Fifi, a salesgirl in a fashionable Parisian hat shop, is in love with a young aristocrat, but his grouchy uncle is opposed to their marriage. A chance encounter opens the door to Fifi recognizing her dream of becoming an opera singer, and ultimately winning the man she loves. Often considered Herbert’s best show, Mademoiselle Modiste contains all the best that American operetta has to offer: a simple but effective story with enchanting melodies, including the popular “Kiss Me Again”.
Schoolbook histories tell us that America’s founding fathers made a bold and forthright Declaration of Independence in 1776. The real story of the Declaration is the basis for this witty and entertaining musical, bringing historical figures to life with all their personality, dilemmas, and family sacrifices as they debate the uncertain step of breaking off from England as an independent nation.
Start with a band of rollicking pirates who get caught with a gaggle of proper maidens, then add in some ridiculous logic, a whimsical major general, the Keystone Cops, and a misplaced sense of duty. The result is a comic masterpiece loved by audiences the world over.
Two bumbling thieves impersonate noblemen, insult aristocrats, and stage a phony elopement to cover a jewel robbery - inadvertently freeing Erminie from a marriage she dreads. This romantic farce ran for over 500 performances in London, and was revived so often on Broadway that it racked up more than 1,200 performances by 1900.
Top: Yeoman of the Guard, 2000Middle: Chocolate Soldier, 2005
Bottom: Patience, 2002