Cast Set for New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' Utopia, Limited

Sing the songs of far niente, for the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players have announced the cast for the final production of their 2025-26 season: Utopia, Limited, or the Flowers of Progress, which will play April 18 and 19 at Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse.

One of Gilbert's most scathingly satirical libretti, Utopia, Limited takes on the topics of capitalism and imperialism, as the fictional island nation of Utopia invites six representatives from England to both Anglicize and incorporate them, with the result that the country, and every individual within it, becomes a Limited Liability Company.

Matthew Wages leads the cast as King Paramount, with Sophie Thompson as his eldest daughter Princess Zara, whose return from being educated at Girton kick-starts the kingdom's Anglicization project. Vince Gover and Lance Olds play Scaphio and Phantis, the two Wise Men and judges of the Utopian Supreme Court, who, by the terms of the Utopian constitution, are permitted to order the King's immediate execution if he abuses his authority. Sam Balzac plays Tarara, the Public Exploder, who is tasked with carrying out the messy execution by dynamite as soon as the Wise Men command. Laura Sudduth and Alexandra Imbrosci-Viera play Nekaya and Kalyba, the two twin princesses who are educated by the English Lady Sophy, played by Hannah Holmes.

For those who wouldn't listen to any tenor who didn't call himself English, the six imported Englishmen, called the "Flowers of Progress," include Cameron Smith as Captain Fitzbattleaxe of the First Life Guards; Logan Pitts as Mr. Goldbury, the company promoter who reorganizes Utopia as an LLC; Jack F. Murphy as Lord Dramaleigh, a Lord Chamberlain who purifies the stage; James LaRose as Sir Bailey Barre, Q.C., M.P.; Patrick Lord-Remmert as the County Councilor Mr. Blushington; and David Auxier as Captain Corcoran, K.C.B., who returns from his previous appearance in Gilbert and Sullivan's earlier hit H.M.S. Pinafore, complete with theme song.

Rounding out the principal cast are Kyle Torrence as Calynx; and Hannah Eakin, Sarah Hitchison, and Caitlin Borek as Salata, Melene, and Phylla. The ensemble includes Louis Brogna, Julia Anne Cohen, Michael J. Connolly, Katie Hall, Maurio Hines, Mark Hosseini, Natalia Hulse, Sabrina Lopez, Monique Pelletier, Alex Poletti, and Tyler Tejada.

Utopia, Limited, which premiered in 1893, was Gilbert and Sullivan's first collaboration in four years after they'd had a much-publicized falling out in 1889 during the production of The Gondoliers. Their highly-anticipated reunion was greeted warmly upon its premiere, but is now rarely performed, as its large principal cast, technical demands, and complex plot make it a challenging feat for most companies. NYGASP last produced Utopia, Limited in 2010, and the opera has not been seen professionally in New York since then, although amateur productions were staged by the Blue Hill Troupe in 2012, and Utopia Opera (which derives its name from the opera) in 2023. Gover, Scaphio in NYGASP's production, previously played the role in the Utopia Opera production.

The production is directed by James Mills, as the capstone of his inaugural season as NYGASP's artistic director. Musical Director Joseph Rubin will conduct a 27-piece orchestra. The creative team also includes co-director and choreographer David Auxier, assistant director Laura Sudduth, set designer Joshua Warner, costume designer Quinto Ott, and lighting designer Benjamin Weill.

For more information visit NYGASP.org.