News - THE SAVOYAIRES

January 9, 2024

Continuing our tradition of presenting one full-length Gilbert & Sullivan operetta every year, the Savoyaires return to an audience favorite not seen on our stage in 18 years: Iolanthe! The performances will take place in the fall: September 27-29 and October 4-6.

August 25, 2023

Presenting a full-length Gilbert & Sullivan operetta for the first time in four years, the Savoyaires return to the show featured in our very first production (1965)

The Gondoliers

Music Director: Timothy Semanik
Stage Director: Kingsley Day
Producer: Laima Day
Choreographer: Britta Schlicht
Assistant Music Director: Lindsey Poling
Set Designer and Technical Director: Andy Armstrong
Costume Designer: Tom Kieffer
Lighting Designer: Kurt Lemke
Properties Designer: Kathy Szoke
Stage Manager: Chris Panek
Assistant Producer/Director: SarahAnn Sutter
Assistant Stage Manager: Hillary Brown
Production Assistant: Mary Mitchell
Cast: Katia Bakas, Eugenia Bouboudakis, Tolga Bozkurt, Bethany Brautigam, Anna Caldwell, Paul Canchester, Carl Chadek, Kara Chandler, Michael Coduto, Samuel Cotton, Casey Daniel, David Elliott, Noah Friedlander, Paul Glick, Lane Halverson, Adam Hoak, Rosalind Hurwitz, Dani James, Aaron Jakubiec, Jonathon Larson, Ross Matsuda, Julia McGrath, Sally Olson, Jonathan Rivera, Grace Ryan, Isabel Schmitz, SarahAnn Sutter, Howard Underwood, Alesia Wall, Kristin Weed, Jack Wilson, Mary Nora Wolf

July 19, 2022

Our first production since 2019!
A double bill of Gilbert & Sullivan one-acts!
Trial by Jury
and the world premiere of
Six Characters in Search of Gilbert & Sullivan
September 23–25 and September 30–October 2

The Savoyaires present
Kingsley Day, baritone
Particularly Rapid Unintelligible Patter
The Complete Grossmith-Role Gilbert & Sullivan Patter Songs
(Trial by Jury through The Grand Duke)
with G&S solos by
Sally Olson, soprano
Sahara Glasener-Boles, mezzo-soprano
Bill Chamberlain, tenor
Daniel Robinson, bass
and featuring
Irina Feoktistova, piano

Sunday, June 26, 2022, 3 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Evanston
1445 Hinman Avenue (between Lake and Grove Streets)

Admission $20, payable at the door
(cash, check, or credit card); no advance sales
All audience members must provide proof at the door of full
vaccination/booster within past six months and must wear
masks fully covering nose and mouth at all times in the building.

Running time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
with no intermission

David C. Banasiak
July 21, 1961 ~ January 18, 2022 (age 60)

David C. Banasiak, 60, of Chicago, recently of Barrington, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 21, 1961 in Chicago, IL to Thomas and Ruth (nee Locke) Banasiak.

David was a technical writer at the American Veterinary Medical Association. He loved books, especially those about military history and worked part-time for many years at the reference desk of the Mount Prospect Library. David loved singing and acting and appeared in every performance of The Savoyaires from 2010 through 2019. He served on The Savoyaires board since 2012, including 2 years as president. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and enjoyed fencing as a hobby.

David will be deeply missed by his loving parents, Tom and Ruth; siblings, Susan (John) Young and Timothy (Mary) Banasiak; his nieces, Katherine Banasiak and Rachel Young. He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael Banasiak and his faithful cat, Fang.

A visitation for David will be held at Saint Anne Catholic Community, 120 Ela St. (corner of Franklin and Ela Sts.), Barrington on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 9 AM followed by mass at 11 AM. Interment will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice on Tuesday, January 25 at 11 AM. Please meet at the cemetery office.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or The Savoyaires, P. O. Box 126, Evanston, IL 60204.

