DETROIT, MI (March 23, 2006) – The Wayne State University Opera Workshop, under the direction of Frances Brockington, will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, a two act comic operetta. The Department of Music will present four performances of the popular satire at 7 p.m. on April 6 and 7 and April 20 and 21 in the Schaver Music Recital Hall, located at 480 W. Hancock, Detroit. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general and can be purchased at the door. For additional information call (313) 577-1795 or visit http://www.music.wayne.edu.

The Mikado, first produced in 1885 in London, was inspired by a little village in Knightsbridge, a mile from W.S. Gilbert’s home in South Kensington. Here, he observed the arts and lifestyle of Japanese immigrants. Inspired by the people’s culture and London’s own government, Gilbert’s biting satire resulted in a charming comedy about a Japanese tailor who becomes an executioner. The first production of the operetta ran at London’s Savoy Theatre for 672 performances and still remains the most popular Savoy Opera.

The plot is centered around a young man named Nanki-Poo, played by WSU music major Mitchell Owens of Wyandotte. Nanki-Poo falls in love with a beautiful young lady, Yum-Yum, played by three WSU students Madeline Bien (Novi), Elizabeth Courier (Allen Park), and Haley Vining (Grosse Ile). Yum-Yum, however, is engaged to be married to her guardian and the towns tailor Ko-Ko, played by Roman Laba of Warren. Ko-Ko is condemned to death for the capital crime of flirting, but is granted a reprieve and is promoted to the post of Lord High Executioner. Ironically, since Ko-Ko was the next in line for execution, he cannot condemn anyone else to death until he executes himself. In order to reverse the lack of executions, The Mikado, played by Pierre Radney of Detroit, declares that if Ko-Ko does not start executing, the city will be reduced to the status of a village. The plot refocuses on Nanki-Poo who is determined to take his own life, a logical substitute for Ko-Ko’s execution, and Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo’s fiancé who, if married, will be buried alive with her husband.

Other characters include Pooh-Pah, played by Clifton Shaw (Detroit), Pish-Tush, played by Joseph Ratcliff III (Detroit), and Pitti-Sing, played by Paige Ashley Batista (Bloomfield Hills), Michelle Levine (St. Clair Shores), and Kirbe White (Detroit). Shannon Edwards (St. Clair Shores), Brande Everett (Detroit), and Michelle Levine play the character of Peep-Bo and Rebecca Boucher (Royal Oak) and Chelsea Stocks (Eastpointe) play the role of Katisha.