Lakeshore Light Opera

Lakeshore Light Opera (LLO) is an amateur community theatre group that performs Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the West Island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1] The company produced its first show in 1955. Early in its history, the group was directed by former D'Oyly Carte Opera Company member Doris Hemingway, and briefly conducted by her husband, former D'Oyly Carte conductor Harry Norris. The group was known as St Paul's Operatic Society until 1980, when it changed its name to Lakeshore Light Opera. For over 35 years, proceeds from its annual production have been contributed to the Lakeshore General Hospital.

Lakeshore Light Opera
Formation1955 (1955)
TypeTheatre group
PurposePerform Gilbert and Sullivan works
Location
Websitello.org

History

Early years

In 1955, a few members of the Men's Club of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Lachine, Quebec, in conjunction with the church choir, presented Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury in Montreal. The production led to the creation of a permanent operatic society dedicated to productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the traditional style.[2] In 1957, St Paul's Operatic Society was formed. Its first Music Director was Arthur Gough, the church organist, and the first Stage Director was Doris Hemingway,[2] formerly of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.[3] She and her husband, music director Harry Norris, a former D'Oyly Carte conductor, were already well known to Montreal Gilbert and Sullivan audiences through their association with the Lyric Opera Company, Montreal West Operatic Society and various other musical groups.[2] In 1972, the society was incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the name of St. Paul's Operatic Society Inc.

In 1965, Leonard Langmead became stage director of the St. Paul's Operatic Society and served as stage director for nearly 35 years. Marian Siminski has been the company's music director since 1984.

Later history

In 1980, after the dissolution of ties with St. Paul’s Church, the name of the company was changed to Lakeshore Light Opera Inc. – La Société d'Opérette Lakeshore Inc. For over 35 years, proceeds from the annual production have been contributed to the Lakeshore General Hospital, through the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation.[1] The annual donations, reaching as high as $171,000,[4] are used by the Hospital to purchase equipment not covered by its budget or by Provincial grants.[1][5]

In 2005, LLO celebrated its 50th anniversary with a production of The Pirates of Penzance together with Trial by Jury, and since then it has continued to produce the Savoy operas.[4] In 2015, LLO celebrated its 60th anniversary with another production of Pirates.[6]

Theatre, membership and board

Lakeshore Light Opera performs at the Louise Chalmers Theatre at John Rennie High School, in Pointe-Claire, Quebec.[7]

Leonard Langmead and Marian Siminski in 2005

All actors, understudies, backstage, ushers, front of house people and Board of Directors are all volunteers. The membership consists of a wide range of ages.[8] Over the years, LLO has bestowed life-time membership on individuals who have made a lasting impact on the Society.

Past productions
  • 1955 – Trial by Jury
  • 1957 – The Sorcerer
  • 1958 – H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 1959 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1960 – The Mikado
  • 1961 – Patience
  • 1962 – Iolanthe
  • 1963 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 1964 – The Gondoliers
  • 1965 – The Mikado
  • 1966 – Ruddigore
  • 1967 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1968 – H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 1969 – Merrie England
  • 1970 – The Geisha
  • 1971 – The Gondoliers
  • 1972 – Iolanthe
  • 1973 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 1974 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1975 – Patience
  • 1976 – The Mikado
  • 1977 – Trial by Jury / H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 1978 – The Gondoliers
  • 1979 – Princess Ida
  • 1980 – Iolanthe
  • 1981 – Ruddigore
  • 1982 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1983 – The Mikado
  • 1984 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 1985 – Cox & Box / H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 1986 – The Gondoliers
  • 1987 – Patience
  • 1988 – Ruddigore
  • 1989 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1990 – Princess Ida
  • 1991 – Iolanthe
  • 1992 – The Mikado
  • 1993 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 1994 – The Gondoliers
  • 1995 – Trial by Jury & H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 1996 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1997 – Patience
  • 1998 – Ruddigore
  • 1999 – The Mikado
  • 2000 – Iolanthe
  • 2001 – Princess Ida
  • 2002 – The Gondoliers
  • 2003 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 2004 – H.M.S. Pinafore
  • 2005 – Trial by Jury / Pirates of Penzance
  • 2006 – Patience
  • 2007 – The Mikado[9]
  • 2008 – Ruddigore[8]
  • 2009 – The Gondoliers[10]
  • 2010 – Iolanthe[11]
  • 2011 – The Sorcerer[12]
  • 2012 – H.M.S. Pinafore / Cox & Box[13][14]
  • 2013 – Princess Ida
  • 2014 – The Yeomen of the Guard
  • 2015 – The Pirates of Penzance
  • 2016 – Patience[4]
  • 2017 – Ruddigore
  • 2018 – The Mikado

References
  1. Schwartz, Susan Lakeshore Light Opera helps hospital buy new equipment The Gazette February 7, 2011
  2. Whitehead, J. Rennie. Memoirs of a Boffin Archived 2006-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, Chapter 8: Multinational, 1995
  3. Stone, David. "Doris Hemingway", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, September 1, 2014, accessed September 16, 2016
  4. "Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience gets the LLO treatment", The Suburban, February 24, 2016
  5. Lakeshore Light Opera Donates $10,000 to Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, The Gazette, February 16, 2009; and Cohen, Mike. "Lakeshore General to benefit from production", The Suburban, February 3, 2010
  6. "Lakeshore Light Opera celebrates 60 years with Penzance". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  7. Shelton, Daniel Montreal Community The Gazette, March 10, 2011
  8. Amend, Elsie, LLO back with a new show, The Chronicle, February 26, 2008
  9. Comtois, Vanessa. "Mikado opera benefits hospital", The Chronicle, February 21, 2007
  10. Lakeshore Light Opera presents another Gilbert and Sullivan classic Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. The Gazette, February 26, 2009
  11. Running Afoul of Fairies, The Chronicle, March 5, 2010
  12. Leavitt, Sarah Lakeshore Light Opera presents The Sorcerer The Chronicle, February 23, 2011
  13. Lyng, Walter. More than just an opera theatre group, The Suburban, March 7, 2012
  14. Fabio, Carmen Marie. Lakeshore Light Opera sets sail with H.M.S. Pinafore, The Chronicle, March 7, 2012
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