Essgee’s

Based on the by W.S. Gilbert and The 65th Anniversary Revival of De La Salle’s First-Ever Musical!

April 27-29, 2017 De La Salle College Auditorium 131 Farnham Ave. Theatre De La Salle’s

Based on the operetta by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan Additional lyrics by Melvyn Morrow New Orchestrations by Kevin Hocking Original Production Director and Choreographer Craig Shaefer Conceived and Produced by Presented in cooperation with David Spicer Productions, www.davidspicer.com.au

Music Director Choreographer CHRIS TSUJIUCHI MELISSA RAMOLO Technical Director Set Designer CARLA RITCHIE MICHAEL BAILEY Directed by GLENN CHERNY and MARC LABRIOLA Produced by MICHAEL LUCHKA

Essgee’s The Pirates of , for the 21st Century, presented by arrangement with David Spicer Productions www.davidspicer.com.au representing Simon Gallaher and

Performance rights for Essgee’s are handled exclusively in North America by Steele Spring Stage Rights (323) 739-0413, www.stagerights.com I wish to extend to the Cast and Crew my sincerest congratulations on your very wonderful and successful 2017 production of e Pirates of Penzance!

William W. Markle, Q.C. Cast Member, 1952 production of Th e Pirates of Penzance De La Salle College “Oaklands” Class of 1956 THE CAST

The Pirate King ...... CALUM SLAPNICAR Frederic ...... NICHOLAS DE SOUZA Samuel...... FIONN MACCREADY Tom ...... NATHANIEL FISHMAN Jim ...... JOSEPH BIANCHI Ben ...... MATTHEW BERGER ...... AJ BAILEY Ruth ...... SAVANNA LA SELVA Major General Stanley...... MAX GIBSON Mabel ...... EMILY GRYDZIUSZKO Edith ...... OLIVIA COTRONEO Kate ...... REBEKAH GLOVER Isabel ...... ELISABETH MARINO Jennie, General’s Maid ...... ALESSIA IAFANO Vickie, General’s Maid ...... MEGAN CAMPBELL Polly, General’s Maid ...... OLIVIA MISASI Sergeant Of Police ...... CHRIS HAJJAR Band Of Pirates ...... JACK CAMPBELL ...... MATTEO DE FLORENTIIS ...... LAZARO DE FRANCESCA ...... MATEO DE FRANCESCA ...... DANIEL FATIGATI ...... MARK GAETANO ...... ALEX THOLEN ...... MATTHEW VOLPATTI Major Stanley’s Daughters ...... JULIA APRILE ...... AMANDA ARONE ...... AMAYA DUJON ...... ELEYNA MELIS ...... ALESSIA PANZICA ...... ANGELICA SABILANO ...... ISABELLA STEINBERG THE CAST

British Bobbies ...... MAYA CAMERON ...... LAILA CANNELLA ...... CRISTINA CARUSO ...... ELISE CRESSATTI ...... MADDIE DE PAOLI ...... MILA GRECO ...... AVA GUCCIARDI ...... AMANDA KLUNOWSKI ...... CIELLE LOCKINGTON ...... MADISON O’BRIEN ...... AMY RICHARD ...... ANASTASIA ROUENTES ...... LISA VILLENEFF Chorus Of Mermaids / Pirettes ...... AVERY BAILEY ...... VALERIE BERGER ...... ANDREEA BOGDAN ...... ANNA MARIA BOGDAN ...... ANASTASIA BOLONNIE ...... BRIDGET BOWLES ...... JODY CONNORS ...... NATALIE DE PAOLI ...... JUSTINE IDZIOR ...... AVA LOCKINGTON ...... KAYA LOCKINGTON ...... LIESEL MUNAR ...... LAUREN SHEIKH ...... MARTINA WEISENBLUM

