Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 2024-2025 season opens with a new production of Sigmund Romberg’s popular hit musical, THE STUDENT PRINCE, opening on Friday, November 1, 2024, with further performances on Saturday, November 2 and a Sunday Matinee on November 3, 2024, at 3 pm.

“Romberg’s tale of young love in Olde Heidelberg was the longest running show of its time,” says Toronto Operetta Theatre’s General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin. “At 608 performances it even outlasted Showboat, another popular hit from that era.” Romberg’s many musicals were filled with one great tune after another, but none was so packed with hits as THE STUDENT PRINCE. The students’ ‘Drinking Song’, Prince Karl Franz’s ‘Serenade’, duets like ‘Deep in My Heart’ and ‘Golden Days’ are just a few of the immortal melodies that flowed from his pen. Dorothy Donnelly’s book and lyrics are based on Meyer-Förster’s play Olde Heidelberg and tell a bittersweet tale of young love, innocence and the call of duty in the fictitious German principality of Karlsberg. Prohibition had closed the bars and beer halls of the USA in the 1920s and calls to ‘Drink, Drink, Drink’ echoing from the stage of the Jolson Theatre were especially welcome to thirsty, young New Yorkers!

Dedicated to supporting Canada’s wealth of vocal talent, TOT has assembled a stellar cast of singers/actors led by the exciting young tenor Jacob Abrahamse in his debut with TOT as Prince Karl Franz. His Heidelberg sweetheart is Kathie, the innkeeper’s niece, sung by debuting soprano Brooke Mitchell. Prince Karl Franz’s mentor at the University, Doctor Engel, is Ryan Hofman and the student corps will be led by Marcus Tranquilli as Detlef. Supporting emerging artists include Sebastien Belcourt, George Theodorakopoulos, Handaya Rusli and Minerva Lobato. Following her success as conductor for THE GUEST AT THE INN last year, Kate Carver returns to lead the cast, chorus and Orchestra.

As a lead up to the opening performances, Toronto Operetta Theatre’s first Cabaret this season will be an Oktoberfest Celebration at the Edward Jackman Centre on Saturday, October 12th at 4 p.m. Join friends for wine, beer, pretzels and some ‘oom-pah-pah’ with your host, Henry Ingram.

The season continues with COUNTESS MARITZA by Imre Kalman during the Holiday period –December 29, 2024, January 3, 4, 2025 and concludes with Gilbert and Sullivan’s THE GONDOLIERS on Feb. 28, Mar 1, 2, 2025.

In addition to support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Arts Council, the company is generously sponsored by the Jackman Foundation, the Dalglish Family Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation, The Estate of Sylvia McPhee, and media sponsor Classical 96.3 FM. Performances take place at the wheelchair-accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, situated in the downtown theatre district, close to public transit and municipal parking. For information, call the Box Office at 416-366-7723, 1–800-708-6754, or www.tolive.com.

Photo: Jacob Abrahamse as Prince Karl Franz.