July 5, 2021

Yeomen of the Guard streams through July 11
The Savoyaires’ extended video series concludes with 2019’s The Yeomen of the Guard, available at https://vimeo.com/571076981through July 11. Staged by director Kingsley Day, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Caroline Sandrell, the production features Benedict Henslesy as Jack Point, Anna Caldwell as Elsie, Jay Morrissey as Colonel Fairfax, Sahara Glasener-Bowles as Phoebe, Rosalind Hurwitz as Dame Carruthers, Edward Kuffert as Wilfred Shadbolt, Lane Halverson as Sergeant Meryll, Noel Taylor as Sir Richard, Jonathon Joseph Larson as Leonard, Mary Margaret McCormack as Kate, David Craven as First Yeoman, Ross Matsuda as Second Yeoman, Miguel de Léon as First Citizen, and Christopher Panek as the Headsman and the Priest. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

June 28, 2021

Ruddigore streams through July 4
The Savoyaires’ extended video series continues with 2018’s Ruddigore, available at https://vimeo.com/568286108 through July 4. Staged by director Kingsley Day, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Lauren Griffith, the production features Aaron Petrovich as Robin Oakapple, Sally Olson as Rose Maybud, Sahara Glasener-Bowles as Mad Margaret, Dafydd Mac an Leigh as Sir Despard, Jonathon Joseph Larson as Richard Dauntless, Jennifer Barrett as Dame Hannah, Martin Lowen Poock as Sir Roderic, Lane Halverson as Old Adam, Caroline Pircon as Zorah, and Katarina Bakas as Ruth. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency

June 21, 2021

Pirates of Penzance streams through June 27
The Savoyaires’ extended video series continues with 2017’s The Pirates of Penzance, available at https://vimeo.com/565422222 through June 27. Staged and choreographed by director Amy Uhl and conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, the production features Nicholas Metzger as Frederic, Kellie Springfield as Mabel, Phillip Dothard as the Pirate King, Sahara Glasener-Bowles as Ruth, Bill Chamberlain as Major-General Stanley, David Laub as the Sergeant of Police, Jonathan Allsop as Samuel, Marisa Buchheit as Edith, Rachel Mast as Kate, and Annie Bennett as Isabel. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency

June 14, 2021

The Savoyaires’ extended video series continues with 2016’s Thespis, available at https://vimeo.com/562588422 through June 20 (Father’s Day—how appropriate for a show about the Father of the Drama who temporarily fills in for the Father of the Gods). Staged by director Dominic Missimi, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Todd Rhoades, the production features Kingsley Day’s new score (in lieu of Sullivan’s lost original), first performed by the company in 2004 but this time with the composer playing the title role. Also featured are Kat Evans as Mercury, Daniel Berry as Sparkeion, Kathleen Monson as Nicemis, Sahara Glasener-Bowles as Daphne, David Elliott as Jupiter, Bill Chamberlain as Apollo, Sara Stern as Diana, Edward Kuffert as Mars, Trevor Vanderzee as Sillimon, Lane Halverson as Timidon, Emily Hawkins as Pretteia, Ryan Van Stan as Tipseion, Timothy Ferguson as Preposteros, Paul Glick as Stupidas, Nicholas Metzger as Cymon, and Sara Wheeler as Solo Star. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.
To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency

June 7, 2021

Series extended by popular demand!
H.M.S. Pinafore streams through June 13
Response to the Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas has been so enthusiastic that we’re extending the series with our 2015–2019 productions! Each will stream free for one week only, beginning with 2015’s H.M.S. Pinafore, available at https://vimeo.com/559945557 through June 13. Staged and choreographed by director Amy Uhl and conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, the production features Susan Nelson as Josephine, Zachary Angus as Captain Corcoran, Kevin Siembor as Ralph, Kingsley Day as Sir Joseph, Lane Halverson as Dick Deadeye, Sahara Glasener-Bowles as Buttercup, Margaret Jarvis as Cousin Hebe, Noel Taylor as the Boatswain, David Banasiak as the Carpenter’s Mate, and a special turn by Jonathan Rivera as Cousin Beryl. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

May 22, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas concludes, slightly out of order, with 2013’s nontraditional production of The Mikado, available at https://vimeo.com/553617968 through June 5. Staged by director Elizabeth Margolius, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Todd Rhoades, the video features Kingsley Day as Ko-Ko, Greg Zawada as Nanki-Poo, Susan Nelson as Yum-Yum, Rosalind Hurwitz as Katisha, Zachary Elmassian as Pooh-Bah, Lane Halverson as Pish-Tush, Angela Harrington as Pitti-Sing, Holly Flack as Peep-Bo, and David Craven as the Mikado. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

