Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore Docking at Kasschau Band Shell Thursday Night

Baby it's hot outside, but the Ridgewood public is invited to sweat it out with the award-winning Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company (G&S) cast and crew for a performance under the stars at the Kasschau Band Shell Thursday night at 8:30 p.m.

G&S will be presenting a totally new production of W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan's lauded HMS Pinafore but with a modern twist to the classic story, tale blending love, social satire and political situations.

"It's something of a Shakespearian comedy," performer Danielle Marchand said in an interview with Patch. "Everything is topsy-turvy and nothing is what it seems. We've totally reworked it–it has a more modern appeal than a normal kind of production."

Marchand, who plays "Cousin Hebe," Sir Joseph's Captain and right-hand woman in the Queen's Navy, studied at the prestigious Westminster Choir College.

The rest of the company, founded in 1937, is no slouch either, the soprano said. "The cast and crew have really tremendous backgrounds."

Among them are two key players from summer of 2010's banner year. The non-profit company was invited to participate in the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Gettysburg, PA with a performance of The Grand Duke. Kerstin Anna Stewart, of Wyckoff, received an award for Best Female Performance while Jim Biddlecome was honored as Best Musical Director.

Both are back for HMS Pinafore with Stewart playing the role of "Little Buttercup". An alum of The Manhattan School of Music, lead actress Samantha Dango, a soprana ingenue, sings for the Susan G. Kommen Foundation and is perhaps just as well known for her renditions of the National Anthem at New Jersey Devils games.

The work put in may just mirror the heat expected on Thursday night.

"We've had a few performances and concerts in the area and the preparation is very intense. We're really excited for the performance," Marchand said.

After the show on Thursday, there's one more to go on Sunday at Ocean County Community College in Toms River, NJ before the company heads off to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where the cast will again be looking to grab more accolades.

Audiences should savor the operatic performance they'll see tonight, Marchand said.

"It's a side-splitting feast for the eyes and ears. We have new costumes, a new set and even completely new characters."

The performance begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell behind the library on Vets Field. Definitely bring a few chairs and some water. The free performance is sponsored by Park West Tavern.

Donations to G&S are always welcome and should be sent to:

Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
P. O. Box 307
Ridgewood, NJ 07451-0307

Check out more information on G&S's website and friend them on Facebook.