Left to right: Jennifer Huber, Erik Cranmer, Jim Conley, James E. Stephani, Sam Reinmann and Prescott Reser.

The University of Findlay Concert-Chorale will present “Of Thee I Sing,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning political musical satire, at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Contact the UF Box Office for tickets at 419-434-5335.

With music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, the satirical political operetta “Of Thee I Sing” opened at New York’s Music Box Theatre in 1931 and went on be the first musical to win the coveted Pulitzer Prize for drama. Popular songs from the show include “Love Is Sweeping the Country,” “Who Cares?,” and “Of Thee I Sing.”

The satire targets institutions and establishments that are just as pertinent and lively in 2008 as they were in 1931: political issues (“that everyone cares about but that don’t matter a damn”), circus-like party conventions, back-room double-dealings, political double-talk, the judicial absurdities of the Supreme Court, international diplomacy, a nonentity vice president, the shady dealings of Congress, beauty contests, marriage and even motherhood.

The story covers the fantastic success of the Presidential ticket of John P. Wintergreen and his running mate, Alexander Throttlebottom – abetted by Wintergreen’s bride, Mary Turner – that sweeps through the country on a platform of love. Once in office, however, the President is threatened with impeachment, because he jilted Diana Devereaux (a southern Miss America contest winner of French descent) that he had promised to marry.

The concert performance is conducted by Micheal F. Anders, Ph.D., professor of music, and stage directed by Scott Hayes, associate professor of theatre.