Southern Ohio Museum Children's Theater will present a modified version of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, “Pirates of Penzance,” today and Saturday, in the museum's Hopkins Theater at 825 Gallia St.

Performers range in age from 10 to 17, and the play will be the final directorial appearance by Mary Baughman. Baughman has been a mainstay among youth productions since summer 2004, directing five other productions before this performance.

“This is our first musical. Some of the kids have never been in a musical before, but they have been amazing, absolutely amazing,” she said.

Baughman has been accepted in the Master's of Theater Education program at New York University.

“I'll be getting a Master's of Arts in educational theater. It begins on Sept. 5,” Baughman said. “If I go straight through, I'll have the degree by next summer. If I decide to take the summer off, I will have the degree by around Christmas, a year from this Christmas, at the latest.”

Museum Director Sara Johnson said of Baughman, “They are all attached to her. They always show up when she says to show up.”

She said Baughman would be greatly missed by those who have worked with her, especially the children in the children's theater.

“I'm going to miss the children a lot. The kids over the years have been marvelous, wonderful. And I can tell you, I have learned as much from them as they have from me,” Baughman said.

Leading roles will include Ema Davis as Mabel, Aaron Evans as Frederick and William Meriwether as the Pirate King.

Amber Rosier will perform the role of Ruth, Justin Ratliff is the Sergeant of Police and P.J. Blankenship is Major General Stanley.

“‘Pirates of Penzance' is a high seas adventure full of witty dialogue and music for the whole family,” said Blankenship, a 16-year-old student at Notre Dame High School.

Others in the cast include Caitrin Cardosi, Jacqueline Meriwether, Bailey Hartlage and Christian Doyle, while the chorus is made up of Matt Bickett, Jodie Bickett, Page Ballard, Robbie Shugart, Katie Marsh, Alison Thompson, Channon Brown and Catherine Meriwether.

Johnson said dancers from Cirque d'Art Theater, the museum's performance troupe, include Courtney Speck and Taylor Sparks, who choreographed the major production numbers with Hadyn Schmidt, Autumn Thompson and Cara Welch.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.