North Park University Opera

So excited to start the semester with a strong sing through this morning. It’s lining up to be an great semester, and we can’t wait to get started refining our scenes and perfecting our sounds!

Meet the Cast! Meganna Miller, soprano, is a first year Masters of Music Vocal Performance student who studies with Dr. Annie Picard. She is excited to be playing her first foreign language role in an opera as the mother in Hansel und Gretel. In her free time she can be seen reading or with a video game controller in hand. She can also be found eating different kinds of sushi.

Meet the Cast! Emily Soule is a 1st year MMVP student who studies with Dr. Samuel Handley. She will be singing Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and Ann in The Masque of Angels. Emily is beyond excited to open both of these operas! When Emily is not singing she enjoys cooking, spending quality time with her husband, playing with her chihuahua, Pepper, and dancing around her apartment.

Meet the Cast! Nicole M. Rivera, mezzo-soprano, is a first-year graduate student studying under the tutelage of Sam Handley. She is excited to be playing a witch and a spinster. Who says opera isn’t glamorous? In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending time with her dog, Figaro. If Nicole were a character from the movie Mean Girls, she would be Gretchen Weiners because her hair is big and full of secrets.

Meet the Cast! AJ Buegel, soprano, is in her first year of graduate school at North Park and studies with Dr You-seong Kim. Between two operas and all the running from witches, angels, brothers and other mythical creatures, she's practically worn holes in her shoes! When not in the practice room, she can usually be found somewhere drinking boba or riding her bike, Travis.

Meet the Cast! Allison Keeport, Soprano, is a second year grad student and studies with Annie Picard. This is Alli”s second production in North Park Opera. She will be twirling around the stage and miming as a Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and acting majorly confused and naive as Ann in Masque of Angels. Alli enjoys short walks down wine aisles, long nights blogging (about food), and thinking about (food). She also loves eating (food). Her celebrity crushes include Chris Evans, John Krasinsky, and John Mulaney.

Meet the Cast! Tyler Thress, Baritone extraordinaire, is a 2nd year grad student. This will be Tyler’s second production at North Park, and he will be playing a clueless (neglectful?) parent in Hansel and Gretel and the goofy arch angel, Metatron, in Masque of Angels. Tyler enjoys mockery, cardigans, sweaters, engaging in spirited conversation, and believing he is the smartest person in every room.

Meet the cast! D. Gabriel Knott, Baritone, is a first year Masters of Music Vocal Performance Student who studies with Dr. Sam Handley. Gabe is thrilled to be making his opera debut as Professor in The Masque of Angels and as a chorus member in Hänsel und Gretel. In his free time, he is an avid crocheter, reader, gardner, and collector of bowties. The chamber operas will mark Gabe's 22nd theatrical production!

Were just a few weeks away from opening night of our fall opera scenes, and our Madama Butterfly couldn’t be more excited! Oh, and her amiche are pretty geeked as well. Join us for performances on Friday and Saturday November 9th and 10th to see our wonderful cast in action!

Our show opens tomorrow! We cant wait to see you there! if you’ve purchased your tickets online they will be ready for you at the box office and if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, we will see you at the door!

And, just like that, we are on to our tech rehearsal.

Here are some words from director, Susan Payne.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15riBhanNU81p-IvkauuNr0QCOTzTT8dP

1080p.mov

We have our sitzprobe this afternoon!

In light of this musical rehearsal, here are some thoughts from our conductor Catherine O’Shaughnessy

https://drive.google.com/open?id=11IuD0kBBpSehE8GHXZLrAwY-gvyKemJH

1080p.mov

Cendrillon!! Cinderella! Friday, April 27th, 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 29th, 2:00 pm. Visit http://athenaeumtheatre.org for tickets.

Here are some photos from the rehearsal of "the ball scene" in Massenet's Cendrillon (Cinderella).

Come join the fun on April 27 & 29!

An evening of Opera Scenes, November 10 and 11, 7:30 pm in the Lecture Hall Auditorium. $8 general admission, $5 seniors, students free with ID.

Chamber Opera. April 7th and 8th, 7:30 pm in Hanson 23. $8 general, $5 seniors, students free with ID.

Opera Scenes. November 18, 7:30 pm and November 20, 2:30 pm. Hanson 23. Free but reservations are recommended.