Department of Music to present ASU Opera production Oct. 27, Oct. 30

Oct 19, 2009 -- The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the ASU Opera in “An Evening of Murder at the Opera” on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. In accordance with Halloween, there will be selections from “The Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “The Medium” by Gian Carlo Menotti, and “Murder at the Opera” by Edward Barnes. The ASU Opera program is under the direction of voice faculty member Dr. Marika Kyriakos. Tickets are currently available at the ASU Box Office, and will be sold at the door.  Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for ASU students and children under 12.

Not your typical evening of opera, this mysterious event is sure to capture the essence of Halloween. The thrilling mood will be set with Bach’s Toccata in D minor played by Brian Henkelmann on the organ. Then Joy Sanford will enter the scene to tickle the ivories in accompanying contemporary operatic literature having one thing in common --murder. The show will open with scenes from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” followed by excerpts from Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Medium.”  To top off the  evening, Edward Barnes’ one-act comic production, “Murder at the Opera,” will round out the evening. The audience is sure to be kept in suspense with this classic “who-dunnit” story-line. Not only does it spoof those trendy old detective shows, but it highlights opera’s greatest hits. Audiences will hear excerpts from “Tosca,” “Carmen,” “Madame Butterfly,” “La Boheme,” “Pagliacci,” “Othello,” and many more. In celebration of All Hallow’s Eve, guests are invited to arrive in costume for a contest with prizes given to the most ghoulish. Arrive early for judging.

Cast members are Becky Morrison, Chris Orr, Brandon Stroud, Willie Sullivan, and Matthew Vardell of Jonesboro, Crystal Haralson of Paragould, Erin Reagan of Munford, Tenn., Kari Rickman of Bono, Renee Smith of Houston, Texas, and Roberta Tupper of Bartlesville, Okla., with a special appearance by Kalysha Chandler of Greeley, Colo.  Assisting will be Roberta Tupper, Assistant Director; Brent Foland and Pat Register, costumes; Jeff MacLaughlin and Jason Henson, Lighting/Sound; Joy Sanford, piano; and Brian Henkelmann, organ. 

--ASU Public Relations student intern Sara Hulett assisted in the preparation, editing, and online design and formatting of this release.
 

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