PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 27, 2013
CONTACT: Rashida Black, 773.702.3427
EMAIL: rashida@uchicago.edu
TOPSY-TURVY AND LIVE PREVIEW OF PIRATES OF PENZANCE AT DOC FILMS
CHICAGO, Hyde Park — DOC Films, the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, and the University of Chicago Department of Music join forces to present the Oscar-winning film Topsy-Turvy, and an on-stage preview of the Company’s upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance. The event takes place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday March 10 in Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.
The 1999 Mike Leigh film highlights how Gilbert and Sullivan came to write their greatest hit, The Mikado, amidst backstage fighting and intrigue. The result is a brilliant reconstruction of the original Savoy production, full of infectious music and bravura performances featuring Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner as the battling duo.
Prior to the film’s showing, members of the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company will perform two songs from Pirates. Baritone Michael Swisher will sing the Pirate King’s song, and Michael Sherman, a tenor, will do the patter song, “I am the very model of a modern Major-General.” Both Swisher and Sherman have had leading roles in many of the Company’s previous productions. They will be backed up by choristers Martha Swisher, and David Jones. Continue reading