Thomas Dean, of Baldwin, will make his stage debut with the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island this month. He will be starring in the production of The Yeomen of the Guard.
The production will be staged at four Long Island venues: June 20 at the Star Playhouse at the Suffolk Y JCC in Commack, June 21 at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, June 27 at the Jeanne Rimsky Theatre in Port Washington and June 28 at the Madison Theater at Molloy University in Rockville Centre.
This year marks the production company’s first staging of The Yeomen of the Guard since 2009 as well as their 72nd season.
In The Yeomen of the Guard, set at the Tower of London during the reign of Henry VIII and famous among Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiasts for its dramatic story and its magnificent score. Dean will play the role of Colonel Fairfax, who is a young, aristocratic war hero who was silenced to die at the Tower of London. The play follows the story of Colonel Fairfax.
The show debuted in 1888 with the script and lyrics created by W.S. Gilbert and the score by Arthur Sullivan. The show includes one of its most well known songs, “Oh Mercy."
The production is directed by Gilbert & Sullivan scholar and veteran director Gayden Wren, with music direction by Stephen O’Leary and orchestral direction by Michael C. Haigler.
“It’s a really moving story, and the music is exceptionally beautiful,” the director Gayden Wren said in a release sent to the Herald. “It has plenty of laughs, but instead of the usual farcical Gilbert & Sullivan plot, it’s a story of realistically depicted people in situations that evoke real emotion. It’s been a pleasure to explore this complex, rewarding work with such a gifted cast.”
Wren commented on Dean’s starring role, complementing the newcomers' vocal strength and stage presence.
“He’s also a gifted comedian and has found the humor in a part that is often played as downbeat and depressed,” Wren said. “For a newcomer, his work is admirable, and I look forward to seeing what happens with him in years to come.”
Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on June 20 and June 27, and at 3 p.m. on June 21 and June 28. Tickets are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors and $15 for students.
For more information about the production, visit gaslocoli.org/tickets .
