Springfield, Ohio - The Department of Theatre and Dance in collaboration with the Department of Music at Wittenberg University will present the classic comic operetta, "H.M.S. Pinafore" by Gilbert and Sullivan in Chakeres Memorial Theatre, 905 Woodlawn Ave.

Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 - March 2 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3. Tickets are $4 and may be reserved by calling the Service Center Desk at (937) 327-7443.

This rollicking and timeless operetta portrays life in the 1870s British Navy and includes such charming characters as Little Buttercup, Dick Deadeye and the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, who became First Lord of the Admiralty by "polishing up the handle of the big front door." The student production is directed by Steve Reynolds, Wittenberg professor of theatre and dance.

"The Insider's Guide to Colleges," published by the Yale Daily News, considers the theatre and dance department to be one of Wittenberg's top three departments.