Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado opened to the University of Wisconsin-Superior community and the public on Wednesday night, March 31 to a three-quarters full house at Thorpe Langley Auditorium in Old Main. The audience was delighted at the antics of characters such as Nanky-Poo, Yum-Yum, and others for the duration of the two and a half hour long show. The show will also run Thursday night, April 1.

Although The Mikado is only showing for these two nights, the work, casting, and preparations began back in September.

“We were on our own [learning parts] at first, and we had to have our parts memorized by the beginning of second semester,” said Aaron Wainman, who played a chorus member in the opening show, but he will shift to the role of Nanky-Poo, one of the primary characters, for the Thursday night showing.

Wainman won’t be the only cast member of The Mikado in a new role for Thursday night’s show.

“Half the cast is going to change [between the March 31 and April 1 showings], so there’s going to be a different feel,” said Wainman. This process of changing roles is called “double-casting” and is common within university opera programs.

Although UWS has had an opera workshop for many years, The Mikado is the first full-length opera put on by the workshop. Wainman attributes the decision to put on a full-length production to one of UWS’ new voice instructors, Dt. Vicki Fingelson.

“Dr. Fingelson was very ambitious and wanted to do a full-length opera,” Wainman remarked.

Wainman believes that this production is also a great way to showcase the varied talents of different actors involved in The Mikado.

“Not only does it show the talents of the students, but it also gives our vocal majors a chance to sing with an orchestra – and to entertain, of course.”

Tickets to Thursday night’s showing of The Mikado can be purchased at the door outside Thorpe Langley Auditorium; tickets cost $3 for UWS students with a valid ID and $8 for adults.