Cast chosen for Southeastern Opera/Music Theatre Workshop's ‘A Little Night Music’
Thursday, September 22, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
OPERA OPENS SOUTHEASTERN’S FANFARE – The 31st season of Southeastern Louisiana University’s Fanfare will open with Southeastern Opera /Music Theatre’s production of “A Little Night Music” on Sept. 29 and 30 at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Rehearsing for the production are, from left, Anne Labranche of Abita Springs and Rachel Davis and Elizabeth Langley of Mandeville.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Opera/Music Theatre Workshop will present
the Broadway musical, “A Little Night Music” on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 29 and
30. Scheduled at 7:30 p.m., at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown
Hammond, the performance is part of Fanfare, the university’s annual fall festival
for the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Set in 1900 Sweden, “A Little Night Music” explores the tangled web of affairs
centered around actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men who love her: a lawyer by the
name of Fredrik Egerman and the Count Carl-Magnus Malcom, explained Charles Effler,
director of the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop. When the traveling actress performs
in Fredrik’s town, the estranged lovers’ passion is rekindled. This strikes a flurry
of jealousy and suspicion between Desirée; Fredrik; Fredrick’s wife, Anne; Desirée’s
current lover, the Count; and the Count’s wife, Charlotte. Both men – as well as their
jealous wives – agree to join Desirée and her family for a weekend in the country
at Desirée’s mother’s estate. With everyone in one place, infinite possibilities of
new romances and second chances bring endless surprises.
“One of Sondheim’s musical innovations in this show is the use of five singers
as a sort of Greek chorus (called the Liebeslieders). Like the Greek chorus from classical
Greek tragedy, these singers comment on the dramatic actions of the play, but with
song instead of the spoken word,” Effler said.
“Also, the traditional orchestral overture, highlighting tunes from the show, is augmented
with this group of singers; there are still tunes from the show, but they are now
presented with the lyrics,” he added. “In another innovation, Sondheim draws inspiration
from opera -- three characters all sing three different solo songs with completely
different moods and melodies. Sondheim then combines them seamlessly into a gorgeous
trio.”
A Little Night Music is full of hilarious, witty and heartbreaking moments of
adoration, regret and desire, and contains Sondheim’s popular song, the haunting “Send
in the Clowns.”
Opera Workshop welcomes back guest stage director Ken Goode for this production.
Originally from New Orleans, Goode directed Opera Workshop’s performance of “It’s
Only Life” three years ago.
Opera Workshop also welcomes back Southeastern Alumna Kay Schepker and Jane Rownd
Wear, both of Hammond. Schepker is the aunt of Wear and said she is looking forward
to performing with her niece.
“We are in a few scenes together. Our characters don’t interact much at all,
but I’m enjoying watching her perform her role,” Schepker said. “It’s great to be
able to watch her work and see how she’s grown as a singer and actress. Since she
completed her graduate school work at Indiana University, I didn’t have the opportunity
to see her perform very often. It’s also a fun time for our family to be able to see
us both together in a production.”
The cast for the production includes Rachel Davis (Mandeville) as Desiree Armfeldt;
Alfred Harper (New Orleans) as Frederick Egerman; Randi Gaspard (Covington) as Anne
Egerman; Terelle Bibbins (Slidell) as Henrik Egerman; Kay Schepker (Hammond) as Madame
Armfeldt; Kaylin Guillory (Covington) as Fredrika Armfeldt; Robert Roy (Lacombe) as
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm; Morgan Curole (Larose) as Countess Charlotte Malcolm; Jane
Wear (Hammond) as Petra; Sarah Cage (Baton Rouge) as Mrs. Nordstrom; Elizabeth Langley
(Mandeville) as Mrs. Segstrom; Anne Labranche (Abita Springs) as Mrs. Anderssen; Brandon
Wear (Slidell) as Mr. Erlanson; Wesley Newton (Bourg) as Mr. Lindquist; Cody Sires
(Chalmette) as Frid; Deondra Bell (Baton Rouge) as Malla; Jeremy Guillot (Denham Springs)
as Bertrand; and Mia Gibson (Sulphur) as Osa.
Effler will serve as musical director and conductor, Department of Fine and Performing
Arts faculty members Steve Schepker will design the set and Benjamin Norman will design
the lighting. Southeastern students Katie Walker of Marrero and Kayla Rochelle of
Destrehan will serve as stage manager and makeup designer respectively.
Advance tickets are available at the Columbia Theatre box office Monday through
Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will also be available one hour prior to each performance.
Ticket prices are $21 for adults; $16 for seniors, Southeastern faculty/staff and
non-Southeastern students; and $8 for children 12 and under. Southeastern students
are admitted free of charge with their university ID.
For more information about the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop contact Effler at ceffler@southeastern.edu.
“A Little Night Music,” book by Hugh Wheeler, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim,
originally produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince, is presented through special
arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and all authorized performance
materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY, 10019, www.MTIShows.com.