May 7, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with our 2014 50th-anniversary production of The Grand Duke (as abridged by Kingsley Day), available at https://vimeo.com/545325235 through May 20. Staged by director Terry McCabe, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Todd Rhoades, the video features Daniel Berry as Ludwig, Alexandra Olsavsky as Lisa, Dennis Kalup as Ernest, Clarice Warrick as Julia, Katherine Dalin as the Baroness, Kingsley Day as Rudolph, David Craven as the Notary, Noel Taylor as the Prince, Margaret Jarvis as the Princess, Lane Halverson as the Herald, Annie Bennett as Olga, Michelle Perkowitz as Gretchen, Sally Olson as Bertha, Holly Flack as Elsa, and Kayla Boye as Martha. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.To purchase a DVD of this video, go to https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
(Note: Because of technical difficulties, streaming of our 2013 production of The Mikado has been postponed till May 21.)

April 20, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2012’s Patience, available at https://vimeo.com/539343768 through May 4. Staged and choreographed by director A.J. Wester and conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, the video features Olga Bojovic as Patience, Kingsley Day as Reginald Bunthorne, Daniel Berry as Archibald Grosvenor, Jennifer Thompson as Lady Jane, David Craven as Colonel Calverley, Carl Glick as Major Murgatroyd, Mitchell Owens as the Duke of Dunstable, Margaret Jarvis as Lady Angela, Angela De Venuto as Lady Saphir, Ashley Johnson as Lady Ella, and Paul Glick as the Solicitor. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.To purchase a DVD of this video, go to
https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

April 7, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2011’s Trial by Jury as part of a historic triple bill of 1875 one-acts that also includes Eyes and No Eyes by Gilbert without Sullivan and The Zoo by Sullivan without Gilbert. Available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/534191049/df69ba1d06 through April 20, the production was staged and choreographed by director A.J. Wester and conducted by music director Timothy Semanik. Eyes and No Eyes features Roberto Quintanilla as Arlequin, Kevin Siembor as Pierrot, Laura Kimmel as Columbine, Ruth Brown as Clochette, Kingsley Day as Cassandre, and Jennifer Thompson as Nicolette. The Zoo features Matthew Dingels as Carboy, Adrianne Blanks as Eliza, David Craven as Brown, Kristin Lutzeier as Laetitia, and David Laub as Grinder. Trial by Jury features Kingsley Day as the Judge, Kevin Siembor as the Defendant, Olga Bojovic as the Plaintiff, Mathew Dingels as the Counsel, Christopher Skyles as the Usher, and Noel Taylor as the Foreman. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org . To purchase a DVD of this video, go to https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

March 25, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2010’s The Gondoliers, available at https://vimeo.com/528484057
through April 6. Staged by director Jim Schneider, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Amy Uhl, the video features Kevin Siembor as Marco, Noel Taylor as Giuseppe, Anne Slovin as Gianetta, Caitlin McKechney as Tessa, Kingsley Day as the Duke of Plaza-Toro, Jennifer Thompson as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Marlene Maier as Casilda, David Craven as Don Alhambra del Bolero, Oscar Menoyo as Luiz, JoAnn Minds as Inez, Kristin Lutzeier as Fiametta, Margaret Jarvis as Vittoria, Kathryn Mantoan as Guilia, David Banasiak as Antonio, David Greene as Francesco, Lane Halverson as Annibale, and the fondly remembered Tim Huckabay as Giorgio. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. To purchase a DVD of this video, go to https://www.savoyaires.org/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.
The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

March 10, 2021

A G&S rarity! The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2009’s Utopia Limited, available at https://vimeo.com/521216519 through March 23. Staged by director Tom Rusnak, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Mary Rita Mitchell, the video features Noel Taylor as King Paramount, Maria Carini as Princess Zara, Jay Morrissey as Captain Fitzbattleaxe, Rachel Rubinstein as Lady Sophy, Kingsley Day as Scaphio, David Hunt as Phantis, Lane Halverson as Tarara, David Craven as Mr. Goldbury, David Laub as Captain Corcoran, Khaki Pixley as Sir Bailey Barre, Daniel Minds as Mr. Blushington, Ian Hosack as Lord Dramaleigh, Katie Miller as Nekaya, Catherine Huggins as Kalyba, and many more. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

