Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Opera Theatre is hoping to scare, thrill and entertain audiences when it presents its Opera Scenes performance, just in time for Halloween.
Sorcery, spells and other dark enchantments will be portrayed onstage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 in the Elijah P. Lovejoy Library’s Abbott Auditorium.
“The Opera Scenes performance is a collection of acts with a Halloween theme,” said Marc Schapman, associate professor in the Department of Music and co-director of SIUE Opera Theatre. SIUE alum Tyler Green is directing the opera with Schapman.
“The scenes will include witchcraft, disguise, and ghosts,” Schapman said. “Students will perform scenes from Die Fledermaus, Don Giovanni, Carmen, Dido and Aeneas and The Crucible.”
The opera students have learned Italian and French in order to perform the parts in their original language, which also includes English, according to Schapman. Translations will be provided to assist the audience.
“The opera program at SIUE continues to grow, especially in the quality of the singers attending the University,” said Schapman. “We are attracting excellent young singers to our program, which enables us to program very difficult music, both vocally and dramatically.
“The good thing about Scenes is that it gives opportunities to our veteran singers, but also our younger more inexperienced singers,” he said.
General ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors. SIUE students with a valid ID can attend for free. To purchase tickets, call the SIUE Box Office at (618) 650-2774.
Photos:
Rehearsing for Dido and Aeneas scene (left to right) are: Sarah Paitz and Courtney Diamond, both seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences; Sya Collins, CAS freshman; and Kari Wattle, CAS senior.
In costume for the Dido and Aeneas act is CAS graduate student Amanda Furrow.