Southeastern Louisiana University

     HAMMOND – Charles Effler, director of Southeastern Louisiana University’s Opera/Music Theatre Workshop, and guest director Brandt Blocker have been nominated for the 2008 "Creative Achievement in Opera" award for the workshop’s March 2007 production of the comic opera “Too Many Sopranos.”

     Effler was nominated as the production's conductor and Blocker, a veteran director, actor, singer and producer in New Orleans, as stage director. The award is a part of the New Orleans award series "Tribute to the Classical Arts," the sister series of the Big Easy Entertainment Awards for theater and popular music.

     Effler and Blocker share the category with nominees from the New Orleans Opera for productions of “New Year's Eve with the New Orleans Opera” and “The Medium.”

     “For a college production to be nominated along with professional productions is truly an honor,” Effler said.

     “Too Many Sopranos,” which chronicles the musical adventures of four divas who have to audition their way into heaven, was performed March 21-24, 2007 at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. Cast members have also presented excerpts from the production at Christ Episcopal Church’s Third Sunday Series in Covington and at the Tulane University series Music at Midday.

     The awards ceremony will take place Feb. 18 in New Orleans. Southeastern was a previous "Tribute to the Classical Arts” winner in 1999, when the university’s Concert Choir was honored in the “Best Choral Arts Presentation” category.