February 24, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2008’s The Pirates of Penzance, available at https://vimeo.com/515754161 through March 9. Staged by director Tom Rusnak, conducted by music director Timothy Semanik, and choreographed by Mary Rita Mitchell, the video features Kevin Siembor as Frederic, Emily Louise Robinson as Mabel, Noel Taylor as the Pirate King, Kingsley Day as Major-General Stanley, Rachel Rubinstein as Ruth, David Laub as the Sergeant of Police, David Hunt as Samuel, Annie Claude Chartrand as Edith, Leslie Nurton as Kate, and Hillary Brown as Isabel. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org. The Savoyaires acknowledge support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

February 3, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2007’s Princess Ida, available at https://vimeo.com/509916995 through February 23. Staged by director Terry McCabe, conducted by music director Harold Bauer, and choreographed by Laura Scheinbaum, the production features Emily Lee in the title role, Kevin Siembor as Hilarion, Mark Donlin as Cyril, Oswaldo Iraheta as Florian, Kingsley Day as King Gama, Rachel Rubinstein as Lady Blanche, Anne Mollerskov as Lady Psyche, Jennifer Meyer as Melissa, David Hunt as Arac, Tom Campbell as Guron, Lane Halverson as Scynthius, and the fondly remembered Steve Andrews as King Hildebrand. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

January 27, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2006’s Iolanthe, available at https://vimeo.com/504674021 through February 9. Staged by director Martha Adrienne and conducted by music director Daniel Robinson, the production features Hayden Muhl as Strephon, Melanie Davis as Phyllis, Kingsley Day as the Lord Chancellor, Rena Ahmed as Iolanthe, Kara Chandler as the Queen of the Fairies, Marty Devine as Private Willis, Vincent Rideout as Lord Tolloller, Erika Samis as Celia, Corissa Leonard as Leila, Reina Hardy as Fleta, and the fondly remembered Steve Andrews as Lord Mountararat. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

January 13, 2021

The Savoyaires’ free video streaming of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas continues with 2005’s The Sorcerer. (Apologies for the audio problems intrinsic to the original DVD release.) The production features two longtime Savoyaires stars in their last joint appearance: Jo Ann Minds as Lady Sangazure (a role she played in all three Savoyaires Sorcerer productions to date) and the fondly remembered John Shea as Sir Marmaduke, his last role with the company. The cast also features Kingsley Day in the title role of John Wellington Wells, Julia Hathaway as Aline, Cary Lovett as Alexis, Edward Bee as Dr. Daly, Erin Thomas as Constance, Cynthia Hill as Mrs. Partlet, and Alan Teller as Hercules, as well as David Hunt as the Notary and Tom Campbell as the Solicitor--splitting what Gilbert wrote as a single role, thus somewhat muddying the Act II plot, though Gilbert's own revisions had muddied things a bit already! The video is available through January 26 at https://vimeo.com/499896575. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

December 30, 2020

In presenting all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas without a break from 2001 through 2014, the Savoyaires even produced the rarely performed Thespis, for which most of Sullivan’s original score is lost. Kingsley Day’s critically acclaimed 1982 Thespis score was orchestrated specifically for the Savoyaires under the leadership of Francis Lynch. Staged by director Terry McCabe and conducted by music director Daniel Robinson, Thespis can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/495665152. The cast features Henry Odum (Thespis), Julia Hathaway (Mercury), Jennifer Grubb (Nicemis), Brian DeCou (Sparkeion), Diana Stoic (Daphne), William King (Apollo), David Hunt (Mars), Kara Chandler (Diana), Bob Green (Sillimon), David Laub (Timidon), Reina Hardy (Pretteia), Alan Teller (Tipseion), Gary Hardesty (Cymon), Francis Lynch (Preposteros), Brian Treglown (Stupidas), Katie Panattoni (Star), and the fondly remembered Steve Andrews (Jupiter). To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

