Mike Mendyke graduated from MIT with a degree in aerospace engineering and believes that every light opera company should have at least one rocket scientist. He had the pleasure to perform as The Mikado (Mikado), Dr. Daly (The Sorcerer), Private Willis, Lord Mountararat (Iolanthe), Sir Roderic Murgetroyd (Ruddigore), Mr. Cox (Cox & Box), and The Usher (Trial by Jury). He is delighted to return to his favorite of all G&S shows, and takes no umbridge with his Act II demotion from august Peer to lowly Private. When not on sentry-go, Mike sings, composes, and arranges for several vocal groups: a Portland area crew of singing pirates known as The Pillage People; and an LA-based vocal quartet called The Vantastix, which formed in 2000 after Mike encountered beloved actor, dancer, and singer Dick Van Dyke in a Malibu Starbucks.