Dearborn Summer Arts Academy Brings Swashbuckling 'Pirates' to Stage

Submitted by Cynthia Frabutt 

The Dearborn Summer Arts Academy Players will premiere Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, Jr. for three performances beginning July 12.

Produced and directed by Cynthia Frabutt of Dearborn, 67 youth from the Dearborn area perform the various roles of pirates, daughters, and keystone cops under the musical direction of Natalie Clyne and Kurt Frank.

Dearborn resident Jeanette Capote choreographed the show, and Margaret Charara and Wendy Balaka designed the children's costumes. This version of Pirates has a unique "steam punk" flare to the set and costume design.

"The Dearborn Summer Arts Academy Players is a summer theatrical experience for youth within our theatre community in collaboration with the city of Dearborn. The fine arts side of the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center has a dedicated group of individuals who work tirelessly to promote the arts within Dearborn to establish a foundation for our youth to grow and flourish in the arts," Frabutt said.

"It's no coincidence that our production of Pirates of Penzance, Jr. caps off the week of Visual Arts Camp at the center. We are very excited to be performing on the beautiful Michael A. Guido stage," she said.

Pirates of Penzance, Jr. is a story of duty and forgiveness. It follows the exploits of Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Gen. Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic finds out, however, that he was born on Feb. 29, and so, technically, he only has a birthday each leap year. His apprenticeship indentures state that he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, and so he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty, his only solace is that Mabel agrees to faithfully wait for him.

This version is as wacky, irreverent and entertaining as it's predecessor written by Gilbert and Sullivan in 1879. The Pirates of Penzance Jr. spins a hilarious farce of sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters and an eccentric general, all morally bound to the often-ridiculous dictates of honor and duty. 

The music is timeless and includes the popular songs "Pour, O' Pour the Pirate Sherry" and "Climbing Rocky Mountains."

"We are all very excited to perform each and every number with a few surprises for our audiences," Frabutt said.

The cast includes: Westley Montgomery (Dearborn) as Frederic, Mary Charara (Dearborn) as Mabel, Kyle Tillman (Dearborn) as the Pirate King, Katherine Lieblang (Dearborn)/Hope Lesniak (Dearborn Heights) as Samuel, Camille Charara (Dearborn)/Adrienne Walling (Dearborn) as Ruth, Harry Totten (Dearborn) as Major General Stanley, Emma Garber (Dearborn)/Rebekah Preiss (matinee) (Dearborn Heights) as Kate, Jazzmin Sharara (Dearborn) / Mary Lesniak (matinee) (Dearborn Heights) as Edith, Abbi Balaka (Dearborn) / Katie Garber (matinee) (Dearborn) as Isabel, Jordan Di Gregorio (Dearborn) as the sergeant.

The rollicking band of pirates are played by Andrew Oswald (Dearborn), Tyler Katona (Dearborn), Jacob Depper (Dearborn), Mikayla Capote (Dearborn), Kayla Katona (Dearborn), Joey Miller (Dearborn), Grace Sekulidis (Dearborn), Sarah Jennings (Dearborn Heights), Josephine Bryan (Dearborn Heights), Kristin Thompson (Dearborn), Irenie Froman (Dearborn), Grace Bertucci (Dearborn), Noah Goddard (Dearborn), Luke Adamkiewicz (Dearborn Heights), Ben Blessing (Dearborn), Andrew Blankenship (Dearborn), Karim Hazime (Dearborn Heights), Lucas Blessing (Dearborn), Jimmy Gordon (Dearborn), John Oatney (Dearborn), Peter Oatney (Dearborn), Alina Hazime (Dearborn Heights), Kurt Wilson (Dearborn Heights), Bryce Fallows (Canton), Savannah Capote (Dearborn), Madeline Walentowicz (Garden City), Emily Cser (Westland), and Chas Cser (Westland).

The daughters are played by Sarah Randall (Dearborn), Lia Bertucci (Dearborn), Nicole Jennings (Dearborn), Mikayla Capote (Dearborn), Shannon McHenry (Dearborn), Libby Jones (Dearborn), Madison Ganzak (Dearborn Heights), Claire Lesniak (Dearborn Heights), Jamie Paschke (Dearborn Heights), Bailey Fallows (Canton), Olivia Kirk (Dearborn), Ava Moschet (Dearborn), Megan Cser (Westland), Lucee Wilson (Dearborn Heights), Brooke Preiss (Dearborn), Anna Karoub (Dearborn), Charlotte Karoub (Dearborn), Nora Karoub (Dearborn), Rachel Cser (Westland), Amelia Tennant (Dearborn), Abby Goddard (Dearborn), Josie Goddard (Dearborn), and Isabella Nordini (Dearborn).

The policemen include: Grace Bertucci (Dearborn), Lia Bertucci (Dearborn), Andrew Blankenship (Dearborn), Noah Goddard (Dearborn), Ben Blessing (Dearborn), Karim Hazime (Dearborn Heights), Luke Adamkiewicz (Dearborn Heights), Sarah Randall (Dearborn), Mikayla Capote (Dearborn), and Kayla Katona (Dearborn).

Performances are July 12 and July 13 at 7:30 p.m., and an additional matinee on July 13 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 and are available at the box office or online at http://www.dearborntheater.com.