABELLE – Nikki Barger, a sophomore theatre performance major from Celina, Ohio.
  • RUTH – Dana Frick, a sophomore music performance major from Kendallville, Ind.

Chorus:

  • J. Scott Grinstead, a senior theatre performance major from Dunbar, W.Va.
  • Spencer Owen, a senior communication studies major from Rochester, Ill.
  • Noah Mazaika, a junior theatre performance major from Mount Airy, Md.
  • Neil Rupp, a freshman youth ministries major from Blissfield, Mich.
  • Dave Blaser, a senior theatre performance major from Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Josh Christenson, a freshman undeclared major from Carol Stream, Ill.
  • Laura Brautigam, a sophomore theatre performance major from Westfield, N.Y.
  • Jolene Gipe, a sophomore music performance major from Columbia City, Ind.
  • Janice Ruder, a sophomore theatre performance major from Eureka, Ill.
  • Amber Patrick, a sophomore theatre performance major from Columbus, Ohio.
  • Kristi Cates, a senior English major from Huntington, Ind.
  • Rebecca Rodgers, a junior theatre design major from Lacon, Ill.
  • Kylie Edmonds, a freshman theatre performance major from Bourbon, Ind.
  • Amy Warkentien, a senior broadcast communication major from Dowagiac, Mich.
  • Sarah McCullough, a sophomore theatre performance major from Chambersburg, Pa.
  • Stephanie Hoekenga, a sophomore elementary education major from Wheaton, Ill.
  • Rebekah Bachman, a sophomore theatre performance major from Columbus, Mich.
  • Sharon Voss, a sophomore theatre performance major from Villa Park, Ill.
  • Maria Rhodes, a sophomore choral education major from Celina, Ohio.
  • Ashleigh Horton, a sophomore choral education major from Middleport, N.Y.
  • Ashley Guldbeck, a freshman theatre performance major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • Lori Merkle, a junior elementary education major from Walton, Ky.

Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana. The College is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

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Huntington College is located in historic Huntington, Indiana.
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