HOME Program Presents Pirates of Penzance

If you are looking for a swashbuckling-good (and inexpensive) time for the entire family next Friday or Saturday, make your way over to the Renton production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance.

The comedic opera is being staged by the Triple Threat Theater, the musical theater program of the HOME program in the . The children in the play are ages 8-17 and have been involved in many other local theater productions including Village Theater’s All Shook Up and Footloose, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seussical Jr. and 5^th Ave Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and A Christmas Story.

The play is a fanciful and silly adventure between pirates and lovely young women competing to earn the heart of a handsome pirate apprentice.

“This production has been a wonderful process," said play director Gina Brichoux. "I have an amazingly talented cast that has really stepped up to learn very sophisticated music.  I am so proud of them.  Every single one has grown this year.  The beginners are holding their own with the group, and the veterans have continued to polish their performances.”  

Cathy Corman, who is helping out with the production, and whose children have been homeschooled is impressed with the Brichoux and musical director Jon Hopkins' continued dedication to the program.

“Pirates is the most challenging musical the HOME program has done.  Gina and the music director, Jon Hopkins, bought special software and then learned how to use it so they could transpose some of the pieces to better fit kids' voices. They hired someone to teach stage fighting so that the fencing scenes look more realistic.”

Brichoux has high praise for the team that came together to make outstanding sets (including a 12-foot-high ship), amazing costumes, and excellent music.

“This year the choreography was more complicated.  We stretched the cast above and beyond their limits and they were able to succeed," Dance Captain Ayana Pagan said.

The Pirate King Eli Clayton (who will also be appearing in this summer's Village Theatre production of Hairspray as Gilbert) said the production “has been an exhilarating ride filled with many laughs and swordfights."

The HOME (Homeschool Opportunities for Merging Education) program supports homeschooled children within the Renton School District. This program is funded by the district, the community and a parent partnership team—a 501 3(c) in the HOME program. They are dedicated to offering education and training of children interested in the arts and performing on stage.

The price is right for admission to the production: $5 for adults, and $2 for children/students/seniors. The performances are Friday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.