Bruce
Montgomery was born with a silver pitch pipe in his mouth! In one way
or another, through the years Bruce has touched the soul of every GSSCC
performer. One of America’s leading authorities on Gilbert &
Sullivan, he has directed and played leading roles in all fourteen of
the G&S operas throughout the United States and England, but
there is no easy way to itemize Bruce’s credentials as a composer,
actor, narrator, entertainer, author, reviewer, painter, sculptor, and
book illustrator. The Associated Press called Bruce a "whirlwind of
musical and artistic involvements." He’s graced the front page of the
Wall Street Journal. For years he has been the consummate leader of the
G&S Players in Philadelphia, a society founded by his father.
Many of us know him as stage director of the Chester County Gilbert
& Sullivan Society’s major productions for over 10 years.
Others know him for his 50-year tenure with the University of
Pennsylvania, where as beloved director of the Penn Glee Club and the
Penn Singers, Monty was regarded as somewhere between a delightful
deity and a theatrical Mr. Chips. And still others because he launched
their careers when they were midshipmites or the tiny Hercules! He
recently created a company called "Monty, Inc." which reproduces his
watercolors for fine note cards. He also serves on the boards of four
major foundations, is a history buff, a sailboat crewman, a world
traveler, a commercial artist, a lyricist, a member of the Baker Street
Irregulars of New York and a gourmet cook. Bruce "retired" in 2000 but
has not yet discovered the meaning of the word! He walks in pools of
light.
|
| Training: |
Although his academic training was the customary collegiate route from
Bachelor's to Doctorate, Bruce Montgomery is most proud of his training
for the Gilbert & Sullivan facet of his life from the true
master, James Montgomery, his father, who was one of the leading
authorities on the subject in this country.
|
| Honors & Awards:
|
While not precisely "honors or awards," Bruce includes in this category
the numerous exciting commissions he has received as both a painter and
a composer. Probably his greatest pride in such works were the
commissions and premieres by The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber
Orchestra of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Singers.
|
| Bruce's GSSCC Productions:
|
Now beginning his eighteenth year with the GSSCC, to date Monty has
directed (some several times) our productions of The Yeomen of the
Guard, Patience, Cox and Box, The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, The
Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, The Sorcerer, Thespis,
Princess Ida, Iolanthe, and will direct our forthcoming The Grand Duke.
|
| Bruce's Other Productions:
|
After his father's death in 1955, Bruce directed the Gilbert &
Sullivan Players of Philadelphia for thirty-two years in more than
sixty-five productions. And he still puts the company together for
special occasions such as its productions in the International
G&S Festival in Buxton, England. Since 1972, he has directed
The Penn Singers of the University of Pennsylvania in their annual
Gilbert & Sullivan productions. In addition to G&S, he
also has directed this last in other Broadway shows and operettas for
many years. And during his tenure of forty-four years as Director of
the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club, he not only directed,
choreographed and conducted all of their shows but wrote nearly all of
them, as well, as they performed them in thirty countries on five
continents.
|
| Bruce's Personal Remarks:
|
OK, so I supplied some of the above material. Gilbert (who always had a
cogent word for everything) said "You must stir it and stump it and
blow your own trumpet or, trust me, you haven't a chance." But the best
things that I might say in my behalf already have been said loud and
clear by the fine people with whom I have had the privilege of working
over the years through the excellence of their productions.
|
|
Click here to view Bruce's personal
web site