WCU School of Music Presents "Pirates of Penzance"

HATTIESBURG, Miss., Mar 19, 2007 - The Winters School of Music at William Carey University will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Smith Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus.

“Pirates of Penzance” tells the story of a young pirate apprentice named Frederic (Christopher Napier of Laurel) who has come to the end of his service to a band of pirates. By mistake, his hearing impaired nursemaid Ruth (Suzanne Adcock of Crestview, Fla.) mistook “pilot” for “pirate.” Frederic has now decided to leave the pirate life forever and, though he loves his comrades and their devoted Pirate King (Michael Ginn of Kokomo) and his Lieutenant Samuel (Jonathan Langan of Jasper, Ala.) dearly, devotes his life to the extermination of their kind.

Once upon the shore, Frederic, who has never seen any woman other than his old nurse, stumbles upon a bevy of beautiful maidens, Edith (Jillian Breland of Hattiesburg), Kate (Sarah Beth Robinson of Laurel), and Isabel (Cody Clark of Hattiesburg), the wards of Major General Stanley (Brett Sutherland of Petal). He immediately falls in love with the most beautiful of the bunch, Mabel (Elizabeth Goff of Moss Point).

They are all soon attacked by the pirates and only the Major General’s ruse can keep them safe temporarily while Frederic and the Sergeant of Police (Dale Brumfield of Tylertown) come up with a plan to save them all. “Pirates of Penzance” is a swashbuckling comic opera adventure for the whole family.

The production is directed by Dr. Connie Roberts, professor of music at WCU. Dr. Mark Malone, chair of the school of music, is the conductor.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Tickets can also be purchased in advance by calling 601-318-6175.