Durham Savoyards Ltd. of Durham, North Carolina

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produce a fully-staged comic opera each year in the Carolina Theatre of Durham, as well as several outreach concerts around the community. In these endeavors, we rely not only on ticket sales, but on the contributions of our volunteers and our generous donors. The Savoyards have been a 501(c)3-designated public charity since 1965. Contact us if you would like to get involved! Due to the COVID-19 p

andemic, our live performances in 2020 and 2021 were canceled. Our episodic performance of Patience: or Bunthorne's Bride is currently premiering on our YouTube channel, at no charge, for the enjoyment of all. Without ticket revenue for the past two years, we are relying on donations now more than ever to cover the costs of our production. Our story:
It all began on Twelfth Night, 1963. A party was the occasion for the playing of a prized recording of Iolanthe. Two years earlier, on the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Sir William Gilbert, the Savoy Operas entered the public domain under British copyright law and could be produced by any group who so desired. Against this background, Pat Kenan discussed with David Martin and his other guests the artistic merits of Gilbert and Sullivan. The seed fell on fertile ground for soon word of this enthusiastic converstation reached Ruth Clemens and Ruth Price at Allied Arts. They persuaded the Durham Theater Guild to produce a G&S opera to end their 1963 season. With unbelievable speed, under the direction of Paul Bryan and Bill McIlwinnen, a production of The Pirates of Penzance was rehearsed and presented that May in the Durham High School Auditorium. The effect was immediate. Lovers of Gilbert and Sullivan appeared from everywhere and seized the opportunity to form a Durham group to present the works of this unique collaboration. In a series of meetings in 1963-64, the group was organized and a constitution was written. After heated debate, the members agreed to call themselves the Durham Savoyards, Limited, a name derived from that of the Savoy Theatre in London, which Richard D’Oyly Carte had built to present his productions of the G&S operettas. (The terms “opera” and “operetta” are technically interchangeable, but the latter is usually preferred when referring to stage works of lighter fare with dialogue interspersed with music and dance.) As we remember our life in this community, we see ourselves in historical perspective: Gilbert and Sullivan was alive and well in Durham before we came along. There is a record of a Mikado in the 1890s, produced by the Durham Conservatory of Music. In the 1930s, under the sponsorship of W. Upchurch, selections from Gilbert and Sullivan were sung between the showings of feature films at Quadrangle Pictures at Duke, directed by J. Foster Barnes. Professor and Mrs. Paul Gross (of the Department of Chemistry at Duke) mounted a Mikado for the Annual Convention of the American Chemical Society (1937) and, during the war years, staged a Pirates and an Iolanthe as benefits for British War Relief. Jake Waggoner led the Temple Baptist Church choir in a production of Trial by Jury. Ken Shepard at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church organized a Mikado and in 1944, through the Braggtown Baptist Church, a Ruddigore. He called his troupe the Durham Light Opera Company. The senior American Gilbert and Sullivan society, the Savoy Company of Philadelphia, was established in 1901; we are still a young company in comparison, but from our ranks, workers from the front stage and from the back stage have gone to successes even more remarkable than those they achieved with us. Two are particularly noteworthy: Michael Best, our Frederic in 1963, left us to sing with the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York, and Brenda Hatrill, our set designer in 1969, left us to design sets for the National Theatre Company in London. Most of us are not so famous, but are no less enthusiastic. Some of us are where we were 40 years ago: two of us from the orginal effort in 1963 – Jim Sackett and Carol Kreps Sackett – took part in the 2003 Mikado. In putting on our shows, we have been clumsy clodhoppers and professional bridesmaids, bucks and blades, jurors, citizens of miscellaneous towns, countries and utopias; we have been ancestors, gondolieri and contadine, gentlemen of Japan, rapturous maidens, school girls, daughters of the plow, peers of peris, daughters, pirates, policemen, and noblemen who have gone wrong. Over the last 40 years, almost three dozen of us have had the glorious honor of being a part of at least one production of each of the thirteen extant G&S operattas, all under the proud banner of the Durham Savoyards, Limited.

– Compiled from various program notes written by George Williams, Phil Becker, and others.

Photos from Durham Savoyards Ltd. of Durham, North Carolina's post

05/03/2024

Happy International Gilbert and Sullivan Day! For 61 years, we’ve been putting on the great works of Gilbert and Sullivan to bring to others the world of topsy turvy and we hope to continue bringing these great works to new audiences for at least another 61 years. Now go enjoy some Gilbert and Sullivan!

04/14/2024

Miss our production of The Gondoliers? Well don't worry, we've got you covered with some photos for you to enjoy. But also make sure to keep an eye out in the near future. These aren't the only photos we have...

03/17/2024

Meet our Gianetta (played by Mary Elisabeth Hirsh) and Tessa (played by Hannah Lingafelt). They just married the two most eligible bachelors in Venice. And their husbands were just told one of them is a king. That makes one of their wives a queen, right? Right??

