Rob Berdahl as Captain Corcoran in the Guthrie Theater presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore
Gustavus alumnus, actor and vocalist Robert O. Berdahl will be featured on the 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 14, PBS broadcast of this summer’s Guthrie Theatre production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. As he did this summer, Berdahl ’90 commands the cast and crew of the Pinafore as Captain Corcoran on the national broadcast of this summer’s Guthrie blockbuster.
Berdahl and the H.M.S. Pinafore dropped anchor on the Guthrie Theatre stage on June 18. Performances of the popular comic opera played to large and enthusiastic audiences through August 28, 2011. Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling directed this summer’s hit musical which featured Berdahl as Captain Corcoran and Christina Baldwin as Little Buttercup.
With its infectious songs, witty libretto and lighthearted satire, this Gilbert and Sullivan H.M.S. Pinafore is among the most crowd-pleasing comic operas in history and made the Guthrie this summer’s favorite port of call.
Rob Berdahl has become a Guthrie favorite, with theatre roles as varied as Jay Gatsby (Great Gatsby), Lysander (Midsummer Nights Dream) and Smudge (Forever Plaid), and has made his mark on the Twin Cities’ theatre scene. His face and voice may be best remembered for his long-running role as Hugh Butternut in Forever Plaid which played both locally and nationally. In recent years, Rob has expanded his acting career and ventured into the world of commercials and movies earning Best Actor honors at the 2010 Indy Horror Film Festival for his work in the Director Brian Forrest’s movie Bind.
If you missed the Guthrie Theater’s wacky romp of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore this summer, you have one more opportunity as Rob Berdahl/Captain Corcoran sails the Pinafore into your living room, Friday, October 14 at 8:00 p.m., on PBS stations across the nation.