The Pittsburgh Savoyards will wrap up their 88th season with Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Grand Duke; or, The Statutory Duel! Production Manager Lynette Garlan and Stage Director Olivia Hartle stopped by the studio to chat with QED’s Melissa Black about the show.
Olivia summarizes the plot of the operetta, detailing the wild shenanigans of a theater troupe organizing an uprising against the Grand Duke. She also talks about double-casting the characters and her experience as a first-time Savoyards director. This is the third time the Savoyards will put on this production, and Lynette talks about the differences from one performance to another, much of which are due to the dynamic nature of live theater.
Performances will be held at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, PA during the weekends of March 20th-22nd and March 27th-29th. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees are at 2:30pm. On opening night, March 20th, there will be a post-performance reception with the opportunity to mingle with the cast and orchestra. The Sunday performances also have a livestream option, which can be purchased along with regular tickets on the Savoyards’ website.