The Cornell Savoyards presents Princess Ida: 8:00 PM tonight at the Morgan Opera House (2 Cherry Avenue, Aurora). Call (315) 364-5437 for tickets: Adults $10, Seniors $8, and Students $6.The Cornell Savoyards presents Princess Ida: 8:00 PM tonight at the Morgan Opera House (2 Cherry Avenue, Aurora). Call (315) 364-5437 for tickets: Adults $10, Seniors $8, and Students $6.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Cornell, this adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's 1884 comic opera honors the university's heritage and area history. The libretto is by Anthony Di Renzo, associate professor of writing at Ithaca College. The original production was staged last month at the Schwartz Center for the Visual and Performing Arts.
After the Civil War, two robber barons scheme to launder their money by starting a university in Upstate New York. To maintain control, they will marry their son and daughter, Hilarion and Ida, and force them to chair the board of trustees. Ida revolts and founds a women’s academy on the shores of Cayuga Lake. Business, philanthropy, feminism, and romance clash, and everyone learns a lesson in humility.
Ithaca College faculty, students, alumni, and staff will appear in this final encore performance, including Anthony Di Renzo, Katrina Kuka. Doug Mathews, Anna O'Connell, Tom Peters, Geoff Peterson, Haley Rowland, Dan Taylor, and Janine Willis. Judith Pratt, formerly with the Department of Theatre Arts, directs. A slideshow of archival images from 1865 Western and Central New York will be screened in the lobby before performances and during intermissions.
Since 1953, the Cornell Savoyards (also known as Savoyards Musical Theatre) has exposed Ithaca audiences to the wit and music of Gilbert and Sullivan. They also also stage other light opera, Broadway musical repertoire, revues, and sing-a-longs. To learn more about the group and Princess Ida, visit their website at www.savoyardsithaca.com.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20150714124318319