Pyrotechnics including gunpowder flashes, smoke and booms from cannons will be featured when Eastern New Mexico University presents the family musical "The Pirates of Penzance" by Gilbert and Sullivan the last two weekends of February 2017 on the mainstage of the University Theatre Center in Portales.
Show dates are Feb. 18, 23, 24, 25 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7. Admittance for public school students is $3.
The full-scale production features a "raked" stage rising five feet in the back and sloping toward the audience, imported costumes from China, sword play between police and pirates, a ship moving across stage, projections of exotic scenes behind the actors, giant cloud cacti flying in, pirates walking through the audience and live, bubble-making mermaids among the audience and available for special photos with attendees.
At each Sunday's performance, a mermaid blanket will be given away.
"Pirates" is a joint collaboration between the departments of theatre and music at ENMU. It features a cast of 24 and full pit orchestra of 12.
Patrick McCreary, ENMU faculty member and professional actor, directs and designed the production.
"The Pirates of Penzance" or "The Slave of Duty," tells a whimsical tale of a young man who was apprenticed to a band of "pirates" by mistake. He should have started his career as a nautical "pilot."
"There are many twists and turns of plot, swordplay galore, soaring music and singing and incredible orchestral music," Mr. McCreary said.
"ENMU is reaching out to the community in hopes of starting a new, annual musical tradition. It will be fun for the whole family."
For more information, call Mr. McCreary at 575.562.2720.
