WCSU Opera Ensemble to present ‘The Gondoliers’

The Western Connecticut State University Opera Ensemble will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “The Gondoliers” in four performances on March 24 through 26 at the WCSU Visual and Performing Arts Center.

Evening performances will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26. All performances will be in the MainStage Theatre at the VPAC on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. General admission will be $25, with a ticket price of $15 for seniors and students with valid ID. Reservations may be made online at www.eventbrite.com/e/wcsu-opera-presents-the-gondoliers-tickets-30528545702.

“The Gondoliers” recounts the story of the succession to the throne of the fictional kingdom of Barataria, which unfolds in Gilbert’s libretto with the hilarious farce of mistaken identities, confusion of class distinctions, tangled webs of amorous conflict and ultimately rewarded quests for true love. Astrup said the opera’s riotous satire of social and political mores in 19th century Europe still holds relevance for contemporary America.

The roles of the future royal couple of Barataria will be performed by Matthew Johnson, of Trumbull, as Luiz; and by Arianna Carlo, of Brookfield, and Olivia Conforti, of Naugatuck, as Casilda. The gondoliers whose improbable ascendancy to the throne descends into farce will be played by Sergio Mandujano, of Trumbull, as Marco; and Matthew Feinberg, of Cheshire, as Giuseppe. The gondoliers’ new brides will be performed by Nicole Salamon, of Greenwich, and Amy Cerbie, of Meriden, as Tessa; and Katherine Marsh, of Clinton, and Taylor Doyle, of Southbury, as Gianetta.

The WCSU Office of Alumni Relations will host “A Night at the Opera” featuring a cocktails-and-opera package for the March 24 evening performance of “The Gondoliers.” For a ticket price of $25 per person, guests will enjoy a cocktail reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Room 241 of the VPAC on the university’s Westside campus, followed by admission to the 8 p.m. performance. Reservations may be made by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 837-8298 or ordering tickets online at https://alumni.wcsu.edu/events.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.