Cast announced for March 13-15 'The Marriage of Figaro'
Contact: Christina Chapple
2/7/08
HAMMOND – Colby McCurdy of Slidell and Blaire Abene of Hammond have been cast in the lead roles of the Southeastern Louisiana University Opera/Music Theatre Workshop’s production of Mozart’s opera favorite “The Marriage of Figaro.”
To be presented March 13-15 at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium, the opera classic will be directed by guest stage director Rachel Harris.
Also cast in “Figaro,” one of the most famous and popular of all of Mozart’s operas, are Tyrone Hayes of New Orleans, Count Almaviva; Cassandra Arnold of Bedico and Christina Babin of Prairieville, Countess Almaviva; Jane Rownd of Hammond and Cara Williams of Franklinton, Cherubino; Kimberly Hilliard of Covington, Tara Melvin of New Orleans, and Danielle Willie of Ponchatoula, Marcellina; Darell Haynes of Luling, Dr. Bartolo; Brandon Wear of Slidell, Basilio; Wear, Dustin Johnson of Covington, and Taylor Marrs of Slidell, Don Curzio; James Flick of Baton Rouge, Antonio; Charlene Robinson of La Rose and Keturah Turner of Hammond, Barbarina.
The chorus will include selected members of Southeastern’s Concert Choir, directed by Alissa Mercurio Rowe. Opera/Music Theatre Workshop Director Charles Effler will conduct, while set design is by Steve Schepker, lighting design by Ellen Sovkoplas, and costume design by Richard Walsh. All are members of the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts faculty and staff.
Originally from New York and currently living in Baton Rouge, Harris has directed opera and opera scenes at Louisiana State University, Utah State University, Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
As a singer she has appeared with LSU Opera, Tanglewood Music Center, Operafest of New Hampshire, Syracuse Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, State University of New York at Fredonia, Syracuse Theatre, Binghamton Savoyards, New Bedford Symphony, Concord Symphony and Orpheus Theatre.
Curtain time for “The Marriage of Figaro” will be 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door beginning one hour prior to each performance. Ticket prices are $14, adults, and $10, senior citizens, Southeastern faculty, staff, alumni and non-Southeastern students. Southeastern students will be admitted free with their university I.D.
Effler said “The Marriage of Figaro,” which premiered in 1786, and today is sixth on the list of the most performed operas in the United States, cleverly examines the delicate subject of late-18th century European class differences while also entertaining audiences with comic intrigue, mistaken identities, secret meetings, jealous husbands, and scheming servants.
The opera, he said, began a new chapter in operatic history.
“In ‘Figaro,’ Mozart overturned all the conventions of late 18th century Italian comic opera with an unprecedented fusion of words and music,” Effler said. “Mozart’s glorious music also plays a completely new role -- it carries and interprets the action, characterizes the protagonists, even makes audible what is left unsung. It perfectly evokes each character’s mood and situation, and brilliantly illustrates each comic twist of the plot.
“We hope everyone will join the Opera Music/Theatre Workshop for an unforgettable evening of comic opera,” Effler said.
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