Dances Patrelle presents the return of Francis Patrelle’s GILBERT & SULLIVAN, The Ballet!, a raucous evening of classical ballet set to live choral arrangements of G&S favorites, featuring professional dancers from across the country and some of the most talented students from NYC ballet schools. The production will run from May 3-6, 2012 at Dicapo Opera Theatre 184 E. 76th Street, NYC. Tickets are $35 and are available at www.dancespatrelle.org.

GILBERT & SULLIVAN, The Ballet! is a fun-filled revue of three favorite comic operas: The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore. Francis Patrelle’s choreography highlights the joys, trials and rewards of a life in the theater: Sir William Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan battle over casting, bond over music, and get ripped off by their producer as a marvelous cast of dancers, singers, and musicians bring these operas to life.  Dancers include: Joshua Cristopher; Jesse Marks of Colorado Ballet and Ballet X; Julie Voshell of Movin’ Out; Amy Brandt of Suzanne Farrell Ballet; Therese Wendler of Ballet International; and John-Mark Owen of Ballet NY and American Repertory Ballet. In addition to these principal dancers, the production will feature roles for students from New York’s top ballet schools, including Alvin Ailey, ABT, SAB and Brooklyn Ballet. To create this production, Patrelle worked with long-time collaborators Warren Helms (Music Director), Gillian Bradshaw-Smith (Set Designer), Rita B. Watson (Costume Designer), and Ben Travis (Lighting Designer). The company will also present a special Family Matinee performance featuring a meet and greet with the cast in costume after the show, although all performances are fun for all ages.  Performances:  Thursday – Saturday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 2pm (Family Matinee); and Sunday at 2pm.  Appropriate for all ages.