Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado
CSTHEA’s Gilbert & Sullivan Homeschool Players brought The Mikado to life with a vibrant, fast-paced production packed with clever satire, gorgeous music, and standout student performances!
Synopsis
Since its 1885 premiere at London’s Savoy Theatre, The Mikado has become one of the most-performed works in musical theatre history. Like much of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work, it pokes fun at Victorian British politics and society, cleverly disguising its satire in a colorful, faraway setting.
Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado, has fled the court in disguise to escape marriage to an older suitor and to find his true love, the beautiful Yum-Yum. But Yum-Yum is promised to her own guardian, Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner.
Ko-Ko, far too soft-hearted to actually execute anyone, is under pressure from the Mikado to carry out a sentence. He strikes a bargain: a month of marriage to Yum-Yum in exchange for Nanki-Poo’s life, with the execution only pretended. Naturally the scheme unravels, and Ko-Ko soon finds himself accused of killing the Mikado’s own son.
As always in Gilbert’s topsy-turvy world, the tangle sorts itself out and everyone lives happily ever after. With its clever wordplay, unforgettable tunes, and endearing characters, The Mikado has delighted audiences for well over a century.
Photo credit: Ginger Sumerlin Photography
The Cast & Crew
Dramatis Personæ
- The Mikado of Japan // David Tieder
- Nanki-Poo // Owen Bourgo
- Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner // Isaac Conkle
- Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else // Gavin Potter
- Pish-Tush // Nate Cowart
- Yum-Yum // Evelyn Fortner
- Pitti-Sing // Natalie Quarles
- Peep-Bo // Lauren Bailey
- Katisha // Abby Bailey
Chorus of Schoolgirls
- Haven Buyno
- Evelyn Collins
- Sophie Cook
- Sophia Cooper
- Sophie Crouch
- Zoë Fortner
- Bella Griffith
- Marlee Kerin
- Addison Kremser
- Samantha Mays
- Shiloh Stiles
- Blessing Morse
- Vivian Perry
- Rosemary Powers
- Ella Rollins
- Olivia Sackett
- Abi Schroeder
- Abigail Shipley
- Eleanor Terry
- Tallulah Tweed
- Bryonie Wykoff
Chorus of Nobles, Guards, & Servants
- Caleb Allen
- Ian Ambrosetti
- Oliver Avery
- Gideon Buyno
- Abram Collins
- Landon Earhart
- David Fisher
- Jonah McClure
- Creed Morse
- Isaac Oldham
- Miles Potter
- Daniel Tieder
- Nathaniel Tieder
- Benjamin Tomyn
- Peter Tyler
Red Shirts
- Savannah Anderson
- Jordyn Coughlin
- Madeline Dixon
- January Jackson
- Ansley Middlebrooks
- Abigail Starr
- Sarah Tanzberger
Design & Construction Team
- Audrey Auchas
- Ayla Allen
- Judah Allen
- Eva Baldwin
- Nathaniel Byars
- Zachary Byars
- Alexandra Cates
- Lucy Mack
- Mack Collins
- Eli Domer
- Jordan Everette
- Jon Fisher
- Levi Fortner
- Russell Freeo
- Jacob Heramb
- Cora Hindman
- Levi Hindman
- Sadie Holland
- Lorelai Jackson
- Sara Alexander
- Sarah McDowell
- Emily Middlebrooks
- Rachel Mynatt
- Andrew Owens
- Keegan Rourke
- Tahlia Santos
- Gracie Sikes
- Alana Smith
- Abi Snell
- Amarissa Starr
- Tate Sumerlin
- Johnny Tieder
- Avery Tomyn
- Taylor Upham
- Elijah Vaughn
Tech & Media Team
- Hadassah Bastio
- Liam Cook
- Lily LaPorte
- Isabella Michaels
- Cora Snell
- Ellie Spitaletto
- Lincoln Terry
Production Company
- Executive Producer // Nate Ridgeway
- Theatrical Director // Nate Ridgeway
- Directors of Choreography // Lamour & Lydia Reed
- Choral Director // Dennis Rogers
- Costumier & Lead Seamstress // Debby Vradenburgh
- Set Design & Construction Directors // Josh Fortner, Tyler Owens & Sherry Domer
- Assistant DCT Leaders // Brian Allen, Larry Conkle & Bryan Alexander
- Tech & Media Team Director // Ben Snell
- Director of Props // Pia MacDonald
- Assistant Director of Props // Courtney Collins
- Rehearsal Accompanists // Sharon Reed & Amy Morse
- Orchestra Liaison // Sharon Reed
- Principal Vocal Coaches // Lydia Reed & Dennis Rogers
- Chief Operations Officer & Special Events Coordinator // Christen Fortner
- Assistant to the Producer // Kristina Buyno
- Stage Manager // Nichole Thomas
- Logo Design // Caleb Starr
- Graphic Design & Social Media // Katie & Ellie Spitaletto
- Videography // Ben Snell
- Photography // Tech & Media Team & Ginger Sumerlin
- Behind-the-Scenes Coordinator & Web Admin // Laura Snell
- Hair & Make Up //
- Abby Ridgeway
- Pia MacDonald
- Ginger Sumerlin
- Debby Vradenburgh
- Seamstresses //
- Debby Vradenburgh
- Sara McClure
- Audra Allen
- Rhonda Bailey
- Brandie Byars
- Jennifer Byars
- Heather Cates
- Elizabeth Cook
- Joanne Cooper
- Sonya Tieder
- Pia MacDonald
- Dee Middlebrooks
- Jenny Tyler
- Linda Neuhoff
- Caitlyn Sudcamp
- Katherine Baldwin
- Courtney Collins
- The Orchestra
- 1st Violin // Jessica Nunn, William Navalon & Nick Hoy
- 2nd Violin // Susan Whitacre & Melody Poke
- Viola // Noah Constance & Caitlyn Sudkamp
- Cello // Sharon Reed & Eric Reed
- Bass // Dexter Bell
- Flute // Nora Kyle
- Flute/Piccolo // Ann Sullivan
- Clarinet // Barb Storm & Richard Border
- Oboe // Ian Carlson
- Horn // David DeMarche & Lindsey Coppel
- Trumpet // Matt Kelly & Tyler Hatmaker
- Trombone // Mark Michaels
- Percussion // James Marler