The Mikado: An Off-Monroe Players Favorite
Published: May 2, 2026
The Mikado was the second “G&S” produced by OMP, in 1978, and we have revived the show eight times, including our spring 2026 production. That’s appropriate for this operetta, long Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular creation. Our productions over the years have varied in their “Japanese” trappings; one, in 2017, dispensed with them entirely (and with no detriment at all to the show).
Our performance history, lovingly compiled by OMP founding member Terry Benedict, lists all of them, along with performers who made their OMP debuts in The Mikado.
But in all OMP’s productions, Gilbert’s verbal and Sullivan’s musical delights have remained wonderfully playful and entertaining.
May 1978
Terry Benedict, director
Esther Vail played Katisha.
Debuts: Jeffrey Babbin, Betsy Benedict, Wilhelmina Boehm, Greg Burley, Robin Campbell, Bob Slon, Maura Slon, Ken Setera, John Sherman, Susan Tennenbaum, Amy Vail, Martha Vail, the Rubber Duck
May 1984
Brian Smith, director
Debuts: John Cielinski, Kathy Daycock, Christine Dettman, Julia Ferreira, Margaret Ann Lawson, Danny Ofsowitz, Scott Smith, Jack Spula (accompanist)
May 1989
Barb Dick, director
Debuts: Rosemarie Berch, Chris Bigger, Donna Bigger, Helen Moore, Peter Scribner
May 1995
Jean Gordon Ryon and Joseph T. Washington, directors
Debuts: Adele Blake, Sandy Foster, Mary Ann Hanlon, Sally Harmon, Christopher Lehman, Alexander Miltsch, Kathy Perconti, Laurel Schneiderman, Pamela Walker, Dale Williams, Amelia Winger-Bearskin
May 2000
Brian Smith, director
Debuts: Christopher Johnson, Phil Knauf, Jeffrey Miller, Jennifer Odgers, Maureen Odgers, Nagisa Ogawa, Frank Sumner, Aurora Wallace
November 2011
Amanda Lobaugh and Patti Anne Montrois, directors
Debuts: Kara Aymerich, Mark Block, Larissa Myhowych, Michael Peterson, Jeremy Speed Schwartz, Benjamin Weeg, Elizabeth Weeg, Peter Weeg, Sara Zavacki-Moore
November 2017
Wayne Vander Byl, director
Wayne dispensed with most of the traditional (and increasingly problematic) trappings of The Mikado, setting this modern-dress version in the Town of Rochacha, against a backdrop depicting lilacs and the Kodak Tower.
Debuts: Matt Berry, Andrea Olivier, Christa Perz, Richard Riggs, Alison Wahl
May 2026
Amanda Lobaugh, director
Our 2017 production addressed this by avoiding the “Japanese” element entirely, in production and in dialogue; our approach in 2026 was to leave the dialogue and songs (including “Miya Sama”) unchanged and to create costumes in a hybrid style: traditional Victorian – pants, vests, etc. – with touches of color from Japanese-style robes and fans.
Debuts: Peter Schermerhorn, Sarah Spindler, Luke Wodyjo
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