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Sinfonicron Light Opera Company
GenreGilbert and Sullivan and other light operas and musicals
Headquarters428 W. Duke of Gloucester St. Williamsburg, VA 23185
Websitehttps://www.sinfonicron.org

The Sinfonicron Light Opera Company is a student-run theatre company at the College of William & Mary that produces annual musicals and light operas. For over half a century, it has sought to produce "high quality theatre" for the William and Mary student body and the Williamsburg community.[1] Students from the College of William and Mary produce everything including set design and construction, direction, costuming, and administration.

History

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In October of 1965, the President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (The College of William & Mary's music fraternity) released a statement calling for the technicians and performers of the college to join him in his mission of creating a student-led light opera company to display the musical and technical talent of students. In order to finance the first show, shares of Sinfonicron were sold to members of Delta Omicron and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.[2] PMA co-founded the organization with Delta Omicron (now Delta Tau Omicron). Sinfonicron's name was a portmanteau of its founding organizations' names: Sinfonia and Omicron. Students run every level of the production, including set design, costuming, management, and publicity. The company was originally founded under the name Sinfonicron Opera Company, but in 1983 changed its name to Sinfonicron Light Opera Company.[2]

Today members are drawn entirely from William and Mary students, many of whom belong to one of the company's four parent organizations: Delta Tau Omicron, Phi Mu Alpha, and Nu Kappa Epsilon, and the Theater Students’ Association. While the production schedule has changed throughout the company's history, at present, Sinfonicron produces one show every January on a three year rotating schedule of two Gilbert and Sullivan shows and one non-Gilbert and Sullivan show. Students come back to William & Mary two weeks before the official start of the spring semester, giving up the second half of their winter break to rehearse all day to produce a musical in two weeks. This affords students too busy in the semester to take part in William and Mary theater. Sinfonicron prides itself not only on contributing to Williamsburg's vibrant arts scene, but also on providing its student participants with invaluable skills, experiences, and relationships that will stay with them for years to come.[1]

The first article about Sinfonicron to be featured in The Flat Hat, William and Mary's student written newspaper began with a quote from Doug French, the first director of Sinfonicron:

"The Mikado will be the firstly-student production to be presented at William and Mary."

However, this statement is false, for a club known as The Backdrop club had been producing student-run theater since 1938. [3]

In 2015, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution commending Sinfonicron for "producing theater that enchants audiences and enriches the community" in honor of the company's 50th anniversary, following its January 2015 production of Pirates of Penzance. [4]


Similar Clubs

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The Backdrop Club

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The Backdrop club was founded in December 1937[3] to put on the student run and student written "varsity shows."[5] The first show, "Spring Cleaning,"[6] took place on April 7th and 8th with over a hundred students involved in the production.[7] The second show, "Set to Munich" took place on March 30 and 31, 1939.[3] Despite the fact that the company was young and the production of the show was a bit rough, the show received favorable reviews.[3] Eventually the club began to do some non-student-written, but still student-run shows such as "Gypsy" in 1966.[8] The Backdrop club stopped doing productions in about 1984.[9]

The Chameleon Group

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In 1986, The Backdrop club was disbanded and replaced by the Chameleon Group[10] whose mission was to support all student-theater projects on campus.[11] The first production of "Walpurgisnacht," written by Andrew Emery" took place February 23rd-27th, 1986.[12]

Shakespeare in the Dark

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Founded in 1997, Shakespeare in the Dark[13] is the only other official theatre company at the College of William & Mary. Unlike the Sinfonicron Light Opera Company, Shakespeare in the Dark does not produce musical production and only focuses on original interpretations of Shakespearian plays and other classical theater productions. Shakespeare in the Dark is often featured in William and Mary's newspaper, The Flat Hat, and they are featured for their festivals and productions[14]. Many students that participate in Sinfonicron are also members of Shakespeare in the Dark.

Continuing a Legacy?

