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| Oct 20, 2009 |
USD Opera to stage children’s production in November |
| VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota’s Department of Music Opera Workshop will showcase the children’s opera, “The Princess and the Pea” with several local performances in November. |
| Under the direction of Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland, professor of voice in the USD Department of Music, the 50-minute opera, which is based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, will tour various locations in Vermillion, including Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. in Colton Recital Hall on the USD campus. Other scheduled performances include Monday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Agnes School; Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Austin School; and Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 1 and 2 p.m. at Jolley School.
Gesteland said an interest in developing “The Princess and the Pea” for the local stage is to bring opera to elementary school children, many of whom may experience the classical music for the first time. “They will see that opera is fun and entertaining,” she added, “and, perhaps, be inspired to get involved in music and the other arts.” The cast, featuring a mix of USD undergraduate and graduate students, is Amanda Rich of South Sioux City, Neb., as the Princess; William Darwin of Sioux City, Iowa, is the Prince; Ryan Landis of Rapid City, S.D., is Buffo; Kristin Edwards of Aberdeen, S.D., is the Queen while Cody Perk of Yankton is the Doctor. Susanne Harmon of Sioux Falls, S.D., is Dragon; Tim Cone of Rapid City, S.D., is Ogre; Megan Donohoo of Houston, Texas, is Cook; and Kendra Van Nyhuis of Hull, Iowa, and Clint Johnson of Harrisburg, S.D., are Hilde and Esperanza. In addition to “The Princess and the Pea,” Gesteland, Rick Piersall, professor of voice at The U, and the USD Department of Music will produce the department’s first full opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” this December. The first performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Akron (Iowa) Opera House. The cast will feature a mixture of USD students, community members as well as members of the faculty at The U. For more information about the USD Department of Music, please visit www.usd.edu/fine-arts/music. |
| About The University of South Dakota |
| Founded in 1862, The University of South Dakota is designated as the only public liberal arts university in the state and is home to a comprehensive College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, the state's only School of Law, School of Medicine, the accredited Beacom School of Business and the College of Fine Arts. It has an enrollment of more than 9,600 students taught by 400 faculty members. More information is available at www.usd.edu/press/news.
This material is available in an alternate format upon request. Please contact University Relations at 605-677-5759. If you are a person with a disability and need a special accommodation to fully participate in any university activity or event, please contact Disability Services at 605-677-6389 as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements may be made. |
MEDIA CONTACTS: |
| Phillip Carter |
| The University of South Dakota |
| 605-677-6258 |
| phillip.carter@usd.edu |
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