For information Barbara Zulis, President at 416-757-4746 PIRATE TRIVIA

• has existed since men first took to the seas to trade. Yet the careers of pirates were rarely the swashbuckling epics seen in the movies with the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, and Johnny Depp. • Pirates still exist today. Most operate in South East Asia and in South American waters. It’s estimated that pirates steal about $13 billion worth of loot per year! • The is the traditional pirate . • Julius Caesar was captured and held for six weeks until a ransom was paid. Vowing to punish his captors, he tracked the pirates down and had them crucified. • St. Patrick was captured by pirates at age 16 and sold into slavery to an Irish chieftain for whom he tended his pigs and sheep for six years. • Christian pirates were known as corsairs and were from the Order of the Knights of St. John in Malta (known today as St. John’s Ambulance). They regarded themselves as as opposed to the more roguish-sounding pirates.

In order to fully appreciate the contribution Gilbert and Sulli- van made to modern theatre, one has to take a huge step back in time. The 1870s were a time of enormous change in the arts. A rapidly growing, better-educated, middle-class needed to be entertained, so theatres were shedding their seedy reputations and starting to produce more family-friendly entertainment. One of the great theatrical innova- tors of that time was Richard D’Oyly Carte, probably the most successful theatre owner and impresario of the 19th century, and it was he who brought Gilbert and Sullivan into his fold. While the twenty year collab- oration produced many memorable melodies, the partnership eventually disbanded and the two men refused to talk to one another until their deaths. Congratulations to the cast of Theatre De La Salle’s The Pirates of Penzance on another fabulous production! ACT I

A PIRATE SHIP ON THE ROCKY COAST OF ENGLAND On the coast of , at the time of ’s reign, Frederic celebrates the completion of his 21st year and the end of his apprentice- ship to a gentlemanly band of pirates. Th e pirates’ maid of all work, Ruth, appears and reveals that, as Frederic’s nursemaid long ago, she misheard Frederic’s father’s instructions and apprenticed the boy to a pirate, instead of to a ship’s pilot. Frederic has never seen any woman other than Ruth, and he believes her to be beautiful. Th e pirates know better and suggest that Frederic take Ruth with him when he returns to civilization. Frederic announces that, although it pains him, so strong is his sense of duty that, free from his apprenticeship, he will be forced to devote himself to the pirates’ extermination. He also points out that they are too kind to be successful pirates — as orphans, they feel obliged to set prisoners free if they too are orphans. Frederic notes that word of this has gotten around, so captured ships’ companies routinely claim to be orphans. Frederic invites the pirates to give up piracy and go with him, so that he need not destroy them, but King says that, compared with respectability, piracy is comparatively honest. Th e pirates depart, leaving Frederic and Ruth. Frederic sees a group of beautiful young girls ap- proaching the pirate lair, and realizes that Ruth misled him regarding her appearance. Sending Ruth away, Frederic hides before the girls arrive. Th e girls burst exuberantly upon the secluded spot. Frederic reveals himself and appeals to them to help him reform. One of them, Mabel, responds to his plea, chiding her sisters for their lack of charity. She off ers Frederic her pity, and the two quickly fall in love. Th e other girls discuss whether to eavesdrop or to leave the new couple alone, deciding to “talk about the weather,” although they steal glances at the aff ectionate couple. Frederic warns the girls about the pirates, but before they can fl ee, the pirates return and capture all the girls, intending to marry them. Ma- bel warns the pirates that the girls’ father is a Major-General, who soon arrives and introduces himself. He appeals to the pirates not to take his daughters, leaving him to face his old age alone. Having heard of the fa- mous Pirates of Penzance, he pretends that he is an orphan to elicit their sympathy. Th e soft -hearted pirates release the girls, making Major-General Stanley and his daughters honorary members of their band. ACT II