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Gilbert and Sullivan and the William and Mary Players

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In the 1930s, the W&M Music Department produced a series of Gilbert and Sullivan Musicals in the Phi Beta Kappa auditorium. While there is no known evidence of a connection between these productions and the founding on Sinfonicron 25 years later, such a connection is possible.

Production

Number

Date Show Title
1 1930 Pirates of Penzance[15]
2 1931 H.M.S. Pinafore[15]
3 1932 The Mikado[15]
4 1933 Trial by Jury[15]
5 May, 1935 Iolanthe[15]
6 1936 Patience[15][16]
7 1937 The Gondoliers[16]
8 March 17-18, 1938 The Mikado[16]
9 1939 Pirates of Penzance[17]

There was no show in 1934 due to a staging of Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel."

Gilbert and Sullivan

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At the time of Sinfonicron's founding, many students were passionate about performing Gilbert and Sullivan's light operas, which had just recently gone into the public domain in 1961. While the company still frequently performs Gilbert and Sullivan's shows, as some of the shows do not hold up well in the modern day, the company has expanded its repertoire to include more modern musicals.

Location

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For 54 years, Sinfonicron was based out of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall. In 2018, the building closed for renovations, and Sinfonicron moved to Kimball Theatre.[18]

In the Press

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The Sinfonicron Light Opera Company is featured on many local tourism websites and has been highlighted in many local news articles including The Virginian-Pilot, The Virginia Gazzette, the Daily Press (Virginia), and William and Mary's own newspaper The Flat Hat. Local tourism sites such as williamsburgvisitor.com[19] and williamsburgfamilies.com[20] will put down the productions of Sinfonicron as fun family and date night activities to do in Williamsburg during late January.

In 2021, Amy Poulter at The Virginian-Pilot covered Sinfonicron's production of "Thespis", an opera without music. [21] In this article Poulter highlighted the difficulties of producing a musical over an online platform and how the unlikely-to-be-used opera 'Thespis' became a perfect piece to put on.

In 2020, Jack Jacobs at The Virginia Gazette spotlighted Sinfonicron's production of Ruddigore, highlighting the "feminist twist" which the design and performance teams brought to the show.[22]

In 2016, Heather Bridges from Daily Press (Virginia) highlighted Sinfonicron's production of Kiss Me, Kate, one of Sinfonicron's bigger productions.[23] In this article Bridges describes the challenging musical that the company members tackle and the unending energy and high morale that the students exhibit despite many long rehearsal days. Bridges ends the article acknowledging that the members of Sinfonicron are more than just students at William and Mary, but their hard work and dedication makes them a family.

In 2017, the Daily Press included Sinfonicron among a list of other notable music and performance-based acts in and around the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.[24]