December 17, 2020

Don't miss the boat! H.M.S. Pinafore streams free through December 29
The Savoyaires’ free video series of all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, as produced without a break from 2001 through 2014, continues with H.M.S. Pinafore, staged by director Martha Adrienne and conducted by music director Daniel Robinson, at https://vimeo.com/491497370. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

December 2, 2020

The series continues! Free streaming of our 2002 production of The Yeomen of the Guard begins today at https://vimeo.com/486381843 and continues through December 15. Directed by Martha Adrienne, with music direction by Daniel Robinson, the production features Kingsley Day as Jack Point, Sonali Rodriguez as Elsie, Peter Voigt as Col. Fairfax, Kara Chandler as Phoebe, Regina Webster as Dame Carruthers, David Hunt as Sgt. Meryll, Cory Wikan as Leonard, Jessica Lauren Fisher as Kate, and two company members who sadly are no longer with us, Christopher Diez as Shadbolt and Steve Andrews as Sir Richard.

November 18, 2020

Something to be thankful for! From 2001 through 2014, the Savoyaires produced all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas without a repeat. Now you can stream all 14 shows for free, each for two weeks only. From November 18 through December 1, watch 2001’s Ruddigore, staged by director Walter Stearns and conducted by music director Daniel Robinson, at vimeo.com/480174389. To donate to the Savoyaires, scroll down at savoyaires.org.

October 7, 2020

The DVD of our 2019 production of The Yeomen of the Guard is now available! Although unfortunately the Savoyaires can't present a show this year, now you can relive last year's show, or see it for the first time. Enjoy the stellar cast, the gorgeous costumes, the opulent orchestra, the dramatic lighting, and our own Tower of London, the most spectacular set in the company's 55-year history. Order your copy online at savoyaires.org/store.

July 3, 2020

Regrettably, and as so many wonderful theatre companies have painfully had to do, we must share that, due to the world circumstances, we are postponing our planned production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers to the fall of 2021; we will present no main stage production in Evanston this fall.

As a company, we remain committed to keeping our communities acquainted with the delightful work of Gilbert and Sullivan, and we will continue to explore ways to do just that.

And when it is safe to do so, hopefully in the fall of 2021, we will return to Chute Auditorium in Evanston to stage our next main stage production, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers.

February 11, 2020

Relive the Savoyaires’ two latest productions! The DVD of 2018’s Ruddigore is now available for purchase (click HERE to buy), and photos from 2019’s The Yeomen of the Guard are online for your viewing pleasure. Click HERE for the photos. For a further souvenir of Yeomen, you can still buy a T-shirt! Click HERE for a T-Shirt.

September 1, 2019

Tickets are now on sale for "The Yeomen of the Guard". Performances are October 4-6, and 11-13. To purchase tickets online and select your own seats, click here.

May 7, 2019

Auditions for Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard are June 1-2! All roles and chorus parts are available. Click here for information or to schedule an appointment. Performances will be October 4th - 6th, and 11th - 13th, 2019.

April 13, 2019

Oblivious to the attacker right behind him, Kingsley Day soaks up appropriate atmosphere at the Tower of London in preparation for directing The Yeomen of the Guard for the Savoyaires this fall. In our last Yeomen (2002) he played Jack Point.

Performance dates are Friday - Sunday, October 4 - 6, and October 11- 13, 2019.

January 25, 2019
Didn’t get your T-shirt when you attended the performance? Get ’em now while they’re hot! Available in sizes 2XL, XL, L, M, and S, this wearable souvenir of our critically acclaimed fall 2018 production of Ruddigore is on sale now here.

November 11, 2018
The Savoyaires are proud to announce that their 55th annual production in the fall of 2019 will be The Yeomen of the Guard. This is the first time since 2002 that the company has produced Yeomen. Kingsley Day will again be the Stage Director.

October 8, 2018
Rave review for Ruddigore!

Click on link below
Ruddigore Review

October 3, 2018

Kingsley Day makes 'Ruddigore' his own in directorial debut

By Jan Smith / EvanstonNow on October 1, 2018 - 5:30am

Kingsley Day was hooked on Gilbert and Sullivan during his first year in high school and now, after performing in 17 G&S operas with the Evanston-based Savoyaires, he jumped into the role of director for the upcoming performance of "Ruddigore."

