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Morehead's Light Opera Guild presents comedic operatta this weekend

July 21, 2008 @ 03:46 PM

Herald-Dispatch.com

MOREHEAD, Ky. — The Highlands Light Opera Guild will present comedy reminiscent of the wry and wacky humor made famous by Monty Python. Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance” will be presented by Highlands Light Opera in six performances throughout the region.

The show will open July 24 and 25 in the McNabb Middle School Theatre in Mt. Sterling, then move to the Adkins-Caudill Performance Arts Center in Sandy Hook on July 26 and 27. The final two shows will be July 31 and Aug. 1 in Morehead, at the Duncan Recital Hall within the Baird Music Hall on the Morehead State University campus.

All shows are at 8 p.m. except the Sunday, July 27 performance in Sandy Hook, which will take place at 3 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Children under 12 will be admitted free of charge.

The HLO Box Office number is (606) 783-9464. Tickets also will be available at the door.

“The Pirates of Penzance” is a story of an unlikely romance, and pirates who are scared of their own shadows, policemen who are scared of pirates, a high ranking military officer with plenty of knowledge but no common sense, very pretty but slightly ditzy young maidens, and the requisite old hag who nearly ruins everything. The music is lively and accessible to all audiences.

Several area singers will be featured in this production. The lead role of Frederic will be performed by Daniel Bell, a voice professor at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson. Jonathan Adkins, local Kentucky Farm Bureau agent, will appear as Major-General Stanley. The Pirate King is Ryland Pope, a native of Harlan and student at Georgetown College. His lieutenant, Samuel, will be played by Cameron Painter, Morehead.

The Police Sergeant will be David Herrington, an MSU graduate. Ruth, the old hag, will be sung by Sarah Smith, Stamping Ground. The lead role of Mabel is double cast with Amy Painter, an MSU senior vocal performance major, and Dr. Heather Hunnicutt, voice professor at Georgetown College.

The daughters of Major-General Stanley include Jewelie Casteel, West Liberty; Greta Hicks, Prestonsburg; Dr. Alana Scott, MSU faculty; Rachael Fannin, Morehead; and Brittany Lewis, Mt. Sterling. The pirates and policemen include Chris Adams, Morehead; Ryan Gilbert, Prestonsburg; Drake Gillaspie, Mt. Sterling; and Dr. John Secor, MSU faculty.

Highlands Light Opera was founded by Dr. Roma Prindle, a native of Harlan and MSU associate professor of music. Dr. Prindle has experience with several American opera companies as a singer and director, including Minnesota Opera, Opera Roanoke, Connecticut Opera, Opera Express, Goodspeed Opera and Dorian Opera.

The music director is Elizabeth Huling, the founding director of the Emerging Artists Group and vocal instructor at the Youth Performing Arts High School in Louisville. She has performed with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, as well as such luminaries as Hal Prince, William Vendice and Kenneth Schermerhorn. The rehearsal pianist is Mary Ellen McNeill, a summa cum laude graduate of MSU and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Masters Program.

The mission of Highlands Light Opera is to serve the surrounding community, functioning as a regional organization. Efforts will be made to draw musical talent from the central Appalachian region. All shows will be from the lighter operatic fare and will be performed in English.

“I have been truly overwhelmed by this generosity,” said Dr. Prindle. “Many of these singers and musicians could command impressive salaries for this work. Yet they have chosen to donate their services to help get Highlands Light Opera off the ground. This speaks well of our region.”

Once the company has established itself, it will qualify for grant funding, Dr. Prindle noted. In the meantime all donations are tax-deductible and are welcome.

For additional information or to make a donation to the Highlands Light Opera, contact Dr. Prindle at r.prindle@moreheadstate.edu.

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