Dale Gutzman Returns to the Skylight

Way back in Clair Richardson‘s day at the Skylight Opera Theatre, Dale Gutzman was a frequent performer and director. He directed 23 shows there in the 1970s. In the 1980s, after Richardson died, co-artistic directors Stephen Wadsworth and Francesca Zambello took Gutzman off the roster, and he’s been off ever since.

Well, he’s baa-aack.

Gutzman will direct “An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan,” to run in the Skylight’s Studio Theatre May 28 through June 20.

Gutzman’s career has been unusual, to say the least. He has become known for outrageous takes on classics in his own Off the Wall company in Milwaukee. He is also resident playwright and associate director of the Russian Drama Theatre in Ukraine and resident playwright at the Performing Arts Center of Bangkok, Thailand. Among other shows, he has directed “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” in Thailand.

Former artistic director William Theisen was originally supposed to direct the G&S revue in the spring. But during all the Skylight drama — fired, rehired to direct, withdrew, rehired again to direct — Theisen found work elsewhere for spring slot. That gave Gutzman a chance to come home to roost at the Skylight.