Becoming a director wasn’t Day’s idea. “When I said that 2016 would be my last stage appearance for the Savoyaires,” Day explained, “the board said, ‘Oh good, now you can direct.’”

“It was flattering that the board would think that I had that qualification, but it was not my idea.” He agreed to direct one show so the board could see “whether you thought that was such a great idea or not. So here we are.”

“I had directed before, but it’s been decades,” he said. “As an actor, it’s a cardinal rule that when you’re in a show you don’t give direction to your fellow actors. But that is a cardinal rule I’ve had difficulty not breaking.”

“I have very strong opinions about how Gilbert and Sullivan should go,” he said. “So it is kind of nice that this time around my opinions are the ones that everyone has to pay attention to.”

“I was glad to debut as Savoyaires director with one of the lesser known operas because it’s not as familiar to the audience,” he said.

And, with "Ruddigore," “there are more decisions a director has to make, in consultation with the music director, about what version of the show you’re doing.”

“Gilbert made quite a few changes almost immediately after the show opened” in 1887, Day explained. “And in 1921 when the D’Oyly Carte company revived it in London, they made a lot of additional cuts.”

“You have to decide what to cut or not to cut. There’s an appendix of additional material you can look at.”

“The last time the Savoyaires did "Ruddigore" 17 years ago, all of the D’Oyly Carte cuts were restored,” Day explained, such as Robin’s second act solo “Away, remorse!” with Sullivan’s music.

“I’ve also restored a few things that Gilbert cut,” he said, based on the book “A Most Ingenious Paradox” by Gayden Wren.

“I think he makes a convincing case that some of Gilbert’s dialog cuts in Act II were too extreme and weakened the focus of the plot,” he said, “so I have selectively put in a few lines here and there.”

Of his 17 performances with the Savoyaires, Day said it’s hard to pick a favorite role, but his least favorite is Scaphio in "Utopia Unlimited."

"Ruddigore"’s Robin Oakapple is one of the most fun roles, he added, because it’s the only character that is both the romantic lead and the comic patter lead.

Day has also extended his talent to composing. Since most of the music is lost for "Thespis," the first Gilbert and Sullivan opera, he composed a score for the show for piano back in 1982. In 2016 he converted his piano score to full orchestra. “And if I do say so,” he added, “the music sounds like Sullivan.”

Day grew up in Columbia, Missouri, where he was in the chorus for "H.M.S. Pinafore" and became “hooked for life” on Gilbert & Sullivan.

He earned an undergraduate degree in piano at Lawrence University and a graduate degree in music theory at Eastman School of Music and came to Chicago for theater.

He served as editor of Clavier Magazine and is now a senior editor for publications in the Department of Global Marketing and Communications at Northwestern University.

Day lived in Evanston for over 20 years and now lives in Edgewater.

July 31, 2018
The DVD of our 2017 performance "The Pirates of Penzance" is now available in our store. The list price is $25.00 plus shipping and handling. However, the Cast / Crew price is $20.00 plus shipping and handling. You can purchase this at https://www.savoyaires.org/store/p30/Pirates_of_Penzance__DVD_%282017%29.html

May 2, 2018
Auditions have been scheduled for "Ruddigore", the Savoyaires' 54th annual Gilbert & Sullivan production, running October 5-7 & 12-14. This is the first time in 17 years that the company has performed this production. Auditions are June 2-4. Sign up for an appointment at www.savoyaires.org/auditions.

February 12, 2018
The performance dates for our 2018 performance of "Ruddigore", or "The Witch’s Curse", have been set. The performances will be on October 5-7 and 12-14. Watch for announcements about auditions and ticket sales!

January 3, 2018
This October we present our 54th annual Gilbert & Sullivan production, our first staging of "RUDDIGORE" in 17 years. Tim Semanik returns as music director, and Laima Day returns as producer. After playing the patter baritone lead at least once in all 14 G&S operettas with the Savoyaires, Kingsley Day takes on a new role with the company as this year's stage director. Watch for audition announcements this spring!

