Beware, the pirates will be here tonight!

Director Eugene Long and the Lake Region High School Drama Club invite the public to opening night of the comic opera, Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert and Sullivan’s raucous operatic tale about a band of tender-hearted pirates and an apprentice named Frederic (played by Ethan Strain).

When Frederic meets Mabel (Emma Walker and Savannah DeVoe), daughter of the hilariously pompous Major General Stanley (Derrick Klecman and Mason Kluge-Edwards), the two young people fall instantly in love. Complications arise and high-spirited antics ensue!

The pirates, led by the swashbuckling Pirate King (Jack Mills and Ethan Kidd), and the Keystone Kop-like capers of the Police Sergeant (Jared Curtis and Josh Knox) and bumbling English bobbies will keep you laughing out loud and singing along throughout, with skilled support of cast members Cam Arsenault, Reed Bridge-Koenigsberg, Ryan Donkin, Griffin Dubrule, Mostafa Hassan, Gaelon Kolczynski, Derrek Schrader and Austin Villanueva.

Add to this wonderful performances in supporting roles by Katie Caulfield, Monica Couvillion, Taylor Cronin, Caitlin Harden, Momo Nakamura, Shannon Oliver, Giselle Wallace and Rowan Wallace, and all the beautiful and captivating Major General’s Wards (Emily Bartlett, Kenya Dubrule, Elise Gianattasio, Erin Holsten, Molly Hook, Kacey Huntress, Abby Lucy, Carolyn Lucy, Camilla Pasolli, Maggie Rickert, Abby Thomson and Elisabeth Waugh), you won’t want to miss all the fun and glory of this boisterous romp!

Co-Producers Jon and Wanda Vaughn-Carr want to express their appreciation to Activities Director Paul True for his support and also want to thank and acknowledge student choreographer Emma Walker (with assistance from Savannah DeVoe and Rowan Wallace) and stage manager Codi Harden with technical support from Christina Axtman, Sarah Carlson, Kaitlynn Harmon and Emily Hemingway.

Attendees won’t believe how cool the set is thanks to set design and construction by Greg Harris, with help from Jon Vaughn-Carr.

Wait until you hear the pit band, directed by Eugene Long, with piano accompanist Nancy Farris; Paul Greenstone on double bass; Linda McVety, cello; Anne Polak, flute; Julia Handspicker, oboe; and David Cosgrove, viola.

Pirates of Penzance opens tonight, Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the Lake Region High Auditorium.  Shows continue on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m., with matinees on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m.

It’s not too late to purchase advance tickets for $6 students and $8 adults ($2 less than at the door!). Tickets are available at The Good Life Market in Raymond, Tony’s Foodland and Lake Region High School in Naples, Lake Region House of Pizza in Bridgton and Bridgton Books.

“And it is, it is a glorious thing to be a Pirate King!”