‘Opera Scenes’ to return to opera house stage

Opera Scenes, featuring talented performers from the School of Music and Musical Theatre programs will be presented by the Student Opera Theatre Association at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center on Thursday and Friday, March 3 and 4, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 5, 2 p.m.

Highlight scenes are from:

“L’Elisir d’Amore” (“The Elixir of Love”), a comic opera by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, directed by Sarah Sagatis, a senior Theatre Arts major, with a minor in Arts Administration. The music director is Benjamin Kohn.

“Trouble in Tahiti,” the darkest of Leonard Bernstein’s musicals, directed by Jonah Woodcock, a senior Music Education: Voice major. The music director is Erin Alexander.

“Falstaff,” Giuseppe Verdi’s comic masterpiece, directed by Lecturer Brent Weber. The music director is Alexander Aylward.

“Our program this year has a little something for everyone, from hilarious farce to tense domestic drama,” said Opera Scenes producer Ross Wiley, a senior majoring in Music Education: Voice and Music Performance: Voice.

“We’re incredibly excited to present excerpts from these three timeless stories about how love makes fools of us all. You won't want to miss it!"

“We’re incredibly excited to present excerpts from these three timeless stories about how love makes fools of us all. You won't want to miss it!" - student producer Russ Wiley

Rehearsals began in the beginning of the spring semester and will be relocated to the opera house in the week of the show dates. About 50 students are involved in the productions. All three scenes will be presented at every performance.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students and are available at the opera house box office during business hours, Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4:30 p.m., and also at the door before each performance. Facial coverings must be worn by audience members at all times.

Opera Scenes was not held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.