LOGAN – The Utah Festival Conservatory will debut a junior production of Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates on Friday, May 10 at the Utah Theatre.
The amateur musical – with story by Martin A. Follose and music/lyrics by composer Bill Francoeur – will be performed the conservatory’s junior troupe, made up of young actors in the 8- to 12-year-old age group.
In addition to working as a junior and high school educator, Francoeur performed as an actor and musician throughout the United States, Canada and the Far East.
As a musical theatre composer, Francoeur produced more than 75 musicals for the amateur theater market over a span of 25 years.
Prior to his untimely death in 2015, Francoeur spent the last several years of his life having great fun touring the United States with the Beach Boys tribute band he created, the Kahuna Beach Party.
His body of work includes musical adaptations of familiar stories like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Oz!, as well as original tales like Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates.
In that fun-filled show, when his crew jumps ship after seeing pirates in the distance, merchant Captain Jennings is left with a gang of prisoners and Fergus — a sailor who can’t swim — to protect his wealthy passengers, the Prescots.
After their inevitable capture, Captain Bree and her lady pirates demand gold in exchange for the lives of the pretentious Madam Prescot; her nephew Samuel — who is masquerading as a girl to avoid becoming shark bait — and her niece Julia, who is practically bursting with desire to join the lady pirates, much to her aunt’s dismay!
While waiting for the English to reply to their demands, the rowdy pirates entertain themselves by teaching Julia the ropes of pirating, such as threatening their prisoners with the plank.
How will it all conclude? With catchy sea shanties, flashy swordplay and an exciting surprise ending!
Conservatory director Stefan Espinosa explains that the Utah Festival Opera program offers year-round professional training in acting, dance and musical performance, with classes especially designed for students eager to enter the musical theatre field.
Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates will be staged at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10 and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Tickets for the show are only $8 each and can be obtained by calling 435-750-0300 or going online to www.THEUTAHTHEATRE.ORG
The Utah Theatre is located at 18 West Center Street in downtown Logan.