New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players “I’ve Got a Little Twist” to be performed at the Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center. Photo courtesy of McLean Community Center
Musical comedy from the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan is coming to McLean. It is a cabaret evening with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, the pre-eminent professional Gilbert and Sullivan (G&S) repertory company in America.
The cabaret evening will feature ingeniously rewritten lyrics for G & S tunes, often alongside contemporary Broadway show tunes while other times the classic Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire is left intact. The show aims to speak to both those who know their Gilbert & Sullivan and those new to the extensive G&S catalog.
“We scheduled the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players in direct response to the continual audience requests for ‘more musicals,” said Sarah Schallern Treff, Performing Arts Director, McLean Community Center. “Alden audiences will particularly love ‘I’ve Got a Little Twist’ because of its variety and ingenuity. It’s a musical theatre journey that takes the audience from G&S through ‘Spamalot’ and visits Cole Porter, Sondheim and other modern composers along the way.”
The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players have a more than 40 year history. “Entertainment, education, comedy and great voices. While the most obvious draw is the entertainment and music, the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players will sneak in some music history that demonstrates how G&S influenced American musical theatre,” added Schallern Treff.
Asked why audiences flock to Gilbert and Sullivan performances more than a century after they were first performed, Schallern Treff said: “You mean other than the fact that they’re awesome? I think that silly Gilbert and Sullivan brand of comedy is timeless and intergenerational. Combine that with catchy and beautiful music, and you’ve got a winner. And the established tradition of updating Gilbert’s words make G&S more topical and relatable to modern audiences.”
The British Gilbert and Sullivan are “part of the cultural vernacular. People may even know it. Are you a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ fan? Then you’ve heard G&S underscoring some of the shenanigans. Ever broken into ‘Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here’ at a party or pub? You’re singing G&S!” added Schallern Treff.
The evening with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players and their “I’ve Got a Little Twist” is “something that high school theatre nerds and their Gilbert and Sullivan-loving grandparents can bond over,” noted Schallern Trett. “Do not miss it! You will hear things you never knew you would love, gain new appreciation for the art form, and have a blast.”
Where and When
McLean Community Center presents the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ “I’ve Got a Little Twist” at the Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean. Performance on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 7 p.m. Performance runs 120 minutes. Tickets: $40/$30 MCC tax district residents. Call toll-free: 866-811-4111 or visit www. mcleancenter.org