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Wand'ring
Minstrels
Gilbert & Sullivan Ensemble
Performances
At Your Location!
Program Objective:
The Wand'ring Minstrels are the educational and community
outreach arm of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin,
an organization dedicated to spreading the joys of G&S
through education and performance of the works of Sir William
Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan.
 These are comic light
operas composed in Victorian era London. They are intelligent
and enjoyable musical theatre, appropriate for all ages,
that have remained popular throughout the English-speaking
world ever since and are arguably the most popular "musical
comedies" ever written for the stage. Our interactive "mini" productions
of these operas are designed to involve the audience as
well as to teach fundamental elements of opera and theater.
The
Performers:
 The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin's Wand'ring
Minstrels are the Gilbert and Sullivan of Austin's ambassadors
to the community through performances at schools and
special events. The ensemble is typically comprised of
four singer/actors and one accompanist. Each has had
extensive musical training and theatre experience and
is schooled in the genre that is distinctively Gilbert & Sullivan.
Each singer/actor has played major roles in musical theater
productions including those from the Gilbert & Sullivan
repertoire as well as sung extensively for other local
arts organizations such as Austin Lyric Opera, Conspirare,
and the Texas Choral Consort.
Program Overview:
Our core group of professionals performs 45 minutes to
hour-long educational programs for Austin and Greater
Central Texas area schools. These typically consist
of condensed versions of G&S operas geared for
students ranging from elementary through high school.
During these interactive programs several students
even have the opportunity to be characters in the production.
Sometimes programs center on specific themes, such
as Victorian politics or etiquette. Programs can be
reviews
of music from several Gilbert & Sullivan shows for
educational adult programs in our community.
Our 2009 school show is Fairies in the Schools based
on Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta, Iolanthe. |
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Frequently
requested programs include:
- A
costumed, staged, and narrated 45 minute to one hour
version of a particular show for 4-5 singers.
- Mixed
scenes from three popular shows in modified costumes and
staged for
4-5 singers
- Miscellaneous
audience and performer G&S
favorites in concert - solo, duo, quartet or quintet
(other numbers of performers
also possible)
- Lecture/Demonstration
for speaker/performer with historical and other background
commentary in addition
to songs
(A full day or evening's entertainment might include
more than one of the above.)
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Fees
and Contact Information:
- Fee
starts at $250 for one singer/actor/lecturer and one accompanist.
- Fee
for 45 minute school program with 4 singers - $500 per
show.
- Special
funding or negotiation for multiple performances may be
available.
- Tours
are also available to retirement homes, assisted-living
centers and even private parties.
For bookings or additional information, please contact
Eva Laskaris, Outreach Director, at 512-472-4772,
or email minstrels@gilbertsullivan.org.
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