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Edmond Life and Leisure - February 27, 2025
UCO musical production To be held this weekend
The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music’s Opera will present “The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria” at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28-March 1, and at 2 p.m., March 2, in Mitchell Hall Theatre on Central’s campus.
Directed by Molly Cason Johnson, D.M.A., assistant professor of voice and opera, this fresh take on Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic operetta transports audiences from its traditional Venetian setting to 1940s New Orleans during carnival season. In this reimagined production, the two gondoliers from Venice, Louisiana, navigate the city not by boat but atop a parade float. At the same time, the mystery of who will be the next Mardi Gras Krewe King of Barataria is solved.
“The original score is set in Venice, Italy and the fictional city of Barataria, Spain. The moment I discovered the state of Louisiana has both a Venice and Barataria, I knew it had to be a Mardi Gras version,” Johnson said.
Originally composed in 1889, “The Gondoliers” is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most beloved works. This English-language operetta is known for its witty satire, engaging melodies and dynamic ensemble scenes. The story follows two carefree gondoliers who unexpectedly find themselves ruling a kingdom, leading to a series of humorous complications involving mistaken identities and romantic entanglements. The updated 1940s New Orleans setting enhances the operetta’s themes of festivity, tradition and social class satire.UCO’s production is family friendly and rated “G.”
Tickets range from $10-$20 and are free for students with a valid UCO ID. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit go.uco.edu/CFAD-tickets or call 405-974-3375.
For a complete list of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, visit www.uco.edu/cfad/.
