Show type Gilbert and Sullivan Stage Director Jon Lachlan Stewart Also known as LLO | Musical Director Marian Siminski President Robert Schaap | |
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Location Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada | ||
Lakeshore Light Opera (LLO), an amateur community theatre group, performs Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the West Island of Montreal, Canada. 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.
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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. 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, formerly of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. 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. 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. The annual donations, reaching as high as $171,000, are used by the Hospital to purchase equipment not covered by its budget or by Provincial grants.
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. Its 2016 production was Patience.
Theatre, membership and board
Lakeshore Light Opera performs at The Louise Chalmers Theatre at John Rennie High School, in Pointe-Claire, Quebec.
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. Over the years, LLO has bestowed Life-Time membership on individuals who have made a lasting impact on the Society.
The society is governed by 12 Board members, including 4 executive members. The Board acts as the producer of the annual production. The Board President, as of 2012, is Robert Schaap.