the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, a nonprofit performing ensemble based in Ridgewood, New Jersey, has presented full productions of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan every fall and spring since its founding in 1937 by Kay and Jack Edson. For over 75 years, we have delighted audiences with the timeless jollity of The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and H.M.S. Pinafore. As one of the oldest continuing musical theatre groups in the country, we also mount comic operas by Gilbert & Sullivan that are seldom seen elsewhere: Iolanthe, The Yeomen of the Guard, The Gondoliers, The Sorcerer, and several others.
We give full performances in Ridgewood, plus we perform elsewhere in Northern and Central Jersey (Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Ocean counties), Rockland County, New York City, and Connecticut. In addition, we take pride in making opera more accessible to the community by performing several free shows and staged concerts a year at facilities that cater to senior residents, patients, and veterans. We have also donated a series of musical scores, recordings, and books on Gilbert and Sullivan to the Ridgewood Public Library.
Although we are considered a community theatre group, our performers are given a more professional experience due to having a two-month performing schedule and having to learn heavy amounts of vocally challenging repertoire found in virtually all G&S comic operas. Our company members consist of both highly trained music professionals and serious amateurs.
Our talented workers (singers, orchestra, scenery and costume designers, etc.) have made it possible to give productions of professional quality. Young and old G&S fans have thanked us for helping keep alive the great musical entertainment of Gilbert and Sullivan.
Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan is proud to perform the musical production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer (not to be mistaken with Walt Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). This musical tells the timeless story of a man who refuses to believe that men and women should marry only those of the same social class. He hires a sorcerer to make each man in the village fall in love with the first eligible woman he sees —and chaos ensues. https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?titlelink=ridgewood-gilbert-and-sullivan-presents-the-sorcerer
Fall 2016: The Sorcerer! Tickets available soon!
Stage Director: Milly Gonzalez
Music Director: Paul Geidel
We will be doing both concerts and full performances!
Concert Schedule
Sat. October 22, 2 p.m., Fort Lee Public Library, Fort Lee, NJ
Sun. October 23, 2 p.m., Franklin Lakes Public Library, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Sun. October 30, 2 p.m., Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY
Sun. November 6, possible concert performance – TBD.
Thurs., November 17, 8 p.m., Five Star Premier Residence, Teaneck, NJ
Performance Schedule
Sun., November 13, 3 p.m., Heritage Village, Southbury, CT
Sat., November 19, 7:30 p.m., Ridgewood United Methodist Church
Sun., November 20, 3 p.m., Ridgewood United Methodist Church
Sun., November 27, 3 p.m., Fair Lawn Community Center (might be canceled)
