Utopia Opera

12/31/2025

Our Annual Announcement is here.

2025 Recap.
15th Birthday Plans.
Cat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyeZg1ClO2Y

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FMRL4RXVB9ZK6

You can make a tax-deductible donation:by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accor...

12/23/2025

NEW VIDEO! Help us raise the final $1000 we need to finalize payment to our Mikado venue!

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
- by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
- on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
- on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
- on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AS247C5DL4844

Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info: [email protected]

The Mikado - Act I Finale - Ye torrents roar - October 5, 2025"Ō, wē sind wundorod, ne sīe wo!" - the chorus to KöttilskaYou can make a tax-deductible donati...

12/14/2025

Dec 15 at 6pm -- King of Jazz (1930) at Film Forum with an introduction by William Remmers.

Tickets: https://filmforum.org/events/event/king-of-jazz-december-15

This 1930 musical feature film is a Kaleidoscopic showcase for “King of Jazz” Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. One of the most beautiful surviving examples of two-color technicolor, where Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is glorified in shades of turquoise (blue was not one of the two colors). The pale-eyed Rhythm Boy is Bing Crosby in his film debut.

Utopia audiences heard "Rhapsody in Blue" in its original jazzband arrangement at our concert this past June. Join us tomorrow night for a special introduction on the film by Utopia's William Remmers who will also perform music from the era before the show begins.

William Remmers: "This is one of the greatest films ever: an unrelenting display of talent from luscious big band arrangements to vaudeville comedy blackouts to acrobatic dancing that will make your bones ache with delight to grand Ziegfeld Follies-grade spectacles of the most divine proportions. It's an extravagant exhibition of the human body pushing itself to its limits (in a word, it's opera). Every minute of it is candy for your eyes and ears. Do not miss a chance to see it on the big screen."

Film Forum

12/03/2025

The Mikado - Comes a train/Three little maids - October 5, 2025

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FMRL4RXVB9ZK6

Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info: [email protected]

Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, a Forbear! Theatre production presented in New York City by Utopia Opera, October 3-5, 2025.

This production was originally presented in UK tour from May - August, 2025 with a cast of ten. Eight members of this cast reunited in NYC, with two stellar local deputies filling out the principal company, an additional chorus of six, and a 24-piece orchestra conducted by Eric Kramer.

Director, concept, costumes, producer (UK): Rachel Gianesse Middle
Musical director, producer (NYC): William Remmers
Sets and props: Dan Cavendish

NOTE: For our October 4 and 5 performances, John Faal was unable to sing and swapped roles with Harry Reddish. In addition to wearing Harry's costume, John Faal wore a mask for these performances.

CAST
Klók-Cow - William Remmers*
Mna-y'um - Rachel Gianesse Middle*
Æthel-Rún - John Faal* (swapped with Harry Reddish Oct 4 and 5)
Köttilska - Kathleen Brenner*
P'fugl-Fa - Matthew Wages
Pættie-Cene - Isabelle Paige*
Peas-Bál - Jenni Simmonds*
Prestr-Sùg - Colin Safley
Gā-Tòit - Harry Reddish* (swapped with John Faal Oct 4 and 5)
The Mikado of Pa'gæn - Dan Cavendish*
Soprano (u/s Mna-y'um) - Kathleen Raab
Soprano (u/s Peas-Bál) - Cynthia Whitman
Soprano - Alyson Sheehan
Alto (u/s Pættie-Cene) - Laura Kroh
Alto (u/s Köttilska) - Christine Cornell
Alto - Tomoko Nago

*Courtesy of Forbear! Theatre

ORCHESTRA
Violin/Concert Master - Andrea Andros
Violin - Edan Sabah, Barney Stevens, Jennifer Axelson, Doris Borenstein
Viola - Matthew Ryan, Will Davis
Cello - James Pedersen, Halie Morris
Bass - Deb Spohnheimer
Flute - Joey O'Neill, Hannah Donnelly
Oboe - Zachary Rosalinsky
Clarinet - Matthew Fontana, Mackenzie McCarthy
Bassoon - Sage Helinski
Horn - Gabriel Muniz, Eric Peterson
Cornet - Lindsay Ross, Tom McGee
Trombone - Jacob Elkin, Sophia Huf
Percussion - Charles Kiger

Production videos: Daniel Benjamin Miller

The Mikado - Comes a train/Three little maids - October 5, 2025You can make a tax-deductible donation:by check: email [email protected] to request the ad...

12/01/2025

The Mikado - Little List - October 5, 2025 — new lyrics by William Remmers & Rachel Gianesse Middle

Thanks to your ticket purchases and donations, we raised 87.5% of the money needed to pay for our budget for the Mikado.

But we need to raise the final $2,500 this week to finalize payment to our (very patient) venue.

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FMRL4RXVB9ZK6

Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info: [email protected]

Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, a Forbear! Theatre production presented in New York City by Utopia Opera, October 3-5, 2025.

This production was originally presented in UK tour from May - August, 2025 with a cast of ten. Eight members of this cast reunited in NYC, with two stellar local deputies filling out the principal company, an additional chorus of six, and a 24-piece orchestra conducted by Eric Kramer.

