he Blue Hill Troupe was thrilled to present the premiere of a brand new version of THESPIS, or The Gods Grown Old on June 16, 2008. Thespis is Gilbert and Sullivan’s long-lost burlesque about a troupe of hapless actors who trade places with the world-weary gods.

Excerpts can be found below:

Thespis was the pair’s first collaboration in 1871, but Sullivan’s music was lost with his effects and only two songs endured: “Little Maid of Arcadee," a hit single of the day, and “Climbing Over Rocky Mountain” which the pair recycled in The Pirates of Penzance.

Now, 12-time Grammy Award-winner Thomas Z. Shepard has composed a brand new, entirely original score to Thespis, using Gilbert’s opening night libretto and retaining the two surviving tunes by Sullivan. This semi-staged concert will be directed by F. Paul Driscoll, with music direction by Matt Rupcich.