Welcome Concert
Sunday June 23, 7 – 9 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium
FREE and open to the public
Reception to follow
Spotlight's distinguished faculty sings their welcome to the 2019 cast with arias, Broadway tunes, and more. Featuring: Gale Odom and Elizabeth Herlitz Cortés, sopranos; Sarah Stankiewiecz Dailey, mezzo-soprano; Cindy Sadler, contralto; Nicholas Simpson, tenor; Bruce Cain and Adam Philley, baritones. There are always a few surprises!
ARIA EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday, June 29, 7 -10 p.m
Anderson Auditorium
FREE and open to the public
Reception to follow
“Death by Aria” is a tradition in many a summer opera program. Spotlight's talented 2019 cast introduces themselves to Shreveport with a fun and informal showcasing each singer in a single "party piece" aria. Join us afterwards for a reception in the lobby and get to know our young artists!
THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS
Monday, July 8, 10 a.m. at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
Thursday, July 11, 10 a.m. at the Norton Gallery
Friday, July 19, 11 a.m. at the Shreve Memorial Library, Broadmoor Branch
Additional Dates and Locations TBA
FREE
A pastiche by John Davies
Directed by Bruce Cain
Musical direction and collaborative piano by Adam Philley
Spotlight’s annual touring children’s opera with music by J. Offenbach, G. Rossini, G. Donizetti, A. Sullivan and G. Verdi, will appear at various locations around Shreveport. If you would like a performance for your organization, please contact Sarah Stankiewieckz Dailey at stankis@hsu.edu.
Four outcasts --- Eddie Pensier, a rooster with operatic aspirations who woke the farmer once too many times practicing his arias; Barcarolle, the dog, and Dorabella, the cat, kicked out because they can no longer catch rabbits and mice; and General Boom, a retired army donkey --- team up to form a band. Working as a team to overcome their differences and face the hardships of the road, the Bremen Town Musicians celebrate the idea that friendship, cooperation, and respect for others is far better than facing problems alone.
Fun for children of all ages!
STARRING:
Eddie Pensier (the Rooster): Erik Rasmussen, Josh Vavases
Dorabella (The Cat): Claire Agresta, Zipphora Hyman
Barcarolle (The Dog): Lara Connally, Brianna Perez
General Boom (The Donkey): Devon Bain, A’darrion Evans
SPOTLIGHT CABARET
Friday, July 5, 7:15 p.m. Rhino Coffee Uptown
Saturday, July 6, 9 p.m. Flying Heart Brewing, 700 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, LA 71111
Donations accepted
Curated and Directed by Adam Philley
A casual evening of Broadway melodies curated by Shreveport’s favorite music director, Adam Philley.
STARRING: Nina Anderson, Tony Anthony, Amy Austin, Kay Boyte-Moore, Kyle Chastulik, Lara Connally, A'darrion Evans, Jada Foster, Elyn Green, Madeleine Munro, Erik Rasmussen, Ellen Sudarshan, and Sierra Worman
COSI FAN TUTTE
Saturday, July 13, 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, July 14, 2-5 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium
$20 General Public
$10 Students, Seniors, Military with ID
Free for Centenary Faculty, Staff, and Students with ID
By W.A. Mozart
Directed by Shawn Marie Jeffery
Kristin Roach, Conductor & Musical Director
Collaborative Pianist: David Hill
Fiordiligi: Victoria Sundin
Dorabella: Sarah S. Dailey (guest artist)
Despina: Katie Wick
Ferrando: Tony Anthony
Gugliemo: Carlos Romero
Don Alfonso: Kyle Chastulik
CHORUS:
Claire Agresta, Nina Anderson, Amy Austin, Devon Bain, Sarah Beegle, Kay Boyte-Moore, Morgan-Elise Brady, Lara Connally, A’darrion Evans, Jada Foster, Elyn Green, Zipphora Hyman, Helen Kimber, Natalia Lastowiecka, Jaimie Lowe, Rachel Moon, Madeleine Munro, Connie New, Brianna Perez, Julie Query, Catherine Raible, Erik Rasmussen, Ellen Sudershan, Josh Vavases, Sierra Worman
Mozart's sparkling comedy pits men against women as two soldiers, challenged by a cynical bachelor friend to prove that their girlfriends are paragons of fidelity, give themselves over to his direction to play a trick on the ladies and their clever maid. But can anyone handle the outcome? Sung in English.
ALE AND ARIAS AT FLYING HEART BREWING
Sunday, July 14, 6-8 p.m.
Flying Heart Brewing, 700 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, LA 71111
Donations accepted
Join us after the show for some delicious brews, pizza, and more opera as the cast of Spotlight 2019 lets fly with your favorite arias. Flying Heart is generously donating $1 per pint of beer or glass of wine sold during the event, so come thirsty for good beer, good company, and good music!
