by Timothy Rutt
Students from Eliot Middle School and Sierra Madre Elementary School were treated to a special performance of "The Mikado" by the Pacific Opera Project Wednesday morning. POP's production put a modern Japanese pop culture coating on the Gilbert & Sullivan classic, to the delight of the audience. Artistic director Josh Shaw said that it was a full house with 150 students.
POP performs "The Mikado" this weekend, Friday through Sunday, at Porticos Art Space (2033 E. Washington), inside St. James United Methodist Church along the Pasa/Alta border. Shaw says that Saturday night and the Sunday matinee are almost sold out, but some tickets are still available (and where can you see a full ensemble AND 14-piece orchestra for only $30?) Check it out at http://www.pacificoperaproject.com/#!__mikado. More pictures after the jump.
Photos: Martha Benedict
1. The brightly-colored costumes take their cue from Harajuku, young Japanese pop culture.
2. Artistic director Josh Shaw and musical director Stephen Karr give a short talk before the show.
3. Eliot Middle School students experience opera at Porticos Art Space.
4. Pish-Tush (Michael Bannett and Joseph von Buhler) is played as conjoined twins in this production.
