About the Production

2022 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild. In honor of the milestone anniversary, the company decided to remount one of its very first productions - Pirates of Penzance. The subtitle of the show is “A Slave of Duty.” With the 40th anniversary focusing on celebrating the company as well as it’s first season returning after COVID, the production focused on what it means to be a “Slave of Duty” when you are part of the theatre. The idea of “The Show Must Go On” represents that for us in the industry and so this production looked at Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic operetta through the lens of a comic theatre troupe and the backstage antics that follow them onstage. Think Pirates of Penzance meets Noises Off & The Play That Goes Wrong. The backstage antics were presented as part of the Preshow, Scene Changes, and Intermission and followed the tireless efforts of the Production Stage Manager trying to keep her cast together through “show-mance” drama, diva interference, broken props, and lost cast members. The trouble all comes to a head when there is no understudy for the role of the Police Sergeant and she has to take on the role her self because as she is reminded: THE SHOW MUST GO ON. Along the way references were made to over 25 of the most popular musicals presented by the company as well as original cast members, company founders, and other local inside jokes. This production was truly a hit with our audiences!