Join Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner and the rest of the cast in this comic operetta –regarded as the most popular piece of musical theater ever written for the English language -- set in Japan that spoofs the rigid standards of Victorian England.

Background:
In The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, the location is a fictitious Japanese town full of colorful characters - 3 little maids from school, a wandering minstrel, a hilariously corrupt public official, and a Lord High Executioner who may have a list of potential victims but is too tenderhearted to actually perform his duties. Beautiful school girl Yum-Yum loves the romantic minstrel Nanki-Poo but is engaged to Ko-Ko the executioner.

This romantic triangle takes the usual course of thwarted romance, until the arrival first of the fearsome Katisha, claiming Nanki-Poo as her "perjured lover," and later of the emperor, or Mikado, himself - with his own list of punishments to fit the crime. In order to resolve the ensuing complications, Ko-Ko must use his wits to convince the most unattractive Katisha to marry him - in record time. That done, all other potentially dangerous circumstances are settled by the Mikado's all encompassing pronouncement "nothing could possibly be more satisfactory."

New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players (NYGASP) was founded in 1974 by Artistic Director and General Manager Albert Bergeret. Drawing on the immense pool of professional talent available in New York City, Mr. Bergeret has developed a company with a dynamic blend of contemporary vitality and traditional respect for this specialized repertory.

His highly energized vision of Gilbert & Sullivan canon, combined with a dedicated corps of repertory singers, comic actors, and musicians, yields an ensemble with a unique style and flair. Performances feature top quality vocalism and musicianship. Mr. Bergeret's conducting provides not only the requisite crispness and spirit but also the sensitivity to shape the satirical, sentimental, and genuinely moving elements of Sullivan's scores while underlining the wit of Gilbert's clever lyrics. Fully realized choral and orchestral textures add to the color and excitement, as do interesting and demanding choreographic touches.

Remaining true to the intentions of the creators, NYGASP's stagings aim to communicate the inherent humor and pathos of the situations and characters to a modern musical theatre audience, whether long time Gilbert & Sullivan fans or not. Mr. Bergeret employs a broadly visual yet incisively verbal style to bring these comedic masterpieces to life. He also recognizes and highlights the genuine humanity and timeless satire of human foibles which keep these works ever up to date