A RUINED CHAPEL BY MOONLIGHT Th e Major-General sits in a ruined chapel on his estate, surrounded by his daughters. His conscience is tortured by the lie that he told the pirates, and the girls attempt to console him. Th e Sergeant of Police and his corps arrive to announce their readiness to arrest the pirates. Th e girls loudly express their admiration of the police for facing likely slaughter at the hands of fi erce and merciless foes. Th is unnerves the police but they fi nally leave. Left alone, Frederic, who is to lead the police, refl ects on his opportunity to atone for a life of piracy, at which point he encounters Ruth and the Pirate King. Th ey have realized that Frederic’s apprenticeship was worded so as to bind him to them until his twenty-fi rst birthday—and, because that birth- day happens to be on 29 February (in a leap year), it means that techni- cally only fi ve birthdays have passed, and he will not reach his twenty-fi rst birthday until he is in his eighties. Frederic is convinced by this logic and agrees to rejoin the pirates. He then sees it as his duty to inform the Pirate King of the Major-General’s deception. Th e outraged outlaw declares that the pirates’ “revenge will be swift and terrible.” Frederic meets Mabel, and she pleads with him to stay, but he feels bound by his duty to the pirates until his 21st birthday—in 1940. Th ey agree to be faithful to each other until then, though to Mabel “It seems so long”; Fred- eric departs. Mabel steels herself and tells the police that they must go alone to face the pirates. Th ey muse that an outlaw might be just like any other man, and it is a shame to deprive him of “that liberty which is so dear to all”. Th e police hide on hearing the approach of the pirates, who have stolen onto the estate, intending to avenge themselves for the Major-General’s lie. Just then, the Major-General appears, sleepless with guilt, and the pirates also hide, while General Stanley listens to the soothing breeze. Th e girls come looking for him. Th e pirates leap to the attack, and the police rush to the defence; but the police are easily defeated, and the Pirate King urges the captured Major-General to prepare for death. Th e Sergeant has one strat- agem left : he demands that the pirates yield “in Queen Victoria’s name”; the pirates, overcome with loyalty to their Queen, do so. Ruth appears and reveals that the pirates are “all noblemen who have gone wrong.” Th e Ma- jor-General is impressed by this and all is forgiven. Frederic and Mabel are reunited, and the Major-General is happy to marry his daughters to the noble pirates aft er all. Theatre De La Salle presents The PIRAT ES of PENZANCE 1952 2017

Left to right: Chris Hajjar, Calum Slapnicar, Max Gibson, Nick De Souza MUSICAL NUMBERS

Act I The Pirate’s Life The Pirettes Pour, O Pour the Pirate Sherry Pirate King, Samuel, and Pirates When Frederic Was a Little Lad Ruth Oh, Better Far to Live and Die Pirate King and Pirates Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me! Ruth and Frederic Climbing Over Rocky Mountain The Daughters Stop, Ladies, Pray! Frederic and Daughters Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast Frederic and Daughters Poor Wandering One Mabel and Daughters What Ought We To Do? The Daughters How Beautifully Blue the Sky Mabel, Frederic and Daughters Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses Frederic, Daughters, and Pirates Hold, Monsters! Mabel, Daughters, and Pirates I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General Major-General and Ensemble Oh, Men of Dark and Dismal Fate Company

Act II Mermaid’s Lament Medley The Mermaids Oh, Dry the Glistening Tear Mabel and Daughters Then Frederic Major-General and Frederic When the Foeman Bears His Steel Sergeant, Mabel, and Police Now for the Pirate’s Lair! Frederic, Pirate King, and Ruth When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold Ruth, Frederic, and Pirate King Paradox / Duty, Duty Frederic, Ruth, and Pirate King Away, Away, My Heart’s On Fire Ruth, Pirate King, and Frederic All is Prepared Mabel and Frederic Stay, Frederic, Stay! Mabel and Frederic No, I Am Brave! Mabel, Sergeant and Police When a Felon’s Not Engaged in his Employment Sergeant and Police A Rollicking Band of Pirates We Pirates, Sergeant, and Police With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal Samuel, Pirates, and Police Hush, Hush, Not a Word! Frederic, Pirates, Police, Major-General Sighing Softly to the River Major-General and Ensemble Finale Company There will be one 20 minute intermission. Concession snacks and beverages will be available in the Cafeteria.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. DLO-DEL Pirates Ad 2017 r1.qxd 4/5/17 12:47 PM Page 1

