About Us

Entertaining Central Texas since 1976

About Us

About Gilbert & Sullivan

The Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas were composed between 1871 and 1896 in Victorian London. Their sparkling musical scores by Sir Arthur Sullivan and their dazzling lyrics by Sir William S. Gilbert have kept them popular throughout the world ever since. They've been called the "Saturday Night Live" of their day for their satiric appeal, but they have proven universal and timeless in their comic and ironic treatment of human foibles through their "airy persiflage" and "innocent merriment." And the popular appeal of the music has endeared them to millions who cherish "laughing song and merry dance." They are arguably the most popular musical comedies ever written for the stage. For more information about Gilbert & Sullivan visit The Gilbert & Sullivan Archive or GSOpera.

Read the History of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin / 1976-2001 by Leland L. Smith

Our Mission

Entertaining and educating Texas audiences since 1976, Gilbert & Sullivan Austin is dedicated to spreading the topsy-turvy humor and joyful music of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.

Grand Productions

GSA is known for its highly acclaimed annual Summer Grand Productions (performed in June) from the G&S repertoire. These productions are fully staged, and performed with a live orchestra.

Season Productions

In addition to its grand summer production, Gilbert & Sullivan Austin presents fall and spring productions of G&S one-act plays, other one-act plays from the Savoy era, or concert and abridged versions of the operas in the G&S canon. Celebrations, historical presentations, and lectures may also be produced. The eleven Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas that we present over the years in the summer are just too wonderful to wait so many years to be seen, so watch for special performances in the spring and fall.

Musicales

Every January, and occasionally in other seasons of the year, the society produces a sing-along program of music, “open-mic” performances, and themed presentations full of lovely music from G&S shows. These musicales are full of singing and fun, are open to all, and are free to attend. Get your name on our email list and you won’t miss a single performance or musicale.

Wand'ring Minstrels and Community Outreach

Gilbert & Sullivan Austin is an educational group, dedicated to spreading and teaching the joys of G&S. The Wand'ring Minstrels are our ambassadors to the Central Texas community. The group performs for schools, private parties, and community groups of all types. Delightfully fun shows range from lively recitals of Gilbert & Sullivan's most popular tunes to interactive, mini-productions of full summer productions.
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Scholarships

The scholarship committee has begun accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year, for the Gilbert & Sullivan Austin Libby Weed Scholarships and Dr. Robert O. and Mary Ann Kerr Music Scholarships. We are pleased to be offering $1,500 scholarships to four (4) deserving Central Texas individuals.

A minimum of two (2) of these scholarships will be awarded to members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community.

Scholarship applicants must:
1. Be pursuing a professional career in music or musical theater (preferably vocal performance)
2. Be enrolled or enrolling in a professional course of study in the United States (university, college, or conservatory music degree program, apprenticeship program, Young Artist Program, etc.)
3. Have an affiliation with Central Texas (resided, studied, or performed in the Central Texas area. This area is defined as the counties of Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco, and Burnet only)
4. Be at least a graduating high school senior

The application deadline is April 21, 2024. We invite you to please spread the word among your colleagues and friends to encourage eligible applicants to apply.

For more information and an application form click here

For any questions regarding the scholarship or application process, please email scholarships@gilbertsullivan.org  
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to announcing our scholarship recipients this summer!



Board of Directors


Diane Radin
President & CEO
Leann Fryer
Vice President & Musicale Coordinator
Dave Wieckowski
Treasurer & CFO
Aletha Read
Secretary and Technology Coordinator
Sue Caldwell
Publications & Historian
Janette Jones
School Outreach & Musicale Director
Monica Kurtz
Office Manager
Michael Meigs
Production Committee Chair & Bursar
Sarah Slaughter
Publicity Director
Derek Smootz
Scholarship Chair
Dalton Flake
Board Member
Bill Hatcher
Board Member
June Julian
Board Member
Laurel Lawshae
Board Member
Susan Weed Womack
Board Member

Creative Directors



Jeffrey Jones-Ragona
Music Director

Dr. Jones-Ragona maintains a full performance schedule at home and abroad. Jeffrey has been associated with GSA productions since 1994, and was named our Music Director in 2005.
More about Jeffrey...


Janette Jones
Musicale Director

Janette was named to the first Hall of Fame for Gilbert & Sullivan Austin in recognition of her outstanding contributions as an actor and singer to GSA productions since the 1980s. In addition to continued performance, Janette uses her immense creativity to create and direct musicales.


Ralph MacPhail, Jr.
Artistic Director Emeritus

Mr. MacPhail is Professor of Theatre Emeritus, Bridgewater College in Virginia, where he taught and directed for 33 years. "Rafe" began directing for GSA in 1998 and was named our first Artistic Director in 2005. He was appointed Artistic Director Emeritus on January 1, 2021.
More about Rafe...

Volunteers


Byron Arnason
Special Projects
Chuck Antonie
Concessions
Gary Hallock
Special Projects
Jack Hendren
PR Projects
Mary Hendren
Newsletter Articles
Allan Longacre
Special Projects
Bob Schneider
Wand’ring Minstrels Coordinator
Steve Schwartzman
Events Photographer
Pat Turpin
Special Projects


Hall of Fame




2022 Inductees
Andy Fleming
June Julian
Michael Meigs
Jeanne Sasaki


2016 Inductees
Dave Wieckowski
Monica Kurtz
Holton Johnson
David Little


2011 Inductees
Arthur DiBianca
Bill Hatcher
Libby Weed
Ralph MacPhail, Jr.
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona

2006 Inductees
Sue Caldwell
Frank Delvy
Reba Gillman
Len Gillman
Russell Gregory
Enid Hallock
Janette Jones
Robert Mellin
Rosemary Russell-Vines
Katharine Shields