Story and photos
by Robin Trimarc hi
—
When the Pirate King of Pen
zance jumps ashore with
his ruffians Friday night at
the Howell Theater, he promises to
enchant the opening night audience
with all the swashbuckling action
and romance of a Saturday matinee.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pi
rates of Penzance” begins a 13-per
formance run this weekend as the
Nebraska Repertory Theater’s third
show of the season.
Director Robert Hall said his pro
duction crew’s philosophical ap
proach to the late 19th-century
production brings “Pirates” to the
stage as musical theater instead of
the often expected operetta.
From the moment the pirate’s
ship docks stage-right. Hall said,
colorful costumes, upbeat choreog
raphy and “lots of sword-play”
create a visually beautiful and fun
show.
The five-man orchestra, includ
ing musical director Vince Learned
of Lincoln on synthesizer, sits back
stage behind a cloud, barely seen
through a dreamlike backdrop.
The Nebraska Rep production of
“Pirates” emerged from a creative
liaison of Lincoln, New York and
Soviet talents.
Hall, who as Nebraska Rep artis
tic director selects the season’s four
productions and supervises the pro
duction designs, graduated f rom the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln in
the 1960s. He has worked in New
York City since the early 1970s.
Hall directed the first four reper
tory seasons beginning in 1968. He
now has an off-Broadway experi
mental company called the “New
Rude Mechanicals,” from the “play
within a play” concept of “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream,” he
said.
Scenic designer Larry Kaushan
sky, assistant professor in theater
and dance, began the stage designs
last April.
Kaushansky studied in Lenin
grad and taught in the Soviet Union
for 18 years before coming to the
United Slates in 1980. He has de
signed more than 125 productions,
including the “Phantom of the
Opera” for the St. Paul Children’s
Theater and the 1988-89 UNL pro
duction of “Quilters.”
New York choreographer Wendy
Tauchcr also has worked on “Pi
rates” since last spring.
Costumes for “Pirates” took
shape while designer Janice Stauffer
was working on the June repertory
production of “The Real Thing.”
Lighting designer Steve Shelley,
also a Lincoln native and former
UNL student, has worked in New
York City for the Ballet Trockad
cro dc Monte Carlo, the Twyla Tharp
Dance Company and the American
Ballet Theater.
Clockwise from top:
•The Pirate King and his band of soft-hearted ruffians.
•Charlotte Wittig, left, and Carrie Kline finish two of the
show’s 43 costumes.
•Charles (Chip) Smith sings out his heart to a reluctant
Kristy Breen.
•Lighting director Steve Shelley checks the stage before
dress rehearsal Wednesday.