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REAL ESTATE LAWYERS William S. Gilbert, Lyricist WILLIAM SCHWENCK GILBERT was born to a family of comfortable means in a house a few hundred yards from the site of the which was later to become the centre of a cult whose merry devotees to this day describe themselves with pride as Savoyards. Aged two, he was kidnapped in Naples by brigands and ransomed for twenty-five pounds. This Gilbertian event he was to use years later in the plots of HMS Pinafore and . Frustrated and less than successful as a barrister, Gilbert invented a world of ‘Topsyturvydom... where right is wrong and wrong is right, where white is black and black is white’, a world that first appeared in print as the whimsical and nonsensical poems that constituted (1869) and from 1871 onwards as the evergreen Savoy operas, starting with and finishing with in 1896. An established comic playwright who reveled in artificial plots and good, clean, Victorian fun, Gilbert was an important figure in the history of the English stage because he was the first director (‘stage manager’ in late nineteenth-century parlance) to put his stamp on texts and productions. He insisted on the importance of rehearsals for the whole company and supervised in detail every aspect of design, costume, choreography and lighting. With composer, Arthur Sullivan, and the brilliant entrepreneur, Richard D’Oyly Carte - the Cameron Macintosh of his day - Gilbert became part of England’s most important operetta triumvirate, was recognized as being the foremost librettist of his century and is acknowledged as such by his pupils and successors, Lorenz Hart, Alan Jay Lerner and Stephen Sondheim. WSG was also a quarrelsome and dictatorial tyrant who never for a moment doubted his own genius and who, as he grew older, took to suing those who crossed him. He was knighted in May 1907 but drowned in his private lake while trying to assist a young lady in difficulty. His commemorative plaque on London’s Embankment carries the aptly epigrammatic epitaph, ‘His foe was folly, and his weapon, wit’. Arthur S. Sullivan, Composer ARTHUR SEYMOUR SULLIVAN was born in Lambeth, the son of an orchestra musician, Sullivan taught himself piano at five and composed his first anthem, By the Waters of Babylon, aged eight. At twelve, he published his first sacred song, O Israel. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and later in Leipzig where he met Liszt, Schumann and Greig. The darling of London musical society, Sullivan was feted by the famous , Jenny Lind, taken to Paris by Charles Dickens and pressed (in vain) by Lewis Carroll to set Alice In Wonderland to music. His parlour ballads, sacred songs (Onward Christian Soldiers and being his most famous), oratorios and made him a household name in England and a favourite of Queen Victoria. He was knighted in 1883 at the age of 41. This newfound honour was not without its problems. The Musical Review spoke for the world of serious music when it observed that ‘something Mr Arthur Sullivan may have done, Sir Arthur ought not to do’. Not surprisingly, he increasingly came to regard his light music collaboration with Gilbert as a frivolous diversion from his more noble vocation as a serious composer. His one opera, , though now forgotten, holds the record for the longest single run (155 performances) of any opera in England. Unlike the militarily disciplined Gilbert, Sullivan was more ‘artistic’ in temperament, preferring the world of supper parties, royal shoulder-rubbing and European gallivanting and gambling, not leastin Monte Carlo. Plagued by ill health, he constantly worked against the clock to complete songs for rehearsals. Indeed, often as opening night approached, he was so late - and sick - that he would send only outlines for overtures, leaving them to be constructed by his musical director, Francois Cellier. The completed score of The Pirates of Penzance did not appear until four days before opening night, and when he approached the podium to conduct, he recorded that he took up the baton ‘more dead than alive’. He is buried in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. Essgee Entertainment SIMON GALLAHER/ESSGEE ENTERTAINMENT created an exciting new version of the classic The Pirates of Penzance in 1994, which became an immediate runaway hit throughout Australia and New Zealand. ABC-TV broadcast the production nationally at the conclusion of the Australian tour, and the video quickly attained Triple Platinum sales as the highest-selling live video of all time. Essgee followed up their massive hit with in 1995, followed shortly thereafter by H.M.S. Pinafore, the final in the Essgee Musical Trilogy. Essgee now licenses productions of their Gilbert & Sullivan trilogy of shows to companies and theatre societies across the world. Through special arrangements with David Spicer Productions in Australia, Steele Spring Stage Rights is proud to represent the Essgee Musical Trilogy in the US and Canada.

