Gilbert and Sullivan in the San Juans: A 27-year tradition

Catlin Gabel students present The (Sci-Fi) Mikado

The Catlin Gabel School is proud to present a live production of The (Sci-Fi) Mikado, an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta, The Mikado, presented in a futuristic setting. This musical show is free of charge and open to the public.
The production takes place at four locations in the San Juan Islands:

• Tuesday, June 1, 2 p.m. – Friday Harbor, WA
  Mullis Community Senior Center – 589 Nash St, Friday Harbor, WA.
• Wednesday, June 2, 1 p.m. – Orcas Island
  The Orcas Center – 917 Mt. Baker Rd., Eastsound, WA.
• Thursday, June 3, 1 p.m. – Shaw Island
  Shaw Island Community Center

Since 1988, Catlin Gabel 8th graders have sung their way through the San Juan Islands, performing in schools, community centers, and residential care facilities. This is the 27th year for this musical tradition. 

The (Sci-Fi) Mikado, presented by Catlin Gabel 8th grade students, incorporates science fiction elements while remaining true to the original story, script, and songs of The Mikado. Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular and enduring operetta, The Mikado, has been updated and re-interpreted in many ways since its premiere in 1885.

Musical Director Deirdre Atkinson says, “We wanted to capture Gilbert and Sullivan’s experience of another culture. With the growing popularity of science fiction, the marriage between the two was natural. We welcome everyone to experience Catlin Gabel School’s (Sci-Fi) Mikado.”

The (Sci-Fi) Mikado story: A year before the action of this operetta begins, Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado of Japan, fled his father’s imperial court to escape marriage with Katisha, an elderly lady. Disguised as a traveling musician, he met and fell in love with Yum-Yum, the young ward of Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor in the town of Titipu. Yum-Yum, however, was already betrothed to her guardian, and Nanki-Poo left Titipu in despair.

Catlin Gabel School is an independent, non-sectarian, progressive coeducational day school in Portland, Oregon. The school serves 750 students from preschool through twelfth grade with the goal of forming bold leaders who become responsible action-takers for life. For more about Catlin Gabel, visit www.catlin.edu.

For more information about the The (Sci-Fi) Mikado, please contact Ken DuBois at 503-297-1894 ext. 301.

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