'THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE' YSU arts series presents opera

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Fine & amp; Performing Arts Series at Youngstown State University will present Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "The Pirates of Penzance," starting this weekend in Ford Theater, Bliss Hall.
Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 22-23 and at 3 p.m. Sunday and April 24. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for YSU faculty/staff, senior citizens, non-YSU students, groups of five or more, and YSU students; and $5 for season ticket holders. Reservations may be made through the University Theater Box Office at (330) 941-3105. Parking is available for a nominal fee in the Wick Avenue parking deck. Ford Theater is handicap accessible.
Pirates of Penzance
The opera tells the tale of a proper Victorian lad struggling with his sense of duty when he learns that he was apprenticed to a pirate instead of a ship's pilot. A dutiful daughter tries to reconcile her love for the young pirate with her duty to her father. A band of soft-hearted pirates are pursued by a bunch of bungling policemen. A bevy of swooning maidens, a love-sick nursemaid and a cowardly Major General complete the cast of this musical farce, which premiered in New York City in 1879.
Stage director and set designer is David Vosburgh, and musical director/conductor is David Keith Stiver, both of Youngstown and YSU adjunct faculty members.
The parts are dual cast, as follows:
UPirate King: Anthony W. Scarsella of Poland will perform Friday, Sunday and April 22 and 24; Jason N. Madeline of Boardman will perform Saturday and April 21 and 23.
UFrederick: Joshua Lewis of Leetonia, Friday, Sunday and April 22 and 24; Alexander C. Taipale of Orwell, Saturday and April 21 and 23.
USamuel: Andrew C. Leah of Verona, Pa., all; Terry Caruthers of Geneva, Act I, April 23; Anthony W. Scarsella of Poland, Act II, April 23.
URuth: Heidi Davis of Girard, Friday, Sunday and April 22 and 24; Elizabeth L. Farrow of Ambridge, Pa., Saturday and April 21 and 23.
UMabel: Brianne Kochunas of Champion, Friday and April 22 and 24; Melissa Hippley of Salem, Saturday and April 23; Kristen Blackwood of Salem, Sunday and April 21.
UIndian Servant: Andrew Anthony of Girard, Friday, Sunday and April 21 and 23; Matthew LaLama of Girard, Saturday and April 22 and 24.