47 years ago, the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company tested its sea legs with The Pirates of Penzance in 1966. The Company, founded in 1960 and incorporated in 1964, is Chicago’s only theatre company devoted exclusively to performing the works of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan**. The Company was originally sponsored by Adventures in the Arts, an organization affiliated with University High School, but began its ongoing collaboration with the University of Chicago Department of Music in 1983.

Sail back in time to find treasures buried at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center. The University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company Collection includes programs, audition notices, flyers, props, and stage models. The following photos reveal rare Pirates of Penzance memorabilia in honor of The Company’s 30th collaborative year with the University of Chicago Department of Music and the upcoming performance of Pirates March 15-17 in Mandel Hall.

**doc films and the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company will present Topsy-Turvy, the shocking story behind Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado, on Sunday, March 10 at 3:30 PM in Ida Noyes, 1212 E. 59th Street. Admission is $5 and includes a singing preview of Pirates before the show! docfilms.org

Get your 2013 Gilbert & Sullivan Pirates of Penzance tickets here.

 

Special thanks to Polly Faust for this fantastic research.