Joy Bezanis is a local artist with a national reputation, well known for her works on canvas. She is equally at home working with watercolors, oils and pastels, and many of her paintings, focusing on subjects like koi fish and sushi, have an Asian sensibility about them.

During the past year or so, Bezanis has stepped out of her studio and onto the stage of the Historic Everett Theatre as a scenic designer for the Northwest Savoyards. A little overwhelmed by the scale of the projects at first, the artist has definitely come into her own for the set of "The Mikado," playing at the Everett Theatre now through March 21.

For the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, Bezanis created visual masterpieces that cover the theatre's rather plain proscenium (the space around the stage opening). The set is filled with her stylized creations, from the palace dogs to a giant fan and perching crane.

The visual beauty of the scenic design is matched by well-crafted costumes by the Savoyards' Barbara Anderson and the actors' dramatic makeup design by Scott Randall.

"The Mikado" is one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-loved operettas, and the timeless story of love and parental control is played out against a lush musical score.

Tickets for the show, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays through March 21, are available at the Historic Everett Theatre, (425) 258-6766. Visit www.northwestsavoyards.org for more information.

blog comments powered by Disqus