THE CONSUL
Saturday, July 20, 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, July 21, 2-5 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium
$20 General Public
$10 Students, Seniors, Military with ID
Free for Centenary Faculty, Staff, and Students with ID
By Gian Carlo Menotti
Directed by Cindy Sadler
Conductor and Musical Director Kristin Roach
Collaborative Pianist William Reber
STARRING:
Magda Sorel: Jaimie Lowe
John Sorel: Jeremiah Drake
Mother: Sarah Beegle
Police Inspector: Kyle Chastulik
Secretary: Connie New
Niko Magadoff:Josh Vavases
Mr. Koffner: Devon Bain
Vera Boronel: Jada Foster
The Foreign Woman: Sierra Worman
Mrs. Gomez: Elyn Green
Assan: Carlos Romero
Voice on the Recording: Nina Anderson
Though it premiered in 1950, this tragic tale of a dissident family struggling to flee their tyrannical homeland and immigrate to safety could be ripped from today’s headlines. Freedom fighter John Sorel, having narrowly escaped capture, is forced to flee across the border, leaving his wife, mother, and infant son behind. Watched and harassed by the secret police, Sorel’s wife Magda visits the Consulate every day in hopes of getting visas for her family. There she finds an assortment of other hopeful refugees, each as entangled in unfeeling bureaucracy as she is. As the situation grows increasingly more desperate, Magda at last reaches the breaking point, with devastating results.
Inspired by Gian Carlo Menotti’s sympathy for the refugees of World War II, The Consul won both the Pulitzer Prize for Music and the New York Drama Critic’s Circle Award for Best Musical.
Sung in English.
OPERA SCENES SHOWCASE
Friday, July 26, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, July 27, 2-5 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium
$10 General Public
$7 Seniors, Students, Military with ID
Free to Centenary Faculty, Staff, and Students with ID
Directed by Shawn Marie Jeffery and Bruce Cain
Musical Direction by Kristin Roach, William Reber, David Hill, and Heeyoung Choi
A little bit of this, a little bit of that ... opera excerpts from The Daughter of the Regiment, La Rondine, Manon, Die Fledermaus, The Impresario, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, I Capuleti ei Montecchi, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Carmen, Giulio Cesare, and Lucia di Lammermoor.
STARRING: Claire Agresta, Nina Anderson, Tony Anthony, Amy Austin, Devon Bain, Sarah Beegle, Kay Boyte-Moore, Morgan-Elise Brady, Lara Connally, A’darrion Evans, Jada Foster, Elyn Green, Zipphora Hyman, Helen Kimber, Natalia Lastowiecka, Rachel Moon, Madeleine Munro, Connie New, Brianna Perez, Julie Query, Catherine Raible, Erik Rasmussen, Carlos Romero, Ellen Sudershan, Victoria Sundin, Josh Vavases, Katie Wick, Sierra Worman
AIDA: A GALA CONCERT
Sunday, July 28, 2-5 p.m.
Anderson Auditorium
Reception to follow
$25 General Public
$12 Seniors, Students, Military with ID
Donations accepted
By Giuseppe Verdi
Musical direction by Kristin Roach
Collaborative Pianists: William Reber & David Hill
Aida: Elizabeth Herlitz-Cortes (guest artist)
Amneris: Cindy Sadler (faculty)
Radames: Nicholas Simpson (faculty)
Amonasro: Cory Schantz (guest artist)
Ramfis: Edward J. Crafts (guest artist)
King/Ensemble: Kyle Chastulik (student)
High Priestess/Ensemble: Rachel Moon (student)
Messenger/Ensemble: Tony Anthony (student)
Chorus: Claire Agresta, Nina Anderson, Tony Anthony, Amy Austin, Devon Bain, Sarah Beegle, Kay Boyte-Moore, Morgan-Elise Brady, Kyle Chastulik, Lara Connally, A’darrion Evans, Jada Foster, Elyn Green, Zipphora Hyman, Helen Kimber, Natalia Lastowiecka, Jaimie Lowe, Rachel Moon, Madeleine Munro, Connie New, Brianna Perez, Julie Query, Catherine Raible, Erik Rasmussen, Carlos Romero, Ellen Sudershan, Victoria Sundin, Josh Vavases, Katie Wick, Sierra Worman
Spotlight's distinguished faculty, guests, and students come together to present our grand season finale --- a concert of Verdi's Egyptian-themed masterpiece, Aida. A love triangle between a brave enslaved princess, the Egyptian general who loves her, and the powerful Pharoah's daughter who wants the general for herself, Aida is filled with magical, evocative music and drama. Don't miss your chance to hear this stirring music live!
This grand concert is a special fundraiser to help Spotlight continue its tradition of excellent training for young artists, and intimate opera for the community!
