Lyric at the Birch Announces 2011-2012 Season at the Birch North Park Theatre:
“MAME,” “GOOD BY, GOOD LUCK…AND GET OUT,” “DIE FLEDERMAUS,” and “THE MIKADO.”

Lyric Opera San Diego announces its 23rd consecutive season under the direction of Leon Natker, General Director and
J. Sherwood Montgomery, Artistic Director.   This will also mark Montgomery’s last season as full time Artistic Director.  Following the 2011-2012 season Montgomery will take the newly created position of Artistic Director Emeritus.

The company mounts a new production of Jerry Herman’s comic and tuneful masterpiece “Mame” as well the Johann Strauss, Jr. classic operetta, “Die Fledermaus,” plus Gilbert and Sullivan’s iconic favorite, “The Mikado.”  As an added bonus, a special theatrical event, "Good Bye, Good Luck...AND GET OUT," celebrating Artistic Director J. Sherwood Montgomery’s 25 years of service and leadership to this compan,y will be included in the season’s offerings.

All of these events will feature many favorite performers as well as some of the newest and brightest talents of the musical stage. The productions in the 2011-12 season feature Lyric at the Birch’s own live orchestra, and is performed at beautiful Birch North Park Theatre.

Subscription renewals AND new subscriptions are $108, $128, $148, $168 or $188 for all four shows.
Full season subscribers will receive complimentary tickets to our Pre-Show lectures.

Regular single tickets go on sale July 15.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

MAME
September 23, 24, 25, 29, 30*, October 1*, 2, 2011
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman

“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”   So says the aunt we all wished we had, Auntie Mame.  This adored character of theatrical literature comes to the Lyric stage for the first time in Jerry Herman’s delightful musical “Mame.”  Join Mame as she leads her young nephew Patrick through life in New York during the depression era; traveling and growing into a young man as Mame struggles to be a fit mother.  Andrea Huber (Desireé Armfeldt from “A Little Night Music”) will be our Mame and Leigh Scarritt (Aunt Alicia from “Gigi”) is featured as her actress friend, Vera Charles.  “Mame” features a great score including “Open A New Window,” “We Need A Little Christmas,” “You’re My Best Girl,” “Bosom Buddies,” and of course the title song, “Mame.”  Don’t miss this family treat.

*Added performances

GOOD BYE, GOOD LUCK, ...AND GET OUT!
November 4 and November 6, 2011
A Theatrical Event of Comic Proportion

Celebrate Artistic Director J. Sherwood Montgomery’s 25 years of service to Lyric at the Birch in his last full year as Artistic Director.  “Jack” Montgomery ends every rehearsal with:  “Good bye, good luck and get out!”  Company General Director Leon Natker will lead a cast of beloved alumni in a comic tribute to “San Diego’s Favorite Funny Man” as he prepares to retire.  There are only two performances, so order early for best seats.  Join us as we thank him for his service and wish him the same.

DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat)
February 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 2012
Music by Johann Strauss, Jr.

The womanizing Eisenstein says:  “The champagne alone made me do it,” to explain to his wife, Rosalinda what he was doing at Prince Orlofsky’s party.  Champagne is indeed the reason for this crown jewel of all Viennese Operettas written by “The Waltz King,” Johann Strauss, Jr.  Not seen in San Diego for eight years, a new production of the Viennese classic “Die Fledermaus,” will be a treat for the whole family.  The casting will feature Christopher Johnstone (Perchik in last season’s “Fiddler on the Roof”) as the philandering but charming Eisenstein and J. Sherwood Montgomery as the comic, Frosch.  Enjoy all the merry pranks and mistaken identities in Lyric’s first production of this gem at the Birch North Park Theatre.  Delightful waltzes, crazy coloraturas, philandering tenors and of course, champagne make this one of the most popular classical music theater pieces ever produced. 

THE MIKADO
March 30, April 1, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 2012
Words by W.S. Gilbert and Music by Arthur Sullivan

We have a little list” of all the people who haven’t seen this greatest of Gilbert and Sullivan’s shows in years.  Here is your only chance to join your favorite Gilbert and Sullivan characters from the town of Titipu. Ko-Ko is thrust into the role of the Lord High Executioner and the changes that he makes are life and death ones. The mix-ups and visit of the Mikado all help to make the fun fast and furious. The citizens try to save themselves from execution by outwitting the frightening Katisha and forcing Ko-Ko, to marry her.  General Director Leon Natker will play the hapless Ko-Ko joined by an all-star cast of Lyric favorites.  Laughs and melodies aplenty.

*Added performances

All programs and artists are subject to change without notice.

SEASON INFO REVIEW AND ORDERING INFORMATION

Subscriptions are $108 to $188 for all four shows.

Season subscribers will receive complimentary tickets to our Pre-Show lectures that begin one hour before the show. Regular single tickets go on sale July 15. Single ticket prices will range from $32 to $52.

Season tickets can be ordered by:

If you are interested in receiving a copy of our new brochure call our Box Office at 619-239-8836 or e-mail us at boxoffice@lyricoperasandiego.org