The Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 41st Season opens with a new production of Gilbert and Sullivan‘s most beloved masterpiece, The Mikado…Revisited. The performances will be at the St. Lawrence Centre’s Jane Mallett Theatre on October 24 (7:30 pm), 25 & 26 (mat. 3 pm). Narmina Afandiyeva makes her conducting debut leading a stellar cast, chorus and orchestra with stage direction by TOT General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin.

TOT’s holiday production is Imre Kalman’s greatest operetta in the Austro-Hungarian tradition, The Czardas Princess, with performances on Dec. 30 & Jan. 2 (7:30 pm) and Jan. 3 & 4 (mat. 3 pm). Derek Bate leads the cast and orchestra with Silva-Marin as stage director. The season closes with Strauss’s gloriously melodic romantic romp at carnival time in ‘La Serenissima’, A Night in Venice, on April 17 (7:30 pm) and April 18, 19 (mat. 3 pm), conducted by Kate Carver.

Theatrical legend has it that the plot of The Mikado is the result of a giant samurai sword falling from the wall of Gilbert’s study. True or not, the book and lyrics are his most inspired creation, and Sullivan responded with a brilliant score. Gilbert’s lyrics and dialogue spared no one - politicians, romantics, or the social elite - while all are bound up by Sullivan in melodies that have burned themselves into the consciousness of operetta fans the world over. ‘A Wand'ring Minstrel I’, ‘I’ve got a little list’, ‘The Moon and I’, ‘Three Little Maids from School’ and ‘Here’s a Howdy Do’ are just the tip of the musical iceberg that is The Mikado!

But…this time around, Silva-Marin transforms Gilbert’s parody and places the British Parliament squarely at stage centre, seeing no need to disguise Gilbert’s satirical target, with perhaps even a tip of the hat to contemporary acronyms such as ICE, HMS, MAGA, DOGE and POTUS thrown in for good measure. Purists, beware!!

“Gilbert and Sullivan’s world needs singer/actors of extraordinary talent, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to assemble a cast with a gift for both,” said Silva-Marin. TOT champions totally Canadian artists and Mikado features both emerging and established singers, including Gregory Finney, Karen Bojti, Máiri Demings, Marcus Tranquilli, Stuart Graham and Joseph Ernst.

PLEASE NOTE: EVENING PERFORMANCES NOW BEGIN AT 7:30 PM!!

For information, call the Box Office at 416-366-7723, 1-800-708-6754, or www.torontooperetta.com.