Southeastern Louisiana University’s Opera Music/Theatre Workshop will present the opera “Die Fledermaus” Feb. 6 and 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond.
The music featured in the opera is composed by Johann Strauss. Generally known as “the waltz king,” Strauss composed famous waltzes such as the “The Blue Danube,” and “Tales from the Vienna Woods,” said Charles Effler, director of the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop.
The opera has become popular since its first premiere in Vienna in 1874. “‘Die Fledermaus’ has never gone out of the repertoire. A 2018 Canadian survey listed it as the tenth most popular opera in North America,” said Effler.
The opera’s plot is centered around a married couple and involves many actions of deception and romance in order to attend a ball.
“Alfred has been serenading Rosalinda with opera arias from the street; he comes into the house, but she convinces him to jump from the balcony as her husband enters,” said Effler. “Eisenstein is being forced to go to jail for punching a police officer, but Falke convinces him to evade jail for one night so that he can go to Prince Orlofsky’s lavish masked ball. Eisenstein wants to go with his friend Falke, so he tells Rosalinda that he is heading off to jail. Meanwhile, Falke has set a trap for Eisenstein and tells Rosalinda that Eisentein will attend the ball.”
The Opera Workshop also welcomes back guest stage director Rachel M. Harris, who has directed opera productions at the university since 2008.
The cast features, Cheyenne Moore (Slidell) and Camryn Rodrigue (Thibodaux) as Rosalinda, Jeanetta Johnson (Bogalusa) and Hannah Turner (Central) as Adele, Alfred Harper (New Orleans) as Eisenstein, William Dopp (New Orleans) as Dr. Falke, Andrew Butler (River Ridge) as Alfred, Ryan Blanchfield (Baton Rouge) as Frank, Madelyn Taylor (Watson) as Prince Orlofsky, Canaan White (Ponchatoula) and Jacob Chancey (Hammond) as Dr. Blind, Anastasia Mar (Mandeville) and Emily Guagliardo (Ponchatoula) as Ida, Dallas McAlister (Hammond) as Frosch and Grayson Baracco (Denham Springs) as Ivan.
Actors cast as waiters are Jacob Chauvin (Gramercy) and Eric Martin (Baton Rouge). Chorus members include Austin Bonfanti (Mandeville), Brandon Lambie (Baton Rouge), Cole Persick (Franklinton), Caitlyn Rodrigue (Thibodaux), Trey Townsel (Slaughter), and Mary Vince (Pearl River).
Effler will serve as producer, musical preparer and conductor. Music Department alumna Karista Filopoulos will serve as stage manager, and Department of Music and Performing Arts staff member Benjamin Norman will design the lighting. Performing Arts Supply in Houston is responsible for costume design, while Department of Art + Design faculty member Imma Curl will serve as costume coordinator. New Orleans Opera Association Scene Shop is building the sets, and set design is by New Orleans designer Eric Porter.
Advanced tickets are available at the Columbia Theatre box office, located at 220 E. Thomas St., Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be available one hour prior to each performance. General admission ticket prices are $21 for adults, $16 for seniors, Southeastern faculty/staff and non-Southeastern students, and $8 for children age 12 or younger. Admission is free for Southeastern students with university ID.
For more information, contact Effler at [email protected].
