The son of the Mikado, while traveling about Japan disguised as a wandering minstrel, Nanki-Poo, to escape marriage with the unattractive Katisha, falls in love with the beautiful Yum-Yum who is engaged to Ko-Ko, her guardian. Ko-Ko, however, has been condemned to death for flirting and when Act I opens Nanki-Poo is hastening to the court of Ko-Ko to see if Yum Yum is now free to marry him.
From Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush, Nanki-Poo learns that Ko-Ko has in effect been reprieved by having been made Lord High Executioner and is going to marry Yum-Yum that afternoon. Suddenly, a letter comes from the Mikado noting that there has been a shortage of executions in Titipu and ordering Ko-Ko to execute somebody within the next month or lose his position as Lord High Executioner. Nanki-Poo plans suicide because he cannot have Yum-Yum, and Ko-Ko sees a chance to obey the Mikado’s order by turning the suicide into an execution, to which Nanki-Poo assents on condition that he be married to Yum-Yum for one month. Katisha suddenlty appears, penetrates Nanki-Poo’s disguise, makes an attempt to stop the wedding, but is shouted down by the populace.
With the opening of Act II a few moments of bliss are interrupted by Ko-Ko who has just learned that the law requires Nanki-Poo’s widow to be buried alive when he is executed. To save Yum-Yum from this fate, Nanki-Poo decides to kill himself at once. Ko-Ko, in desperation, hits on the ingenious scheme of faking an affidavit of execution by bribing Pooh-Bah. The Mikado arrives and with him, Katisha. Ko-Ko gives His Majesty the fake certificate of execution, but Katisha reveals to the Mikado Nanki-Poo’s real identity. The Mikado orders that Ko-Ko and all involved be boiled in oil. Ko-Ko flees to Nanki-Poo for help. Since Nanki-Poo has married Yum-Yum, Katisha insists on their execution. Ko-Ko solves the problem by offering his hand to Katisha; and, after he sings her the touching balad of “Willow-tit-Willow,” she accepts him. The end of the opera comes with Nanki-Poo’s revealing himself as the son of the Mikado.
Cast
- The Mikado of Japan: Mark R. Levy
- Nanki-Poo: Dan Foster
- Ko-Ko: Richard Harte
- Pooh-Bah: John Herring
- Pish-Tush: Allan D. Foster
- Yum-Yum: Sherri Strichman
- Pitti-Sing: Michelle Sausa-Gatta
- Peep-Bo: Shellie Noel Thomas
- Katisha: Rae Jean Teeter
- Chorus of School Girls, Nobles, Guards, and Coolies: Alan Angelo, Keith Austin, Connie Boschwitz, Kerry Conte, Raphel Coppola, Kathryn Daley, John Druzba, Molly Kelleher, Joe Malone, Bill McColl, Mike O’Brien, Elissa Premerlani, Erinn Selkis, Cynthia C. Slutsky, Ross Snyder, Don White
Production Team
- Producer: Sue Culver
- Director: Ted Peck
- Music Director: Andrea Merrill
- Choreographer: Donna Panzl
- Stage Manager: Ken Zarnoch
- Set Design, Construction, and Painting: Ken Zarnoch & team
- Costume Design: Peggy Gerardi and Connie Rowe
- Lighting Design and Execution: Peter J. Codella & team
- Sound Design and Execution: Chuck LaMalfa
- Properties: Dana Murphy
- Makeup: Ted Rucinski
- Hair Design and Wigs: John Fowler