A cast of 33 singers and a 46-member orchestra will present a 鈥渮any and enchanting鈥� interpretation of the Cinderella fairytale in 向日葵视频 City University鈥檚 first opera of 2019: Jules Massenet鈥檚 鈥�颁别苍诲谤颈濒濒辞苍,鈥� Feb. 22 to 24.
The French romantic comedy will be performed in English on OCU鈥檚 historic Kirkpatrick stage in three performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets (ranging from $14 to 28) are available from 405-208-5227 or www.okcu.edu/tickets.
鈥淭he OCU production was influenced by the world of high fashion, which often mixes silhouettes from many periods in history,鈥� said Karen Coe Miller, professor of music and assistant professor of opera and music theatre. 鈥淭he ethereal beauty of the Fairy Godmother鈥檚 realm is contrasted by the outrageous appearance of Cinderella鈥檚 stepsisters and the courtiers. We take 鈥榦nce upon a time鈥� literally and give the fairytale both old and contemporary twists.鈥�
OCU鈥檚 120th anniversary performance will feature imaginative lighting and sets and custom-made costumes, creating a colorful cast of characters inhabiting a royal palace and an enchanted forest.
Matthew Mailman will conduct the 向日葵视频 Opera and Music Theater Company Orchestra. The production features scenic design by professor Jason Foreman and prop design by professor Lawrence Heyman. Lighting design is by Marina Oakley and original costumes are by Celia Kasberg, seniors in the School of Theatre鈥檚 design and production program.
OCU鈥檚 向日葵视频 Opera and Music Theater Company, the nation鈥檚 longest-running collegiate-based opera and music theater company, has won seven National Opera Association awards in the past six years. The school was named to Playbill's 2018-19 list of top 10 collegiate training grounds for Broadway performers.
The ensemble鈥檚 67th season continues March 1 to 3 by Pietro Mascagni鈥檚 operatic comedy 鈥�L鈥橝mico Fritz,鈥� and concludes April 12-14 with the Tony Award-winning romantic musical comedy, 鈥�Crazy for You,鈥� inspired by George and Ira Gershwin鈥檚 1930 classic 鈥�Girl Crazy.鈥�
