This fall, PBS Arts from Minnesota: THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTS H.M.S. PINAFORE puts witf viewers aboard one of the most crowd-pleasing comic musicals of all time. The filmed performance of this Gilbert and Sullivan classic premieres Friday, October 14, 2011 at 9 p.m.

The premiere opens the first PBS Arts Fall Festival, a multi-platform event anchored by nine Friday night broadcasts that highlight artists and performances from nine communities across the country, with celebrity hosts from each locale. As part of its commitment to increase every American’s access to — and participation in — the arts, the Festival, which continues into December, also includes a range of related online content.

It was announced September 14, 2011, that Rainn Wilson, a veteran of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the city from which the show originates, will host the October 14 premiere. Best known for his starring role on “The Office,” Wilson performed in Guthrie productions of Philadelphia, Here I Come! in 1996, as well as The Venetian Twins and The Importance of Being Earnest in 1998.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s first blockbuster is among the most crowd-pleasing comic musicals in history, loved for its dynamite songs, gleefully entertaining story and saucy satire. The captain’s daughter is in love with an ordinary sailor, but her father has a more sophisticated suitor in mind. Will she and her beloved defy convention and set sail for love? Filled with Sullivan’s memorable melodies — infused with fresh musical arrangements ranging from big band swing to classic pop — H.M.S. PINAFORE is pure joy and sensational entertainment for everyone, young or old.

Watch a preview of the PBS Arts Fall Festival in the video below.