Thursday, October 1, 2026
From childhood trips to the former Sunrise Theater to performing on stages across Long Island, Lynbrook native Delaney R. Page has spent much of her life surrounded by music.
Now, the longtime member of the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island is appearing in the company’s production of “The Yeomen of the Guard,” where she performs as a ladies’ maid while also serving as the understudy for Kate, the niece of Dame Carruthers.
Page said her love of performing started before she can even remember.
“I was told I sang before I talked,” she said. “I sang in church as a child, which I loved, and I’ve never stopped loving to sing. I don’t think I can exist without singing.”
A Lynbrook resident since she was 6 months old, Page said attending performances at the former Sunrise Theater and Broadway shows with her family sparked an early appreciation for live theater. She later attended Malverne Middle School and Long Island Lutheran High School, where she played the cello in the orchestra, before studying history at Haverford College near Philadelphia. While in college, she began training in classical singing.
After graduating, it was her father who encouraged her to audition for the Gilbert & Sullivan company, where she has performed since 2015.
“My father discovered the opera group and said, ‘You need to join Gilbert and Sullivan,’” Page recalled.
Her father passed away just before opening weekend of “The Yeomen of the Guard,” but Page said continuing to perform felt like the right decision. When the actress cast as Kate lost her voice, Page stepped into the featured role, which includes the quartet “Strange Adventure,” one of the opera’s most beautiful pieces.
“I’ve gone through lots of different life events, and I’m always still performing, whether it’s cello or singing,” she said.
In addition to appearing as a ladies’ maid, Page said portraying Kate required her to create much of the character’s personality herself because the role leaves room for interpretation.
“The character has less specific dialogue, so you have to create the character yourself and decide how you want to portray her,” she said.
Director Gayden Wren said he first noticed Page’s talent during the company’s 2018 production of “Patience,” where her comedic timing immediately stood out.
“She is really one of the standouts I’ve seen,” said Wren, who has been involved with the company for nearly 50 years. “She keeps revealing new aspects of herself with every role.”
Wren also praised Page’s professionalism after she stepped into the role of Kate during the opening weekend performances of “The Yeomen of the Guard” when the actress cast in the role was unable to perform because of vocal issues.
“Our audience loses nothing when an understudy performs,” Wren said. “They got their money’s worth seeing Delaney step in.”
Longtime company member Ben Salers said Page’s contributions extend well beyond her performances. In addition to serving as the company’s secretary for several years, she has also worked as its webmaster and is someone fellow cast members regularly turn to for help.
“She’s a team player,” Salers said. “She has a lovely, beautiful and powerful voice, but she’s also one of the sweetest people you’ll meet. Everybody goes to Delaney.”
The company will conclude its run of “The Yeomen of the Guard” on June 28 at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, giving residents one more opportunity to see Page perform in the production.
Although Page hopes to one day play Ruth in “The Pirates of Penzance,” she said she is most grateful to continue sharing Gilbert & Sullivan’s timeless works with audiences across Long Island.
“There’s so much talent in these productions,” she said. “It’s something Lynbrook can be proud of.”