September 1, 2017
Aargh! Tickets are now on sale for our fall production of The Pirates of Penzance. Rehearsals are under way with an outstanding cast of returning regulars and fresh talent. Director Amy Uhl, music director Tim Semanik, and a talented staff of designers are putting together a show that's not to be missed! To buy tickets now, click here!

August 24, 2017
The DVD of last October’s production of Thespis is now available for sale in our online store. Enjoy director Dominic Missimi’s brilliant production and composer Kingsley Day’s critically acclaimed Sullivanesque score for $25.00 plus shipping and handling. Click here to purchase

July 22, 2017
Arrgh! The Pirates of Penzance once again takes to the high seas of the Savoyaires stage this fall. The company is delighted to welcome aboard stage director Amy Uhl, who directed our 2015 production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Once again, she will be setting sail with our resident producer Laima Day and resident music director Timothy Semanik. Joining the crew as assistant director will be Kingsley Day, who moves backstage after a long run as the lead patter baritone on stage with the company. Casting is complete, and rehearsals will be starting soon.

May 27, 2017
It's your big chance to be a pirate--or to marry one! Audition for “The Pirates of Penzance”, the Savoyaires' 53rd annual Gilbert & Sullivan production, running October 6-8 & 13-15. Auditions are June 2-4. Sign up for an appointment at www.savoyaires.org/auditions.

June 12, 2016
As we launch our new website, we are thrilled to welcome Dominic Missimi, 17-time Jeff nominee and 2-time Jeff winner for best direction of a musical, as guest stage director for Thespis. He will be working with Resident Producer Laima Day and Resident Music Director Timothy Semanik to bring this production to life. Auditions have been completed and casting will be finished soon. We are excited to be performing Kingsley Day's brilliant realization of Gilbert & Sullivan's very first collaboration for a second time!

October 20, 2015
We have finished our run of performances of H.M.S. Pinafore and audiences were once again delighted with this true masterpiece among Gilbert & Sullivan's works. The work of our talented scenic designer Jessica Howe and costume designer Tom Kieffer made this one of the most stunningly beautiful productions ever.

June 17, 2015
We are pleased to welcome Amy Uhl, who was choreographer for our 2010 production of The Gondoliers, as stage director for H.M.S. Pinafore. Veterans Laima Day (Producer) and Timothy Semanik (Music Director) return to fill out our superb production team. Auditions have been completed and casting will be finished soon. We are excited about performing this delightful work once again!

November 1, 2014
The performances of our historic 50th production, The Grand Duke, have been completed with great success. Many patrons told us that this was one of the most enjoyable shows they had ever seen, and the production staff were universal in advising that we should most definitely not wait another 34 years to produce this opera again! With this production, the Savoyaires completed a cycle of all 14 Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the last 14 years. Audience members attending the productions from 2001 to 2014 would have seen all 14 operas with no repetitions -- demonstrating the company's commitment to the performance of all of Gilbert and Sullivan's marvelous collaborations.

May 21, 2014
The Savoyaires proudly celebrated a half century of annual productions with a gala program on Saturday, May 10, with a special event at First Congregational Church House in Evanston. A highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to four longtime company stalwarts--Gloria Boyell, Jo Ann Minds, John Shea, and Dave Stockwell. Boyell, who accompanied the entire program, has served as the Savoyaires’ rehearsal pianist since 1979. Minds and Shea, who performed a scene from The Mikado, each played leading roles in more than 20 productions—Minds from 1966 to 2010 and Shea from 1973 to 2005. Stockwell, a cast member of the company’s 1965 The Gondoliers and many productions thereafter, performed a lyric recitation and received the Savoyaires Half-Century Award.

The program included performances of one number from each of the 14 G&S operettas, sung by performers from across the company's five-decade history, with members of the audience joining to sing the chorus parts. The soloists included included 93-year-old Eugene Propp as well as Kara Chandler, Amy Conn, David Craven, Kingsley Day, Lane Halverson, Margaret Jarvis, Kristin Lutzeier, Wendy Wells Mineau, Henry Michael Odum, Rachel Rubinstein, Noel Taylor, Jennifer Thompson, and Peter Voigt. Nearly 200 past show participants, donors, and audience members attended the program and reception.

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