WISHING ALL THE BEST TO PROUDLYTHE CAST ANDSUPPORTING CREW OF THE PIRATESTHE OFCAST PENZANCE THE MUSICI NS Music Director / Keyboard ...... CHRIS TSUJIUCHI Percussion ...... ROBIN CLAXTON ...... MIKE MEUSEL Guitar ...... STEVE JOHN DALE SETTING OUR S ILS

Video Sequences ...... MARKIAN RADOMSKIY ...... MICHAEL LUCHKA Theatre Program ...... JESSICA MINERVINI ...... MICHAEL LUCHKA Cast Photos ...... JESSICA MINERVINI

Advertising & Promotion ...... LOUISE DEBONO ...... JESSICA MINERVINI ...... MICHAEL LUCHKA Ticket Sales & Concessions ..... GRADE 10 DRAMA STUDENTS Ushers ...... THE DE LA SALLE CADET CORPS Front of House ...... SARRA CECCHETTO ...... DANTE DIBIASE ...... MEGAN ENGELEN ...... STEFANO FAZZARI ...... ADRIENNE FU ...... RYAN GIOIOSA ...... MICHELLE GLOSSOP ...... CHLOE GUTCHER ...... LAYLA HADDAD ...... MELISSA HOWE ...... REILY KENNEDY ...... LIS RIVEROS ...... MERCEDES SANCHEZ ...... JACK TOME ALL H NDS ON DECK Stage Managers Jon Cuchiella Sarah Palazzese Windrick Maranan Stage Crew Tristan Dametto Laura Gagliardi Briana Montalbano Samantha Rizzi Marcus Tam Victoria Transente Lighting and Sound Technicians Carla Ritchie Taylor Lindsay William Rowe Lilianna Scanga Diana Cancelliere Mr. M. Luchka Set Construction Mr. Michael Bailey Mr. Laurence Gutcher Mrs. Jane Gutcher Mr. Jerry McGroarty Mr. David Byrne Mr. Michael Luchka Set Painting Mr. N. Lue Tam Ms. S. Domingues A.J. Bailey Anastasia Bolonnie Hannah Bowman Jody Connors Daniel Fatigatti Alyssandra Mammoliti Sarah Qiao

BEHIND THE SE MS

Theatrix Costume House Generously sponsored by the De La Salle Parents Association Additional Costumes created by Mrs. Marlene McGroarty Sarah Grindal Makeup and Hair Alyssa Adamo Lucile Bry Niki Busoi Danqiu Chan Rachel Chin Isabella Coccimiglio Emily DaSilva Taylor Dellelce Lauren Minion Marissa Pasquariello Sofia Savio Chloe Vernich A Special Thanks to Our Mateys at

