‘Pirates' to storm the Academy this weekend

CHESTER-The Chester Academy will present Pirates of Penzance this weekend as its first-ever large-stage production. This comic operetta is about a boy named Frederic who was apprenticed to be a pirate. But he finds out from his nursemaid that he was actually supposed to be a pilot. Frederic falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of a Major General. The pirates go to a deserted island and fall in love with the beautiful maidens there before they are confronted by the Major General and the police. Kara Graves will play the part of Frederic. Now in her senior year, Graves is a gymnast with Olympic-level abilities. Sophomore Lacey Cukier will play the part of Mabel. Christal Delgado, a senior, will play the nursemaid. And Danielle Englehart will play the Pirate King. Jamie Kracht, a seventh-grader described as having an angelic and operatic voice, will sing. Mrs. Rachel Scali is the production's vocal director and choreographer. The accompanist is Mrs. Lois Heller. Mr. Thomas Venable is in charge of lighting and sound and the stage crew. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5. In case of snow for either of these dates, the play will be performed on Sunday, March 6, 3 p.m. General admission is $10. Children and senior citizens pay $8. Tickets will be sold at the door on both nights.