NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The award-winning Blue Hill Troupe, the only musical theater group dedicated to supporting charities that address New York City's most pressing needs, celebrates its 84th season with a new production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Princess Ida.
Laced with send-ups of Verdi and Handel, Princess Ida features one of Sir Arthur Sullivan's most magnificent and truly operatic scores, while W.S. Gilbert's raffish book lampoons everything from women's education, stubborn rulers, cross-dressing and public drunkenness, to all-out war between the sexes.
Princess Ida will play for eight performances at Teatro Heckscher of El Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street), as follows:
April 4, 9, 10, 11 & 12 at 8:00 pm
April 5 & 6 at 3:00 pm
April 12 at 2:00 pm
Tickets are available online now at BHT.org, and range in price from $25-$65. After March 10, the ticket office can be reached at 212-988-2012 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The net proceeds from Princess Ida will benefit Covenant House New York Infant/Toddler Center (ITC). ITC is designed to assist mothers in the Rights of Passage Program, a transitional living facility, with the daily responsibilities of raising a child in order for them to obtain employment, further their education, and develop the necessary skills to become self-sufficient and independent.
Princess Ida is directed and choreographed by Gary Slavin, recently represented Off Broadway by Show Choir! - The Musical, which captured two awards at the 2007 Fringe Festival, and the hit political revue Bush is Bad. Musical direction is by Zachary Schwartzman, whose work has been seen at New York City Opera and Glimmerglass Opera.
Since its inception in 1924, the Blue Hill Troupe has produced a large-scale Gilbert & Sullivan operetta every spring, with lavish production values and full orchestra. Each year, the net proceeds benefit a different New York City charity, with the impressive total donated topping $3 million. Prior charities include New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (2007), The Doe Fund (2006) and Student Sponsor Partners (2005).
The Blue Hill Troupe has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and has appeared twice at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops. For the past thirteen years, the Troupe has presented a Gilbert & Sullivan concert as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Concerts and Lectures series.
In August 2005, the Blue Hill Troupe presented their revised edition of the Gilbert & Sullivan rarity The Grand Duke at the 12th Annual International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England, where it received awards for Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer and Best Musical Direction.
The Blue Hill Troupe logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4767