We Acknowledge the Generosity of the Following Individuals and Families

Nino & Laura Arone Steven Mishko Sandra Baglione Michelle Minion Christine & Brendan Bowles Lora Muraca Robert Bozzo Lucas Musacchia Nick Calabrese Guido Nardone Joelle Caruana Guy Painchaud Luigi Castagna Lucia Palazzese Len Coia Norman & Dorothy Panzica Domenic Cuiri Maria Paulino Toni de Florentiis Sean Perianayagan Flavia Da Silva John Popelas Augustino De Oliveira Walter Procska John & Mary DePaoli Lee Qiao Mark Falbo Sydney Reyes Olivio Fatigati Angela Santoro Cidalia Faria Deirdre Fernandes Jane Gutcher Ralf Steinberg Maria Iafano Hanan Stefan Rhonda Kotlarchuk Lina Stolf Robert Lewis Kevin Talmage Andrew & Christie Lockington Kim Tomei Jane Mandat Lee Vernich Anthony Marcucci Jennifer Villena Marco Massaro Veronika Villeneff Gabriel Michetti Christopher Wing Gordana Milanovic Angela Yu De La Salle College “Oaklands” Br. Domenic Viggiani, FSC... President Mr. Danny Viotto... Principal, Senior School Mrs. Kim Sibley...... Principal, Junior School Mr. Howard Finewax..... Director of Finance Mr. Domenic Salerno... Director of Facilities A Hearty Thanks To: Mr. Santino Bellisario Mr. Andrew Kulenkamp Mr. Angelo Borrelli Mrs. Lauren Lamonaca-Bada Mrs. Lynda Burlon Mr. Robert Mrs. Berta Carreco Ms. Pina Marchese Mrs. Maria Cevallos Ms. Jessica Minervini Mr. Ralph Connors Ms. Emily Pellegrino Mr. Thomas Czikkel Ms. Gloria Remoquillo Mrs. Louise Debono Ms. Michaela Santos Ms. Anna Di Benedetto Ms. Jennifer Solda Ms. Roma Francis Mr. Tadeusz Taranek Mrs. Filomena Gouveia Mr. Andrew Tulshi Mr. Stacey Greaves Mr. John Voutsinos Mr, David Iantosca Mrs. Samantha Williams Ms. Stephanie Kim Mrs. Lorna Wunder

Ms. Gina Anki Mrs. Patricia Graham Mr. Nino Arone Mrs. Tania Gucciardi Mr. Ian Campbell Mrs. Breda Loganadhan Mr. Jason Chellew Mr. William Markle Mrs. Mary De Paoli Mr. Antony Kwong Yu Poon Mr. Paul De Francesca Mr. Andrij Sereda Mrs. Diana Mason-Dujon Mr. Sean Slapnicar Ms. Kathy Eastwood Mrs. Tanya Slapnicar Ms. Kim Everest Mr. Fabio Stanghieri Mrs. Vilma Francisco Mr. George Tamburri Mrs. Joanne Giampaolo Mr. Robert Tome Mrs. Andrea Gibson Mrs. Diane Wysocki Ms. Carmen Gillespie Mr. Nathan Yiu All the parents of our cast members for their , encouragement, and love and to all our private and corporate sponsors for their generous support! MESSAGE FROM Mr. Danny Viotto Principal of the Senior School

It is a pleasure to finally witness Theatre De La Salle’s rendition of The Pirates of Penzance come to life in our auditorium. Before starting my career at De La Salle, I had heard of the outstanding reputation of the Theatre Program, not only because of the wonderful performances, but also about how it resulted in bringing our community members even closer. It always brings me such joy to see our younger students working collaboratively with senior students,observing how beautifully they complement one another on so many levels.

I offer congratulations to the cast and crew for sharing their incredible talents, and bringing such pride to each of us as we watch their characters come alive on stage. I want to thank the Parent Association for their ongoing support and generosity and the numerous parents and caring partners of Theatre De La Salle who offered their expertise in designing costumes, designing and constructing the set, and helping in any way possible to enhance this year’s musical. I extend much gratitude to our producer, Mr. Luchka, for his tireless efforts and many hours spent pulling all the elements of the show together and for facilitating incredibly creative fundraising events and promotions. Lastly, I offer great appreciation to Mr. Labriola, Mr Cherny, and their families, for sharing them with us over these past few months, as they worked passionately in directing our young actors to make this musical such a tremendous success!