(Photo by Jasmin Ochoa-Benitez)

The Gondoliers

Fri Mar 22 through Sun Mar 24
The Carolina Theatre

309 W. Morgan St. Downtown Durham

Tickets: $25 Friday and $30-40 Sat-Sun. Available through the Carolina Theatre box office. Discounts for students or groups of eight or more.

Buy tickets by phone (919) 560-3030 or online: https://carolinatheatre.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=402

03/14/2024

Lights Up! – 3/13/24 – Permanent Archive

03/11/2024

Meet our Marco (played by Alex Baker) and Giuseppe Palmieri (played by Brady Bowman). All the single ladies of Venice love these two handsome gondoliers. And if that’s not lucky enough, the brothers have just been told one of them is a long-lost king! Trouble is, they can’t tell which one.

(Photo by Jasmin Ochoa-Benitez)

The Gondoliers
Fri Mar 22 through Sun Mar 24
The Carolina Theatre of Durham
309 W. Morgan St. Downtown Durham

Tickets: $25 Friday and $30-40 Sat-Sun. Available through the Carolina Theatre box office. Discounts for students or groups of eight or more.

Buy tickets by phone (919) 560-3030 or online: https://carolinatheatre.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=402

02/29/2024

Even though we’re not doing Pirates of Penzance this year, we still need to wish our boy Frederic a happy birthday today! Make sure to come see our production of The Gondoliers March 22-24!

02/14/2024

Happy Valentine's Day from two young gondoliers and the local girls they've married! ❤️ But, oops... one of them is heir to a throne. And, uh, we're not sure which one, since a drunken gondolier mixed him up with his own son when they were babies.

See how it all turns out in the Durham Savoyards production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Gondoliers, March 22-24 at The Carolina Theatre of Durham. Tickets available now! https://carolinatheatre.org/events/live-event/the-gondoliers/

02/02/2024

Tickets are on sale TODAY for our spring show, The Gondoliers! Don't miss out! https://carolinatheatre.org/events/live-event/the-gondoliers/

09/14/2023

Come check us out this weekend as we are scheduled to perform some Gilbert and Sullivan classics at Centerfest! We will be performing on the Plaza Music stage on Saturday, September 16th, from 3:40-4:40pm.

For more information, check out the Centerfest website https://durhamarts.org/centerfest/

We hope to see y'all there!!!!

12/10/2022

We are delighted to announce the leads for our upcoming March 31-April 2 performance of The Yeomen of the Guard! Congratulations - it's looking to be a great show!

Colonel Fairfax: Nick Malinowski 
Jack Point: Brady Bowman  
Elsie Maynard: Emily Ennis (u/s Hannah Lingafelt) 
Sir Richard Cholmondeley: Kent Parks  (u/s David Smith)
Sergeant Meryll: John Adams 
Phoebe Meryll: Taylor Loyd (u/s Kate Lamb) 
Leonard Meryll: Erin Conn (u/s Joe Rittiner) 
Wilfred Shadbolt: Stuart Albert (u/s John Paul Middlesworth)
Dame Carruthers: Olive McKrell (u/s Kim Kingsley) 
Kate: Teddy McKrell (u/s Brittany Wagner) 
First Yeoman: Chris Newlon (u/s Matt McKrell)
Second Yeoman: Houston Horn (u/s Matt McKrell)

10/04/2022

Check out Stone Soup’s production of Into The Woods this weekend and next! Will be a lot of fun!

Let the countdown begin! Only 3 more days to opening night!
🎟 Get your tickets to Into The Woods now! https://stonesouptc.ticketleap.com/

09/23/2022

If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, there’s only tonight and tomorrow left to check this out! Our very own John Paul Middlesworth is involved with these performances and you don’t want to miss out!

09/18/2022

We had a lot of fun performing Yesterday at Centerfest! Make sure to check it out today before it’s over!!!

09/08/2022

It is our tradition to sing "God Save the Queen" before each of our performances at the entrance of our performer portraying Queen Victoria. It seems only fitting that today we honor a life well-lived and wish peace to all who mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth by sharing our version of this piece.

God Save the Queen There is one week until our premiere of Patience! Make sure to subscribe and click the bell icon so you get notified of when our first episode goes up!!Come ...

07/21/2022

We are very excited for this production and are looking forward for this exciting show to come to life!

Into the Woods October 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 at the Historic Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece… and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both ench...

07/20/2022

Having performed at Thalian Hall in the past, this is unfortunate to hear. We are sending love to the family.

This week the Carolina Theatre joins historic theaters around the country in remembrance of Tony Rivenbark. Our facades will be lit in purple in his memory.

Tony Rivenbark was the Executive Director of Wilmington’s historic theater, Thalian Hall, and an esteemed member of the League of Historic American Theatres, of which, the Carolina Theatre is a part. Tony was an incredible colleague who was passionate about preservation, arts, entertainment, and most of all, community. His passing is a deep personal and professional loss for so many of us.

