Cast of GCP Production of “Pirates of Penzance,” at Roger Rocka’s , courtesy of kingsriverlife.com
By Tere Joyce Randolph
Craving a night out for dinner and theater for two in Fresno? Look no further than Roger Rocka’s Good Company Players’ production of Pirates of Penzance. The comedy opera opened on September 14, 2023, and closes on November 5, 2023.
“We’ve done Pirates of Penzance before, and the nice thing about Pirates of Penzance is that Gilbert and Sullivan are dead,” said managing director Dan Pessano. “Those of you who are royalty fans realize that the royalty costs have risen, and since the pandemic they have gone up 15%, so it’s nice to do a show that we like, for people who aren’t sucking blood out of our necks.”
Pessano was a teacher for Clovis Unified School District, and later became the Arts Coordinator for the district. He also taught two years at Fresno State University.
The infamous “Danny Awards,” named after Pessano himself, is a red carpet award ceremony for high students who are nominated for their performances in Clovis Unified theater productions. The Danny Awards just celebrated it’s 25th year anniversary.
Roger Rocka’s Good Company Players opened for business in 1978. Roger Rocka, a former Fresno Channel 30 newscaster, and Pessano were friends. Rocka wanted to open a restaurant in Fresno, and Pessano wanted to put Good Company Players in a location that would be good for business.
They merged their two ideas together and the rest is Fresno history.
Shawn Williams, who has the lead role of “Pirate King” in Pirates of Penzance, says Roger Rocka’s Good Company Players is Fresno’s little gold nugget that not enough people know about. The food is great and Chef Eric Degroat creates a new menu with each show.
Williams was 16 -years- old and enrolled at Chowchilla Union High school when he first auditioned for the GCP Junior Company pre-show cabaret back in 2012. He said that it has been nearly 11 years that he has been with the company.
Williams describes The Pirates of Penzance as a silly show about pirates who want to get married to the Major General’s daughters.
“For me, the music is what sells it,” said Williams. He said he loves singing his character’s signature song, “I am the Pirate King.”
Williams is currently a resident of Fresno and co-owner of Merlin’s Estate Sales and Liquidations. He says he likes to hang out with the other cast members before the show, and play his ukulele while they sing to release pre-show jitters.
Historically, Good Company Players has been a place to foster and develop the performing arts talent in the Central Valley. Tony Award winning singer and actress Audra MacDonald started her theatrical career performing in GCP’s Junior Company.
Pessano provided advice for young actors who want to succeed in the entertainment industry . He stressed that if a young performer can be lucky enough to have somebody to expect them to have high expectations of themselves, show up on time, and be prepared, they will build the DNA of a professional performer.
Roger Rocka’s Good Company Players has been in business for 45 years, they have survived through the Covid-19 pandemic, and continues to flourish today.
To reserve dinner and buy tickets to a show go to www.rogerrockas.com.
Flourishing Fresno 