Enjoy the show! MESSAGE FROM Mrs. Kim Sibley Principal of the Junior School

Welcome to Students, Parents, Alumni, Staff and Friends of De La Salle,

Thank you very much for your continued support of the drama and arts programs at De La Salle College. The students and teachers have shown tremendous dedication and commitment in preparation for this year’s performances of The Pirates of Penzance. The Junior School students have been excited since the show was first announced in September and many of them enthusiastically auditioned for the opportunity to get involved. Others have volunteered to assist behind-the-scenes. What an incredible way for our students to showcase their many talents.

I’d like to express my appreciation to our teachers Mr. Labriola, Mr. Cherny, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Lue Tam, and Ms. Domingues who have worked tirelessly to ensure that everything comes together for the performances. A special thank you to Mr. Luchka for, once again, instilling a for the theatre arts in our students and for his dedication to Theatre De La Salle and the College.

Thank you for supporting the efforts of our staff and students by joining us in the audience.

Enjoy the show! MESSAGE FROM Br. Domenic Viggiani President,FSC De La Salle College “Oaklands”

Dear De La Salle Theatre Patrons:

This favourite of the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition was first performed in New York in 1879. Interestingly, the musical is also known as “The Slave of Duty” - the story of a young indentured apprentice destined to pass his days with pirates due to the inopportune timing of his birthdate. This musical production is very much part of the rich De La Salle theatre history. In a well-received production here, it was first performed over 60 years ago. Earlier in the school year, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the fellows who were in that original production. They recalled with great fondness and nostalgia this wonderful piece of theatrical genius which has endured and delighted audiences for over a hundred years. In some ways then, it is appropriate we reprise this work for another generation of young people who probably were quite unaware of Gilbert and Sullivan when they volunteered to be part of this year’s musical. This connection with the past is an invaluable aspect of a number of things we try to instil in our students every day. Respect for the heritage of which we are heirs creates an appreciation of the efforts of those gone before us who have helped to build our school community. I truly believe our students understand this part of the “DEL” experience and plays much importance on it. My gratitude and admiration go out to our teachers and students who will make this year’s musical performance one to remember. Your generosity and commitment to make this production happen, on top everything else you do, is appreciated by us all. MESSAGE FROM Mr. Michael Luchka, Producer

