"FUN THROUGH EXCELLENCE"

Gloriana's Motto Since 1976

A SHORT HISTORY

GLORIANA MUSICAL THEATRE,

originally known as THE GLORIANA OPERA COMPANY was founded in 1976 with Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado as its first offering at Crown Hall in Mendocino, 1977. Three more G&S operettas followed, H.M.S. Pinafore (1978), Iolanthe (1979), and The Pirates of Penzance (1980). The Beggar’s Opera in 1981 was followed by the Company’s first foray into classic American musical theater: Oklahoma! performed at Fort Bragg’s capacious Cotton Auditorium. The Music Man, Guys & Dolls, and Fiddler on the Roof, ensued on the Cotton boards, and West Side Story capped off Gloriana’s first decade.

Other great musicals were mounted each season (in no particular order): The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly! The Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Oliver! Cabaret, Sound of Music, Three Penny Opera, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Annie, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Nunsense, The Fantasticks, Where’s Santa? and the recent blockbusters at Eagles Hall Theater: Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, Funny Girl, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, and Pajama Game. Quite a reckoning of the best shows in contemporary musical theater!

The younger set hasn’t been neglected with fully realized stagings of The Dinosaur Musical, a reprise of the 1990’s Gloriana original The Wonderful Golden Goose, and recent sold out performances of The AristoCats and Willy Wonka, Jr..

Over the years Gloriana has given the community many hit revues, including several Rock 'N Roll Revues. Other revues have included music from the '40s, country music and broadway tunes. The tradition continued this year with Way Off—Broadway.

Gloriana community activities have included musical workshops for children and the seasonal serenading of the costumed Gloriana Carolers in vintage dress who have raised thousands of dollars for scholarship awards granted to talented high school students to facilitate their education in theater arts.