Opera Workshop prepares to perform Street Scene
Date 5/3/2001 12:00 AM | Topic: Arts & CultureWith a two story set, a live dog as part of the cast and 50 dedicated Luther students, the Luther Music/Theatre Department presents Street Scene, an opera by Kurt Weill, to the Luther community. The show will be performed May 4-5 in the CFL starting at 7:30 p.m.
The production is part of the Opera Workshop class that is taught during second semester. It offers a unique experience for students to run both on-stage and off-stage aspects of an opera.
All of the work for the show is done on volunteer and/or class time, including set construction, load-in, rehearsal, publicity, make-up and costuming. The production is directed by Dr. David Judisch with musical direction by Juan Tony Guzman. The Luther College Jazz Band I serves as the pit orchestra.
Several students hold other production positions. They include: Lindsey Harman ('01), Assistant Director; Molly Goodwin ('02), Stage Manager; Katie Anderson ('01), Choreographer and Brad Branam ('01), Lighting Design. Tom Berger is in charge of scene design, and Donalee Burns is the costume designer.
Students involved in the opera will receive between one and three class credits depending on the size of their roles in the production. Work for the show has been evolving throughout this semester. According to Harman, the vocal training for the production has been "immense" due to the intensity of opera.
Street Scene takes place in a 1929 New York City apartment building. The story focuses on a day in the life of Anna Maurrant and her family. Anna is frustrated by her husband and worried about her teenage daughter, Rose. She is having an affair with the milkman, and Rose is frustrated by her parents' unhappiness and hopes for better things to come.
The story continues when Frank Maurrant murders Anna when he learns of her affair. Rose then leaves the tenement and the milkman in order to make a new, independent life for herself.
Street Scene differs from a traditional opera because its original text was written in English and not translated from a different language. It also includes a variety of ethnic characters, ranging from Italian, Jewish, atheist, German and Swedish. Moreover, it takes place in a New York City apartment building to give an eclectic bent to the opera genre.
Harman commented, "Street Scene is not a stereotypical opera. It's about really common people who live in an apartment building. It's also really humorous and active and a great chance to see a lot of Luther students doing a lot of different things." The show also includes a live dog as one of its cast members.
Tickets for Street Scene are currently available at the Box Office.
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Abbey Weis
Chips A&E Editor
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