The PIRATES of PENZANCE?! Are you sure? Isn’t that an opera? Every time I’m asked why Theatre De La Salle decided to stage a show originally composed as an operetta and first performed in 1879, I am always ready with this answer: this was the first musical theatre production to make its debut in the newly-built De La Salle “Oaklands” auditorium in 1952. Br. Andrew was a huge fan of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, so under his direction, the De La Salle Light Opera Society (a precursor to Theatre De La Salle) presented The Pirates of Penzance, the first of five consecutive G&S musicals the school would showcase. It would be revived in 1959 by Br. Walter. When selecting this year’s production, I thought, what better way to pay tribute to our original Lasallian thespians than by staging a revival of the first musical in Oaklands’ history on the 65th anniversary of its premiere? For it was exactly 65 years ago, from April 28-30, 1952, that a talented cast and crew of 94 stepped onto the very stage you see before you and brought to life Gilbert’s witty lyrics and Sullivan’s memorable score - among the most valuable of musical theatre history. The humour present in both words and music is infectious and timeless...and how can you go wrong with pirates? Pirates conjure up images that have been with us for centuries: a white skull and crossbones on a flag of black silk; a parrot on the captain’s shoulder; buried ; daggers clenched in teeth; ; peg legs and eye patches. Pirates lived outside the law. Largely accepting their fate, they were determined to have an exciting life. Those lives, however, usually lasted no more than two or three years and often ended ignominiously at the end of a rope. Over the last few months, I came to the realization that student actors are very much like pirates. They are frequently loud, overly-animated, and difficult to tame. They sometimes believe rules don’t apply to them. At times they are “poor wandering ones,” but more often they behave like “a frolicking band” in search of their next adventure. The students that will take the stage possess endless creativity, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, and are certain to steal your hearts. They have battled their own storms since our ship set sail in September, explored uncharted territory as singers and dancers, and banded together to fulfil their commitment to their fellow cast mates and to the show. Now that we have finally dropped anchor, I extend my heartfelt thanks to each one of them for taking this journey and making it such a memorable one. It's not a secret that a ship requires a good captain and that the captain doesn’t sail his ship alone, but relies on a hearty crew to ensure that the ship successfully reaches its ultimate destination. I express my deep appreciation to Mr. Cherny and Mr. Labriola, who kept this ship afloat and are the best first mateys one could ask for; Chris Tsujiuchi, whose musical talent and patience with children transformed our cast into operetta enthusiasts; Mr. Viotto, whose inaugural act with Theatre De La Salle was to launch our ship and help navigate us through rough waters; and to Mrs. Sibley, who takes her final journey with us as she sets her sails for new adventures. My thanks to Michael Bailey, Jerry McGroarty, and David Byrne, who were, quite literally “all hands on deck” when it came to transforming stage to stern and to Melissa Ramolo, Carla Ritchie, Marlene McGroarty, Louise Debono, and Jessica Minervini for all their creative contributions below deck. A special thank you to the Parents Association and to all our generous sponsors, donors, fundraisers, and parent and staff volunteers, who, through their generosity and varied support, helped bring this pirate ship of ours safely to port. 65 years after its premiere here at De La Salle, The Pirates of Penzance continues to be the very model of a modern major musical and proves that Theatre De La Salle still holds an abundant treasure waiting to be discovered. This­ production has certainly reaffirmed for me that it is, indeed, a glorious thing to do this “theatre thing.” Stanley Saran De La Salle Class of 1954 Original Cast Member of the 1952 production of The Pirates of Penzance

Dear Mr. Luchka and Cast, I attended De La Salle from 1952-1954. I was in the Prep School (Grades 4-6) until my parents decided to move the family to Miami Beach. I hated to leave Toronto and De La Salle, but Miami was a very shiny and exciting destination to be moving to at that age. Today, I still call Florida home and live on Marco Island on the lower west coast. I have so many wonderful memories of my short attendance at De La Salle. They may have been short, but I know full well that those years had and still have a powerful influence on the way I conduct my life, both spiritually and morally. Yes, the Brothers were very strict on us kids, but I give full credit to them for a life I hope I’ve lived well. I was in three Gilbert and Sullivan productions during my time at De La Salle: The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and H.M.S. Pinafore. I didn’t have a speaking role in any of the shows, but I did have a singing part. I recall Brother Andrew as a very knowledgeable but strict mu- sical director. It was to his credit that the plays came off as well as they did. We were SOLD OUT every evening for each of the three productions. In those days, there were no girls at De La Salle, so we boys had to dress up as Daughters in Pirates and Geisha Girls in The Mikado. It was great fun and something I remember very fondly. I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend the current production of The Pirates of Penzance, espe- cially years after I first performed in it on the very same stage you are, but I look forward to hearing all about it in the alumni newsletter. Break a leg, everyone! Father Jerry Dunn De La Salle Class of 1960 Frederic in the 1959 production of The Pirates of Penzance

“I was in the 1959 production directed by Brother Walter. I played Frederic and it was one of the highlights of my time at Del. I extend my greetings to all who enjoy Gil- bert and Sullivan, especially to the players in this year’s cast. I enjoyed Pirates many years ago and, I’m sure you will find it is still most entertaining. Best wishes for a wonderful and joyful performance.” PROUD SPONSOR of the

THEATRE DE LA SALLE � � � � PRODUCTION

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