SPARTANBURG - Gilbert and Sullivan's classic opera The Mikado will be performed by the Converse College Opera Theater in Twichell Auditorium on Nov. 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Setting this opera apart from many others, The Mikado combines both opera and dialogue within the production. Even though it has been performed for approximately 125 years, The Mikado continues to be one of the most popular operas ever written.

Tickets are for sell at the Twichell Auditorium Box Office in person or by phone at (864) 596-9725. Tickets are $22 for adults and admission is free for children and students with identification. All seats are general admission, and doors open one hour before curtain.

Adding more excitement to the production is the heralded directorial return of Ross Magoulas to the Twichell stage since his retirement from Converse in 1992. An Associate Professor Emeritus at Converse, this will be Magoulas' first return to Converse Opera Theatre. With experience as director and performer of Gilbert and Sullivan, the Converse community is welcoming Magoulas back with open arms.

"Rebecca Turner (Director of Converse Opera and Associate Professor of Voice) invited me to return to direct Converse Opera's production of 'The Mikado.' As a former faculty, alumnus and director of Converse Opera, I am very honored and pleased to return to the campus," said Magoulas.

The Mikado, or The Town of Tipitu, is a Japanese satire set in two acts. It is a satire based on the rising trend of Japanese culture in Britain during that time. Therefore, the idea begins as a British satire of Japanese culture. While the male protagonist, Nanki-Poo, shuns the romantic plans of Katisha, whose appeal has weakened, Koko, the Lord High Executioner, is on the hunt for a dispensable subject to decapitate for the amusement of the Mikado. Throughout a progression of unanticipated events, Koko is obliged to present a document to the Mikado confirming an execution that has not even occurred. But he learns of his misfortune when he discovers that the hypothetical 'executionee' was actually the successor to the throne of Japan.

"The music is fun and not as complicated as some operas can be. The subject matter is very upbeat. It's full of things we deal with in everyday life; it's going to be something that people can relate to both in its comedy and musically," said Turner.

The excitement is not only on Magoulas' return but on the set design as well.

"Historically, the sets have been rented here. And that's a great thing to do in that you don't have to build and make your own sets. But when you build it yourself, you have input in saying what you want and you can recycle what you build into other sets," said Turner.

Stafford Turner, an adjunct professor of music at Converse is the scenic designer and constructor and is responsible for constructing the ideas for the stage appearance. Megan McFarland, the scenic artist, has been in professional theater for over thirty years and is responsible for creating and putting together the sets. With the assistance of Brent Glenn, McFarland and Stafford Turner have been meeting since April to discuss what type of set design to use. There are many pieces that are incorporated into the set design, including walls, panels, two sets of steps, a bridge and many others. The individual panels, eight feet wide and fourteen to eighteen feet high, represent the important themes within the play. For example, there is a fish and a waterfall, along with a crane, which is the symbol of love. The walls on the side represent houses and buildings. The set design fills the stage, as the series of levels with a bridge comes in the front of it down through the middle. Considering entrances and exits, along with other obstacles, the set design took over 1,000 hours to complete and is vital to The Mikado's performance.

"Having seen sketches of the set and the gorgeous costumes, I know that the production will be a tremendous success and that Converse and the Spartanburg community will thoroughly enjoy it with much pride," said Magoulas.