Wichita Grand Opera to offer full production of ‘Pirates of Penzance’ at Bradley Fair in 2016

The Wichita Grand Opera in 2016 will harken back to its first performance at the Bradley Fair lake by staging a full, new production of “Pirates of Penzance” outdoors at Bradley Fair on May 21.

For the past several years, the opera company has offered a free performance of a medley of opera favorites each summer, calling the event Opera on the Lake. This year, because of the unavailability of Century II for one of the Grand Opera’s productions, “Pirates of Penzance” will be moved to the Bradley Fair plaza, and the purchase of tickets will be required for most seats, said Parvan Bakardiev, the company’s president. There will be an area of free seating by the Hilton Garden Inn, he said.

The Grand Opera first staged an opera at the lake in 2003, with three performances of “Carmen” — though the first night, rain forced it back indoors at Century II.

“This way we will repeat something,” Bakardiev said. “People will love having a full production since Century II is not available.” “Pirates” will also go on the road to McPherson and Salina.

In addition to the production of that comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, Wichita Grand Opera’s 2016 season will include new productions of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and Puccini’s “La Boheme,” and it will kick off with the Russian National Ballet Theatre performing a double bill: Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Bizet’s “Carmen,” on April 23 at Century II.

“Rigoletto” will be performed Sept. 3 at Century II, and “La Boheme” on Oct. 1 at Century II and on Oct. 15 at the Carlsen Center in Overland Park. This will be the second year in a row that the Grand Opera will perform in the Kansas City market.

“They invited us enthusiastically to come back,” Bakardiev said.

Season ticket subscriptions are available in packages of two to four performances ranging in price from $63 to $255. Dinner also is available for the performance of “Pirates of Penzance.” To purchase tickets, call 316-262-8054 or go online at www.selectaseat.com. For more information, go to the website www.WichitaGrandOpera.org.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 8:23 AM with the headline "Wichita Grand Opera to offer full production of ‘Pirates of Penzance’ at Bradley Fair in 2016."