Swimming pools, twinkly lights, a well-stocked Tiki Bar and beach balls welcome the audience to this raucous and utterly zany beach party adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. The entire audience joins the cast on the stage-beach, immersed in the action alongside sappy pirates, dewy-eyed damsels, bumbling bobbies and one very stuffy Major General. It is a spunky model of a (post)modern major musical.

The Hypocrites, founded in 1997 by Artistic Director Sean Graney, is one of Chicago’s premier off-Loop theater companies, specializing in mounting bold productions that challenge preconceptions and redefine the role of the audience. The company has a reputation for creating exciting, surprising, and deeply engaging theater as it re-interprets classics and tackles ambitious new works.

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Details

Libretto by W.S. Gilbert

Music by Arthur Sullivan

Directed and adapted by Sean Graney

Co-adapted by Kevin O’Donnell

Music direction by Andra Velis Simon

Scenic Designer: Tom Burch

Properties Design: Maria DeFabo

Lighting Design: Heather Gilbert

Sound Design: Kevin O’Donnell

Choreographer: Katie Spelman

Costume Design: Alison Siple

Cast: Shawn Pfautsch, Matt Kahler, Rob McLean, Tina Munoz-Pandya, Amanda Martinez, Dana Omar, Christine Stulik, Emily Casey, Mario Aivazian, Danny Goodman

Produced by The Hypocrites

Executive Director: Kelli Strickland

NYU Skirball’s “Serious Fun” family matinee series is made possible in part with generous support from Con Edison for family educational and enrichment programming.

This project is made possible in part with support from Collins Building Services and Aramark.