THE MIKADO • The JHS Drama Department will present Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic opera "The Mikado" November 15, 16, 17, and 19. Curtain goes up at 7:30 p..m. Tag Tapusoa, left and Jesse Etherington perform a scene in the first act. Photo Rebecca Dopp

By Madisen Tischner
JHS Correspondent

Juab High School's Drama Department is presenting Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado", November 15, 16, 17, and 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the JJHS auditorium. Cost is $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for students.
The Mikado is the most popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera, and arguably the most popular opera ever written. This opera has delighted audiences for more than a century, and spawned a number of imitations. But none were nearly as good as the original, which represented both Gilbert and Sullivan at the height of their creative geniuses.
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen collaborations. It opened on March 14, 1885, in London, where it ran for 672 performances, which was the second longest run for any work of musical theatre and one of the longest runs of any theatre piece up to that time.
Setting the opera in Japan, an exotic locale far away from Britain, allowed Gilbert to satirizes British politics and institutions more freely by disguising them as Japanese. Gilbert used
foreign or fictional locales in several operas, including The Mikado, to soften the impact of his pointed satire of British institutions.
Cast members of the show are: Adam Allred (The Mikado), Tagaloa Tapusoa (Nanki-Poo), Tim Covington (Ko-Ko), Jesse Etherington (Pooh-Bah), William Baird (Pish-Tush), Rachelle Terry (Yum-Yum), Mette Covington (Pitti-Sing), Andrea Kenison (Peep-Bo), and Emily Stephensen (Katisha).
Other cast members include Tate Douglas, Evan Reynoso, Jaime Beard, Regan Warner, Leah Wilson, Kymber Taufer, Khulene Gallo, Taylor Ludlow, Sam Holladay, Jace Cook, Kiel West, Cameron Welburn, Kielei Beard, Bryanna Robinson, Bailee Jenson, Emily Wilson, Sariah Luker, Makaila Kendall, Cassidy Evans, Megan Wood, Sarah Clement, Shelby Cameron, Emma Brooks, Delanya Tolber, Kaitlyn Wright, Mickelle Baird, Misha Westfall, Haylee Willmore, Kelanie Worthington, KaDi Mckeacnie, and Morgan Branch
The music is under the direction of Valarie West and Alicen Allred. Accompanists for the show are Valarie Westfall, Jared Rowley, Jason Richards, Austin Dopp and McKay Christensen.
Choreography for the show was by Gail Hyde and Rachelle Terry. Costumes were designed by Gail Hyde, and constructed by Hyde, Valarie Westfall, Elaine Crane, JoAnna Covington, and Andrea Kenison.