Four the fourth time in its history, New York City Opera will stage Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta H.M.S. Pinafore, opening Sept. 20 and running in repertory to Nov. 9.

Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert's comic piece offers "a boat-load of nautical nuttiness, romance and silly satire." Susan Woelzel, NYCO's Director of Publicity, said the choice was made to do Pinafore again by director James Billings, who will also star in the show.

City Opera first staged Pinafore in 1961, then in 1968, and once more in 1975-76. This traditional production will be conducted by Randall Behr and feature sets by Michael Anania, a City Opera regular and resident stage designer at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse.

Other Gilbert & Sullivan operettas include Iolanthe, Patience and The Mikado. The Gondoliers and The Pirates Of Penzance will be staged by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) at Manhattan's Symphony Space at the end of this year.

For H.M.S. Pinafore tickets and information, call (212)870-5643. -- By David Lefkowitz