The set list for the spring semester Hillsdale College Opera Workshop has been released and the cast announced. “Carmen,” “Les Miserables,” and works by Gilbert and Sullivan are just a few examples of the pieces chosen for the production.
Working alongside the music and theatre departments, the Opera Workshop appointed seven student directors who are directing the individual scenes that appear in the workshop.
“We are performing some musical theater and some opera, and it is totally student directed,” Melissa Osmond, who teaches voice, said. “Debbie Wyse and I are overseeing the process and are there to put out fires or assist in anyway we can, but the impetus for this is to be student directed.”
The casting complete, the directors and Osmond now are organizing practice times, and planning the arrangement of each scene.
“I’ve never done this before, so what I am doing now is determining the contexts of the pieces,” junior and director Aaron Sandford said. “I’m dying to see what direction the pieces go. Everything is theatrical –– about half of the pieces are musical theater. Even though it is called Opera Workshop it is actually ‘musical theater workshop,’ as opera is a type of theater.”
The directors predominantly chose the pieces they would direct, with the probable cast in mind, which allowed for a great variety in scene choice.
“I’m doing mostly musical theater because I know more of it, and not as much opera, while Aaron is tending towards opera, since he knows more about that,” junior and director David Krueger said. “What we’ve been doing is deciding what scenes [to do] and [casting] anyone who expresses interest. This week we finished all that work and are going to start practicing and getting it all together to perform in February.”
Opera Workshop will debut Feb. 22 and 23. Until then they will arrange the line up and rehearse their performances, Krueger said.
“I’m really excited to see all the performances I’m not a part of,” Sandford said, “because I figure by February I’ll be fully saturated by the pieces I am a part of, so it’ll be really exciting to see the ones everyone else is involved in.”
Krueger said there will be two or three light-hearted comedic pieces, some operatic scenes, a few scenes of betrayal, love, and “One Day More” –– a piece from the musical “Les Miserables” –– as the finale.
“I am excited for the performances from Carmen and the finale, because it is an extremely powerful piece,” Krueger said. “We’re going to have a really cool performance of “One Day More,” from “Les Miserables,” and most of the directors are doing solos, and all of the cast is part of the chorus.”
Instead of tryouts, Opera Workshop collected its cast through the voice teachers on campus, who gauged interest in students, and each sent a list of names of interested.
“We have anything from duets, trios, quartets, quintets, and full cast scenes –– there is something for everybody,” Osmond said. “I think everybody is excited about everything we’re doing. It’s a pretty good list, think it will appeal to everyone.”
