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What happens to pirates born on February 29? The students, faculty, and staff of Thomas Aquinas College, ����ӰԺ, saw just what the possibilities could be last Friday as they crowded into St. Cecilia Hall’s Fritz B. Burns Auditorium for the Choir’s performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. Student thespians brought the operetta to life onstage, while just below, an orchestra composed primarily of students and alumni helped to fill the hall with lively music.

Daniel J. Grimm (’76), director of the TAC-����ӰԺ Choir, directed the performance, aided by his student assistant, Susana Sedler (’24). Performers dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the production, making the most of their many nights of practice. “Rehearsals took up the better part of the semester,” remarked Anthony Santine (’25), who played the role of the police sergeant. “It was really worth the work, though. I grew up watching Pirates, and performing with and for my friends was great.” His siblings joined him onstage, with Robert (’22) and Anna (’22) starring as Frederic and Mabel.

The audience roared with laughter as modern major generals proclaimed their excellence, and pirates creeped about with a “cat-like tread.” Said freshman Patrick Salinas, “It was really impressive and fun; the people here at TAC can really sing.”

Stay tuned for a full video of the production, which will soon be made available on the College’s website.