News Release

Southeastern announces cast for 'Die Fledermaus'


Contact: Christina Chapple

2/9/09



     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Opera/Music Theatre Workshop has announced the cast of “Die Fledermaus,” Straus’s most celebrated and popular operetta, which will be staged March 18-21 at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium.

     “Die Fledermaus” is “the Dom Perignon of opera – an exuberant, witty and charmingly lighthearted comedy about mistaken identities, elegant frivolities, long-deliberated revenge – and the power of champagne,” said Charles Effler, director of the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop and conductor of the production. “And it is set to some of the most captivating music ever written. It is listed as the 19th most performed opera in the United States.”

     “Die Fledermaus” will be directed by stage director Rachel Harris, who directed last spring’s Opera Workshop production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” Harris has also directed opera and opera scenes at Utah State University, Louisiana 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.
     Effler and Harris have double-cast several of the roles in “Die Fledermaus” to showcase the talent within the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts. The cast also includes a faculty member – soprano Alissa Rowe, the department’s vocal area coordinator, who will share the role of Rosalinda with Danielle Willie of Ponchatoula and serve as chorus master.

     The cast also includes Cassandra Arnold of Bedico and Bridget Lyons of Ponchatoula as Adele, Brandon Wear of Slidell as Eisenstein, Dustin Johnson of Covington as Alfred, Colby McCurdy of Slidell as Dr. Falke, Tyrone Hayes of New Orleans and Grady Sandidge of Slidell as Frank, Jane Rownd of Hammond as Prince Orlovsky, Damian Faul of Amite and Nathan Constant of Meraux as Dr. Blind, Cara Williams of Franklinton and Keturah Turner of Hammond as Ida and Stephen Dale of Covington as Frosch. 
     The chorus for the “Die Fledermaus,” which will be sung in English, will be made of up selected members of Southeastern’s Concert Choir.
     In addition to Harris and Effler, the production crew includes Steve Schepker, set design; Ellen Sovkoplas, lighting design; and Richard Walsh, costume design.

     Curtain for “Die Fledermaus” is 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, beginning one hour prior to each performance. Tickets are $15, adults; $12, senior citizens, Southeastern faculty, staff, alumni and non-Southeastern students. Southeastern students admitted free with their university ID. 

     For additional information, contact the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts, 985-549-2184.



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