Previous Productions

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Production

Number

Performance Dates Show Title Written By
1 October 15,16 1965 The Mikado[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
2 November 17, 18, 19 1966 H.M.S. Pinafore[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
3 November 9, 10, 11 1967 Ruddigore[26] Gilbert and Sullivan
4 November 14, 15, 16 1968 Yeoman of the Guard[26] Gilbert and Sullivan
5 November 13, 14, 15 1969 The Gondoliers[26] Gilbert and Sullivan
6 November 18, 19, 20, 21 1970 Pirates of Penzance[27] Gilbert and Sullivan
7 November 17, 18, 19, 20 1971 The Mikado[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
8 November 9, 10, 11 1972 Patience[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
9 November 14, 15, 16, 17 1973 Iolanthe[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
10 November 13, 14, 15, 16 1974 The Gondoliers[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
11 October 22, 23, 24, 25 1975 Ruddigore[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
12 March 24, 25, 26 1977 Trial by Jury[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
13 October 27, 28, 29, 30 1976 The Sorcerer[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
14 January 18, 19, 20, 21 1988 H.M.S. Pinafore[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
15 January 31, February 1, 2, 3 1979 Patience[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
16 January 30, 31, February 1, 2 1980 Iolanthe[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
17 January 28, 29, 30, 31 1981 The Mikado[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
18 January 27, 28, 29, 30 1982 Ruddigore[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
19 September 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 1982 Trial by Jury Gilbert and Sullivan
20 January 26, 27, 28, 29 1983 The Merry Widow[25] Franz Lehár, Viktor Léon, and Leo Stein
21 November 9 1983 A Gilbert & Sullivan Revue[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
22 January 25, 26, 27, 28 1984 Pirates of Penzance[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
23 January 24, 25, 26, 27 1985 Patience[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
24 January 23, 24, 25, 26 1986 The Gondoliers[29] Gilbert and Sullivan
25 January 29, 30, 31, February 1 1987 Evita[25] Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
26 1988 The Mikado Gilbert and Sullivan
27 January 19, 20, 21, 22 1989 West Side Story[25] Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
28 January 18, 19, 20, 21 1990 H.M.S. Pinafore[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
29 January 17, 18, 19, 20 1991 A Little Night Music[25] Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
30 January 16, 17, 18 1992 Pirates of Penzance[25] Gilbert and Sullivan
31 January 21, 22, 23 1993 Yeoman of the Guard[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
32 January 20, 21, 22 1994 Into the Woods[28] James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim
33 January 19, 20, 21 1995 Patience[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
34 January 18, 19, 20 1996 Ruddigore[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
35 January 16, 17, 18 1997 42nd Street[28] Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble, Al Dubin, and Johnny Mercer
36 January 22, 23, 24 1998 Princess Ida[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
37 January 21, 22, 23 1999 The Gondoliers[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
38 1999-2000 City of Angels Cy Coleman, Larry Gelbart, and David Zippel
39 January 18, 19, 20 2001 Pirates of Penzance[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
40 January 17, 18, 19, 20 2002 The Sorcerer[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
41 January 16, 17, 18, 19 2003 The Music Man[28] Meredith Willson and Doug Besterman
42 January 22, 23 24, 25 2004 Iolanthe[30] Gilbert and Sullivan
43 January 20, 21, 22, 23 2005 Ruddigore[30] Gilbert and Sullivan
44 September 29, 2005 Benefit Gala[28] Various
45 January 19, 20, 21, 22 2006 Ragtime[30] Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, and Terrence McNally
46 January 25, 26, 27, 28 2007 The Mikado[28] Gilbert and Sullivan
47 October 6 2007 An Onward Spectacle: Gala 2007[28] Various
48 January 17, 18, 19, 20 2008 Pirates of Penzance[31] Gilbert and Sullivan
49 October 18 2008 Gala Various
50 January 22, 23, 24, 25 2009 The Secret Garden[32] Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman
51 January 21, 22, 23, 24 2010 The Gondoliers[33] Gilbert and Sullivan
52 January 20, 21, 22, 23 2011 Patience[34] Gilbert and Sullivan
53 January 19, 20, 21, 22 2012 Thoroughly Modern Millie[35] Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlan, and Richard Morris
54 January 17, 18, 19, 20 2013 Iolanthe[36] Gilbert and Sullivan
55 January 15, 16, 17, 18 2014 Sullivan & Gilbert Ken Ludwig and Gilbert and Sullivan
56 January 22, 23, 24, 25 2015 Pirates of Penzance Gilbert and Sullivan
57 January 21, 22, 23, 24 2016 Kiss Me, Kate Cole Porter and Bella and Samuel Spewack
58 January 19, 20, 21, 22 2017 The Sorcerer Gilbert and Sullivan
59 January 18, 19, 20, 21 2018 The Grand Duke Gilbert and Sullivan
60 January 17, 18, 19, 20 2019 The Drowsy Chaperone Bob Martin, Don McKellar,Lisa Lambert, and Greg Morrison
61 January 23, 24, 25, 26 2020 Ruddigore Gilbert and Sullivan
62 January 29, 30, 31, 2021 Thespis Gilbert and Sullivan

