Gilbert & Sullivan Austin presents as its 2019 Summer Grand Production "Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri." Nine performances will be performed at the Worley Barton Theater at Brentwood Christian School, June 13-23. “Iolanthe” is a fanciful comedy that presents a topsy-turvy love story involving fairies and members of the House of Lords – a political fairy tale that only Gilbert & Sullivan could conceive, and which will delight Austin audiences of all ages.

Feature by Briana Stallings, Austin Chronicle, June 20, 2019

Audio feature: "Eklektikos" with John Aielli, KUT-FM

Audio feature: Diane Donovan interviews artistic director Rafe McPhail and music director Dr. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, KMFA-FM

GSA Artistic Director Ralph MacPhail, Jr. returns for his 18th season. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, returns for his 22nd season as Music Director, and will conduct the Gillman Light Opera Orchestra. Bill Hatcher returns as Production Manager.

First performed in 1882, “Iolanthe” is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert and Sullivan. It is universally regarded as one of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s most beautiful scores - a high water mark in terms of music, wit, cleverness, and color – with incredible choruses, wonderful solos and orchestration beyond compare. Peers, British noblemen and honorable members of Parliament encounter Peris, lovelorn fairies from a golden glen – a collision of powerful mortals with feet of clay and immortal beings wielding magic wands. The result - havoc is wreaked in the House of Lords!

All performances will have supertitles.