Through the various twists and turns of its comic plot, involving nobility disguised as commoners, thwarted marriage obligations and a timid lord high executioner, Gilbert and Sullivan comment on the failings of Victorian England through a Japanese lens. "This show is standard, Gilbert and Sullivan inspired silliness," promises Director Tim Tavcar, who adds that this family-friendly show will be enjoyed by parents and kids alike!

The Lamoille County Players are honored to have the directing team of Tavcar and Lisa Jablow at the helm of this production. Tavcar has been active as an actor, singer, director and arts administrator for over thirty years. He is a company member of Montpelier's Lost Nation Theater. His first production at LNT, "Side By Side By Sondheim" earned him a 'Bessie' award as Best Director. Other LNT credits include staging " A Little Night Music", "Sweeney Todd" and "The Cradle Will Rock." He also developed the popular annual "Edgar Allan Poe" Halloween fudraising event for LNT. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of the Vergennes Opera House and as Music Director of "A Vocal Minority," the Vermont Gay Men's Chorus. Future projects include the development of "Gallimaufrey," a Performing Artists' Collective with friend and collaborator, Lisa Jablow. "I'm proud to have been asked to be a guest director for this fine theatrical troupe, headquartered at another of Vermont's beautifully restored Opera Houses," says Tavcar.

Music Director Lisa Jablow is well-known to local audiences, having appeared for the past two summers with LCP as Fruma-Sarah in "Fiddler On The Roof" and as Domina in "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum." Locally she has also appeared with the likes of Lost Nation Theater, Vermont Opera Theater, the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Burlington Choral Society. She has also performed with such organizations as New York City Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York, Boise Opera, Madison Opera and the Milwaukee Symphony. For the past 15 years she has been on the music faculty at Johnson State College.

Tavcar and Jablow are pleased with the cast's progress. "The operatic style of Gilbert and Sullivan is very challenging, but this group is up to the challenge! People will be amazed with the music!" promises Jablow. The cast includes Doug McGown of St. Johnsbury as the timid Ko-Ko, Steven Whiteley of Stowe as the pompous Pooh-Bah, Dean Burnell of Morrisville as the love-sick Nanki-Poo, Deidre Tascarella of Morrisville as his true love Yum-Yum, new-comer Kelly Daige of Eden as the evil Katisha, and Steven Polcek of Morrisville as the Mikado himself. McGown is sure of at least one audience member attending: "My Dad is thrilled we're doing Gilbert and Sullivan!" he says. "I think it's the first show he's actually excited about coming to see me in!" Gilbert and Sullivan fanatics, like McGown's father, and folks who just love musical comedy will not want to miss "The Mikado."