New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Head to International Festival in Advance of 40th Anniversary Season

Before gearing up for its 40th anniversary season, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) will take its shows across the Pond this August to Harrogate, North Yorkshire to represent the U.S. at the 21st International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

NYGASP will take its place among the festival's 60 productions and 2,000 performers and present The Pirates of Penzance and The Yeomen of the Guard August 5-10. The New York Times called NYGASP's Pirates of Penzance "opulent, colorful and inventive…Beautifully crafted…Lovely choreographic touches…Guaranteed to warm the most demanding Savoyard's heart."

The Festival runs Aug. 2-26. Other companies participating include the prestigious Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, Plymouth Gilbert & Sullivan Fellowship, Trent Opera, South Anglia Savoy Players, Heritage Opera, the Savoynet Performing Group (2013 International Champions) and more. Special events include concerts, lectures, tours of York and the countryside, and of course, this being 2014, "Non-stop Year Round G&S 24-7, A Social Media Panel."

NYGASP Artistic Director Albert Bergeret said: "We are very excited to be invited to this important G & S Festival. Our 40 years of professionalism represents America's contribution to the Gilbert & Sullivan legacy in a unique way, and having the opportunity to do that is a great honor for NYGASP."

Upon its return to New York the company will ready three productions for its 40th anniversary season: Ruddigore (November 1 & 2); H.M.S. Pinafore (December 26-31); and The Gondoliers (May 15-17, 2015). For the first time, New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will host NYGASP's full season.

Reflecting on New York Gilbert & Sullivan's milestone year, Bergeret says: "40 years of producing full scale productions is a serious achievement--but it also demands some special 'topsy turvy' fun!"

So long as they don't get "topsy-turvy" to the point of seasickness on the way over, fun is sure to be in store for performers and audiences alike in Harrogate and later in the Big Apple.

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