[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sinfonicron Light Opera Company". sinfonicron. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  2. ^ a b Company, Sinfonicron Light Opera (1965–1992). "Sinfonicron scrapbook, 1965-1992". {{cite journal}}: |last= has generic name (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)
  3. ^ a b c d William and Mary Libraries Special Collections. University Archives Small Collections Box 6
  4. ^ "2015 Session House Resolution No. 266". lis.virginia.gov.
  5. ^ Mary, College of William and (1938-01-11). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Mary, College of William and (1938-03-29). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Mary, College of William and (1938-02-15). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Mary, College of William and (1966-04-29). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Emery, Andrew (2009-10-24). "Andrew Emery Oral History Interview, 2009". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Mary, College of William and (1986-02-05). "William and Mary News". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Mary, College of William and (1986-02-19). "William and Mary News". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ William and Mary Libraries Special Collections. University Archives Poster Collection. Poster #1403.
  13. ^ "Shakespeare in the Dark". Shakespeare in the Dark. 01/18/2022. Retrieved 01/18/2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Harris, Madeleine (September 6, 2021). "The Flat Hat". To ‘yes and’ or not to ‘yes and’: acting troupe Shakespeare in the Dark performs interactive scene festival as fall 2021 debut. Retrieved 01/18/2021. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ^ a b c d e f Mary, College of William and (1935-03-26). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ a b c Mary, College of William and (1938-02-22). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ Mary, College of William and (1939-01-10). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ Heymann, Amelia (2019-01-14). "How did Sinfonicron Light Opera Co. produce a musical in two and a half weeks?". Daily Press. Williamsburg, Virginia. Retrieved 2021-01-21. Press, Daily (2019-01-14). "How did Sinfonicron Light Opera Co. produce a musical in two and a half weeks?". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ "Sinfonifest – The Sinfonicron Light Opera Company". https://www.williamsburgfamilies.com/. 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  20. ^ Mutterperl, Joshua (2021). "The Drowsy Chaperone presented by Sinfonicron Light Opera Company at the Kimball Theatre – this weekend". williamsburgvisitor.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Poulter, Amy (27 January 2021). "William & Mary to perform a rare thing — an opera with no music". https://www.pilotonline.com/. The Virginia Pilot. Retrieved 7 January 2022. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  22. ^ Jacobs, Jack (21 January 2020). "Sinfonicron puts a feminist twist on opera Ruddigore". dailypress.com/virginiagazette. Virginia Gazette. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  23. ^ Bridges, Heather (12 January 2016). "Sinfonicron Light Opera Company tackles "Kiss Me, Kate"". https://www.dailypress.com/. Daily Press. Retrieved 7 January 2022. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  24. ^ Press, Daily. "Living in Hampton Roads: Peninsula-area performing arts". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Club, Backdrop; Theatre, William and Mary; Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha; Omicron, Delta; Band, College of William and Mary Concert; Band, Concert (1965). "Concert and Musical Programs". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ a b c Mary, College of William and (1968). "Colleague: Faculty Newsletter, 1968-1970". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ Mary, College of William and (1970-11-20). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p William and Mary Libraries Special Collections. Sinfonicron Light Opera Company Records UA 7.046, Box 1
  29. ^ Mary, College of William and (1986-01-24). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  30. ^ a b c William and Mary Libraries Special Collections. Sinfonicron Light Opera Company Records UA 7.046, Series 2: 2013.081 Box 1
  31. ^ Mary, College of William and (2008-01-25). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  32. ^ Mary, College of William and (2009-01-23). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  33. ^ Mary, College of William and (2010-01-22). "The Flat Hat". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  34. ^ "Patience". sinfonicron. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  35. ^ "Thoroughly Modern Millie". sinfonicron. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  36. ^ "Iolanthe". sinfonicron. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  37. ^ "PAST PRODUCTIONS". sinfonicron. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
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