Performance Opera-tunity
By Mackenzie McNay

This spring, the College of the Arts is embarking upon a new challenge. The theatre and performance studies and the music departments are combining students and talents to put on two one-act comic operas. Also combining forces on this project are faculty members from each department. Artistic director for T&PS Dean Adams and director of orchestras Michael Alexander are dueling directors for “Gianni Schicchi” and “The Old Maid and the Thief” that will be presented April 19-24 in Stillwell Theater.

This collaboration of talents is a celebration of the diversity of gifts within the college. This production is one of many to integrate the theatre and music majors in an attempt to make the entire college more united as a whole.

Why an opera and not a traditional musical? “Opera is one of the purest forms of music,” says Adams. The unique concept about this production is that it is combining a classical style of performance with a contemporary form of staging. The operas being presented this spring will take the traditional stylings of conventional opera technique but will be staged in a modern way which an audience of today can relate and understand.

Anna Gay, a theatre performance major, commented on her experience in this collaborative project. “For most of us, this is our first opera,” says Gay, “and I think that we all really want to be working on this production.” Gay believes that the combination of the directors is what will really unite the departments, and in turn, make for a fantastic production. “I’m really learning a lot and think I am becoming a more well-rounded performer.”

An interesting aspect about this collaboration is that there are so many different students involved that all bring something different and unique to the stage. According to Adams, “everyone has his or her own strength.” By combining students of different talents and training, Adams believes that “everyone respects everyone else’s strengths and the students really enhance each other by doing so.” Some students have never taken an acting class before, whereas others have been acting all their lives. Adversely, some performers have never sung scales before, whereas others have been featured in the Atlanta Opera and have been performing this style for years.

Performance times are 8 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 with discounts available of KSU students, faculty and staff. For reservations and information, call 770-423-6650.