Director, concept, costumes, producer (UK): Rachel Gianesse Middle
Musical director, producer (NYC): William Remmers
Sets and props: Dan Cavendish

NOTE: For our October 4 and 5 performances, John Faal was unable to sing and swapped roles with Harry Reddish. In addition to wearing Harry's costume, John Faal wore a mask for these performances.

CAST
Klók-Cow - William Remmers*
Mna-y'um - Rachel Gianesse Middle*
Æthel-Rún - John Faal* (swapped with Harry Reddish Oct 4 and 5)
Köttilska - Kathleen Brenner*
P'fugl-Fa - Matthew Wages
Pættie-Cene - Isabelle Paige*
Peas-Bál - Jenni Simmonds*
Prestr-Sùg - Colin Safley
Gā-Tòit - Harry Reddish* (swapped with John Faal Oct 4 and 5)
The Mikado of Pa'gæn - Dan Cavendish*
Soprano (u/s Mna-y'um) - Kathleen Raab
Soprano (u/s Peas-Bál) - Cynthia Whitman
Soprano - Alyson Sheehan
Alto (u/s Pættie-Cene) - Laura Kroh
Alto (u/s Köttilska) - Christine Cornell
Alto - Tomoko Nago

*Courtesy of Forbear! Theatre

ORCHESTRA
Violin/Concert Master - Andrea Andros
Violin - Edan Sabah, Barney Stevens, Jennifer Axelson, Doris Borenstein
Viola - Matthew Ryan, Will Davis
Cello - James Pedersen, Halie Morris
Bass - Deb Spohnheimer
Flute - Joey O'Neill, Hannah Donnelly
Oboe - Zachary Rosalinsky
Clarinet - Matthew Fontana, Mackenzie McCarthy
Bassoon - Sage Helinski
Horn - Gabriel Muniz, Eric Peterson
Cornet - Lindsay Ross, Tom McGee
Trombone - Jacob Elkin, Sophia Huf
Percussion - Charles Kiger

Production videos: Daniel Benjamin Miller

The Mikado - Little List - October 5, 2025 — new lyrics by William Remmers & Rachel Gianesse MiddleYou can make a tax-deductible donation:by check: email in...

11/24/2025

UTOPIA AFTER DARK with Three Sets of Cymbals - Thanks to you, we raised 87.5% of our expenses for The Mikado; we need $2500 to finalize payment to our (very patient) venue.

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AS...
Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info or just hand us a check made out to Utopia Opera Limited.

During each of our recent productions, we've ended one of our performances with a post-show concert. After our Saturday Night Mikado, we celebrated Forbear! Theatre's 10th birthday with a series of excerpts from their UK productions. To close it out, one last encore from the Act I Finale of The Mikado with Three Sets of Cymbals: Cymbal Monk/Köttilska Kathleen Brenner, our percussionist in the orchestra Charles Kiger, and William Remmers the skins. See also Colin Safley playing all of the baritone and tenor roles (filling in for everyone who had a long commute), Rachel Gianesse Middle still in costume, Isabelle Paige, Jenni Simmonds, Dan Cavendish, Laura Kroh, Cynthia Whitman, and, representing the orchestra, Lindsay Ross, Sophia Huf ("A second trombone?!?"), and Jacob Elkin. Video by Daniel Benjamin Miller.

UTOPIA AFTER DARK with Three Sets of Cymbals - October 4, 2025You can make a tax-deductible donation:- by check: email [email protected] to request the ad...

10/09/2025

If you missed the magic that was our MIKADO then, “my poor boy, I’m really very sorry for you.” — But we will be happy to bring it back if “insulted with a very considerable bribe.” 🧛🧛 But seriously, we are still paying show expenses so make a tax-deductible donation to Utopia Opera now at our website, UtopiaOpera.org or on Venmo or PayPal or by Check or by Cash in a greasy envelope. We’re easy. (photo: Daniel Benjamin Miller)

10/07/2025

The Mikado tour is OVER but our posts are far from finished. :)

10/05/2025

Final Performance Today! THE MIKADO - a co-production with Forbear! Theatre - October 5 at 2:30pm!

https://mikado.brownpapertickets.com/
You can make a tax-deductible donation:
- by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
- on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
- on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
- on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AS247C5DL4844

Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info or just hand us a check made out to Utopia Opera Limited.

Performance photos by Daniel Benjamin Miller

10/04/2025

THE MIKADO - a co-production with Forbear! Theatre - only 3 shows left: October 4 at 2:30pm and 7pm and October 5 at 7pm!

https://mikado.brownpapertickets.com/

You can make a tax-deductible donation:
- by check: email [email protected] to request the address and let us know the planned amount, so we can budget accordingly
- on our website’s donate link: utopiaopera.org
- on Venmo (): https://venmo.com/u/UtopiaOpera
- on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AS247C5DL4844

Donations of ~$500 or more would be best sent via check, for we incur no credit card processing fees and will receive every cent of your contribution. Email us for more info or just hand us a check made out to Utopia Opera Limited.

Stay after our Saturday evening show for a 30 minute orchestral-vocal concert celebration of Forbear Theatre's 10th birthday!

Opening night photos by Daniel Benjamin Miller

10/03/2025

We open in 3 hours!! See the show or regret it forever! Ticket link in bio!