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The Mikado


The Mikado or The Town of Titipu A year before the action of this opera begins, Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado of Japan, fled his father's imperial court to escape marriage with Katisha, an elderly lady. Disguised as a traveling musician, he met and fell in love with Yum-Yum, the young ward of Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor in the town of Titipu. Yum-Yum, however, was already betrothed to her guardian, and Nanki-Poo left Titipu in despair.
The Mikado was produced at the Savoy Theatre on March 14, 1885, and proved to be one of the most famous of all the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas, running, as it did, for 672 nights. Durham Savoyards Performance History May 21-22, 1965, Page Auditorium, Duke University Director: Joseph Wetherby — Music Director: Paul Bryan April 28-29, 1972 and May 19-20, 1972, Page Auditorium, Duke University Director: Patricia Barnett — Music Director: Allan Bone — Producer: Walter Johnson April 23-24, 1982, Page Auditorium, Duke University; April 30, 1982, Stewart Theatre, Raleigh, NC Drama Director: John Younger — Music Director: Kent Otto — Producer: Mark Jackman May 6-9, 1993, Page Auditorium, Duke University; May 15-16, 1993, Thalian Hall, Wilmington, NC Artistic Director: Randolph Umberger — Music Director: Benjamin Keaton — Producer: Anne Evans March 14-16, 2003 and March 21-23, 2003, Carolina Theatre, Durham, NC Director: Derrick Ivey — Music Director: Alan Riley Jones — Producer: Paula Scotland [Cast & Crew]

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