The Hartt School Theatre Division will present The Mikado, one of W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan's great comic operettas, from Nov. 5-8 in Lincoln Theater.

Performances will take place on Thursday, Nov. 5; Friday, Nov. 6; and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m.

University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff are eligible for one free ticket to the show when they present valid ID at the University box office in Lincoln Theater. Admission for the general public is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. For tickets and information, call the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587, or buy tickets online at www.hartford.edu/hartt.

The Mikado, one of Gilbert and Sullivan's 14 operatic collaborations, takes place in the mythical village of Titipu, Japan, and tells the story of Nanki-Poo, son of The Royal Mikado, and his struggle to be with Yum-Yum, the woman that he loves. The Hartt School's production is directed by Professor of Theatre Henry Fonte, with music direction by Michael Morris and choreography by Leslie Unger.

This comic operetta opened on March 14, 1885, in London, where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for more than 600 performances, and was one of the longest runs of any theatre piece up to that time.

Fonte, who staged The Hartt School's acclaimed production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, takes a fresh look at this timeless classic.  The production is hilarious and physical, and has much more dance than usual. "I asked Leslie Unger, a Fosse trained dancer, to choreograph so we could really update the movement of the production," says Fonte, "and she has done a brilliant job of physicalizing this stunning Sullivan score."  Fonte continues, “The traditional re-writing of the lyrics to ‘I've got a Little List’ takes a wicked and biting political turn in this outing.”  The gorgeous but witty new costumes are by Marla Perlstein.

The Mikado features third- and fourth-year music theatre students who hail from locations across the country. Fourth-year music theatre majors include Alden Caple of South Berwick, ME, as The Mikado of Japan; Stephanie Genovese of Stony Point, NY, as Yum- Yum, ward of Ko-Ko; Cody Ryan of Port Jervis, NY, as Nanki- Poo, The Mikado’s son; Sarah Killough of Duluth, MN, as Pitti-Sing, ward of Ko-Ko; Kyle Brand of Redlands, CA, as Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner of Titipu; Alexandra Ferrara of St. Louis, MO, as Peep-Bo, ward of Ko-Ko; Kyle Rudolph of Ballwin, MO, as Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else; and Abby Gershuny of Raleigh, NC as Katisha, a lady of the Court. Third-year music theatre major Alex Levin of Larkspur, CO, joins the cast as Pish-Tush, a Noble Lord.

The ensemble includes Chris Bowyer of Chester Springs, PA; Mark Gagliardi of Lynnfield, MA; Brock Harris of Stillwater, OK; Sheldon Henry of Brooklyn, NY; Jeff Manno of Sayville, NY; David Marmanillo of Monticello, NY; Adam Sarette of Manchester, NH; William Sevedge of Allentown, PA; Robbie Smith of Coral Gables, FL; Lindsey Adkins of Wilbraham, MA; Lauren Cafrelli of Mount Joy, PA; Jackie Kastrenelis of Groveland, MA; Samantha Mitchell of Sandy Hook, CT; Sasha Pasternak of Woodland Hills, CA; and Jillian Soares of Somerset, MA.