07/11/2022

A nice piece about our friend, Mollie, her wonderful family, and our beloved Carolina Theatre

27587 Magazine Summer 2022 Page 8 Rewind A look back at notable people and events in history PHILIP M. READ Connie Moses’ daughter Mollie Moses has had a long presence at the Carolina Theatre, making popcorn, working the box office, and taking the stage with the Durham Savoyards, a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta group. “She was mor...

06/06/2022

A big thanks to everyone who came out to our concert at Southern Village yesterday! It was a lot of fun and we hope you all enjoyed it!

2022 Fundraiser for Technical Equipment - SSTC, organized by Melissa Dombrowski

05/30/2022

Our friends over at Stone Soup got their 501(c)3 status so now your donations to them are tax deductible just like your donations to us. Go check out their current fundraiser!

2022 Fundraiser for Technical Equipment - SSTC, organized by Melissa Dombrowski Thanks to the extraordinary support of donors and volunteers, we la… Melissa Dombrowski needs your support for 2022 Fundraiser for Technical Equipment - SSTC

04/12/2022

As we gear up for our next production, consider becoming a sustainer to help us put on more magnificent performances for your enjoyment!

04/05/2022

April is National Volunteer Month, and throughout the month we will be recognizing the extraordinary efforts of the Carolina Theatre's volunteers, past and present. We would not exist today without the tireless work and selfless dedication of our volunteers — from the volunteers who saved the theater from disrepair and demolition in the 70s to the volunteers today who help with operations and preserving the theater's history. We would like to say thank you!

03/27/2022

One more chance to see all these lovely people on stage today! Make sure to get your tickets so you don’t miss the fun! Today at 3pm at the Carolina Theatre!!

03/26/2022

Only two more performances left! Tonight at 7 and tomorrow at 3 at the The Carolina Theatre of Durham. Check out our website for more information on tickets!

durhamsavoyards.org

03/25/2022

A piece of our original set for Patience finally made it onstage❤️❤️

03/25/2022

Argh, mateys! It be opening night! If ye hasn’t gotten thee tickets yet, best chart a course for our web-site where ye can find more treasure!
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03/23/2022

Opening night of our production of The Pirates of Penzance is in TWO DAYS!! You don’t want to miss this wild and crazy adventure!! Performances run March 25-27! Check out our website below for more info on tickets!

www.durhamsavoyards.org

03/19/2022

Meet our Major-General (played by Nick Malinowski) photo by Mark Welker
Like the song says, he’s the very model of a modern major-general! Too bad he knows nothing about military tactics. Because when the pirates learn his orphan excuse is a lie, they’ll be after him and his daughters!

The Pirates of Penzance
Fri thru Sun Mar 25 to 27
At the historic Carolina Theatre of Durham in NC
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/durham-savoyards-tickets/artist/1803542

Preview performance Thurs Mar 24 Carolina Theatre 8 pm with suggested $15 donation.

Lights Up! – 3/16/22 – Permanent Archive

03/18/2022

Make sure to check out WHUP's production of "Lights Up!" where our very own Melissa Dombrowski talks about our upcoming performance of The Pirates of Penzance! Don't forget to get your tickets now! Performances are March 25-27.

https://whupfm.org/episode/lights-up-3-16-22-permanent-archive/?fbclid=IwAR3h3pfbK_p61GzjjAgraEoQIjnw0tLJh9i0H7nBy_NaE0v2gBEvbeqm1IU

Lights Up! – 3/16/22 – Permanent Archive

03/18/2022

Meet our Pirate King (played by Jos Purvis) photo by Mark Welker
It’s good to be the King! Except his pirates always lose because they’re too tenderhearted. And now he’s losing Frederic, his best fighter. Luckily, he and pirate Ruth have a fiendish plan to keep Frederic by their sides.

The Pirates of Penzance
Fri thru Sun Mar 25 to 27
At the historic Carolina Theatre of Durham in NC
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/durham-savoyards-tickets/artist/1803542

Preview performance Thurs Mar 24 Carolina Theatre 8 pm with suggested $15 donation.

03/17/2022

Meet our Ruth (played by Hannah Lingafelt) photo by Mark Welker
Poor Ruth! She’s in love with much younger Frederic. He’s willing to marry her, because she’s assured him she’s a beautiful woman. But she’s the only woman he’s ever seen. Uh-oh! He’s about to meet young Mabel.

The Pirates of Penzance
Fri thru Sun Mar 25 to 27
At the historic Carolina Theatre of Durham in NC
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/durham-savoyards-tickets/artist/1803542

Preview performance Thurs Mar 24 Carolina Theatre 8 pm with suggested $15 donation.

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Videos (show all)

Go check out Something Rotten by Stone Soup Theatre this weekend on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 3pm at the Forest T...

A few glorious seconds of a Mikado favorite from today’s Sitz-Probe (the first time orchestra and singers are together)....

Seeing as tomorrow is Marching Music Day (“march forth on March 4th”), we thought a little clip from today’s rehearsal m...

It’s always a fun time with the Savoyards! Here is a fun blooper from last year’s The Grand Duke. Come see our next show...

Address

120 Morris Street
Durham, NC
27701

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