Opera Theatre Presents Opera Francais

November 14, 2002

Oklahoma Baptist University's student Opera Theatre will present an evening of famous scenes from French opera, Nov. 22-23 at 7:30 p.m., in Yarborough Auditorium of Raley Chapel. General admission is $3 at the door.

The "Opera Francais" program will feature scenes from Orfee by Cristoph W. Gluck, Carmen by Georges Bizet, Les Contes D'Hoffman and Le Grand Duchess by Jacques Offenbach, and Manon and Werther by Jules Massenet, complete with costumes and props.

Dr. Jon Gruett, associate professor of music, will conduct and serve as stage director, and Dr. John Simons, associate professor of church music, will conduct. Keith Whitmore, staff accompanist, will serve as accompanist.

All but one of the scenes will be performed in French.

"My main motivation in choosing this repertoire was to provide an opportunity for our students to better their skills singing in French," Gruett said.

Student auditions were last spring and final casting decisions were made at the beginning of this semester.

Three students will present two portions of Orfee. Crystal Morrow, senior from Sand Springs, will play Orfee, alongside Julianne Wright, a sophomore from Plainview, Texas, as Amour, and Lindsay Doolin, a sophomore from Lawton, as Euridice. Junior Elizabeth Finke from Independence, Mo., and Matthew Snook, a junior from Tulsa will portray Michaela and Don Jose in Carmen.

Senior Dara Collins, from Norman, will be Antonia for a scene from Les Contes D'Hoffman. Ada Hunter, a sophomore from Powderly, Texas, will perform as Manon Lescaut in Manon alongside senior Lloyd Holt, from Morris. Doolin and Collins will pair as Sophie and Charlotte for a scene from Werther.

Performing the final scene, Le Grand Duchess, will be Maggie Miller, a junior from Arlington, Texas, as Le Grande Duchess; Robbie Williams, a sophomore from Tulsa, as General Boum, Jason Soward, a sophomore from Blanchard, as Baron Puck; Jason Nickels, a junior from Broken Arrow, as Prince Paul; Jeremy Brewer, a senior from Altus, as Fritz; and Andrew Ridgeway, a junior from Sophia, Bulgaria, as Nepomuc.

For more information, contact the OBU Division of Music at (405) 878-2305.