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Upcoming Events:Upcoming Operas: Opera Scenes Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan Mikado for Kids by Gilbert and Sullivan Fiddler on the Roof, by Jerry Bock (Joint production of Theater Dept./Music School)
Mikado Notes:Gilbert and Sullivan: the names are inseparable, and legendary. As the British answer to the popular operetta composers Jacques Offenbach and Franz Lehar, the librettist-composer duo of William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were wildly successful, and of their fourteen brilliant creations for the stage, The Mikado remains among the best loved and most frequently performed. While our hero Nanki-Poo is avoiding the romantic designs of Katisha, whose charms have decidedly faded, Koko, the Lord High Executioner, is searching for a suitably expendable subject to behead for the entertainment of the Mikado. Through a series of unexpected twists and turns, Ko-Ko is forced to offer a document to the Mikado certifying an execution that has not in fact taken place. But he finds himself in hot water when he learns that the supposed executionee was actually the heir to the throne of Japan! Gilbert and Sullivan chose what was at the time an extremely exotic locale in order to poke fun, from a distance, at British politics and institutions. Fiddler Facts:Based on the Tevye stories by the great Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof, with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, won the Tony award for Best Musical in 1965 and went on to become one of the most popular musicals of all time. Set in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, Russia, in 1905, Fiddler focuses on the lives of Tevye, a dairyman, his wife, Golde, and their five daughers, all coping with a harsh existence under Tsarist rule. Tevye attempts to maintain his family's traditions in the face of a changing world, but when his oldest daughter, Tzeitel, begs him to let her marry a poor young tailor rather than the successful, older butcher that he has already chosen for her, Tevye must choose between his daughter's happiness and the traditions that provide the very structure of his existence. Other forces are also at work in Anatevka, forces that threaten to destroy the life and culture Tevye is trying to preserve. Fiddler on the Roof struck such a powerful chord with audiences that it ran for a staggering 3242 performances, and for a time held the record for the longest- running production in the history of Broadway. Outreach Programs:In our ongoing effort to reach younger audiences, we not only take performances into the schools, but we invite students to come to us. In cooperation with the Arts Partnership of Spartanburg and area school administrations, we have been able to have wonderful and informative performances at the David Reid Theater of Spartanburg’s Chapman Cultural Center, and at educational facilities across the county. Students are introduced to operatic and theatrical stories and characters, as well as to the acting techniques used to bring them to life. It is through these efforts that we help educate future audiences and cultivate a better understanding and appreciation for live theater. We are proud to announce our schedule of outreach programs for the 2008-2009 season. On November 24, 2008, Converse Opera Theatre will present Mikado for Kids in the David Reid Theater of the Chapman Cultural Center. This performance, in conjunction with the Arts Partnership of Spartanburg, will be presented free of charge for area elementary school students. The cast and production staff will be the same as the Nov. 21, 22, & 23 performances. Additionally, during the months of April and May, Converse Opera Theatre will present an opera scenes program for area schools. Sponsored by the Arts Partnership of Spartanburg, these performances will be presented in Spartanburg and surrounding county schools by Converse Opera Theatre participants. |