Students to Partner with Opera San Luis Obispo in ‘The Merry Widow’ April 10-11

Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre (CPSOT) and Opera San Luis Obispo (OperaSLO) are partnering in opera education to present Franz Lehar’s romantic operetta “The Merry Widow” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, in the Spanos Theatre on campus.

In the co-opera productions, Cal Poly students sing lead, comprimario and ensemble roles; half the orchestra members are students; and the dancers, chorus, stage managers, assistant director, assistant producer, make-up, costume designers, and stage craftsmen are students.

The opera will be conducted by Cal Poly Music Professor David Arrivée. Bay Area opera performer and director Ross Halper will provide a new, rollicking translation of “The Merry Widow.” Halper, known affectionately as “opera’s mad genius,” also directs and stars in the production. Music faculty member Jacalyn Kreitzer is the founder and producer of CPSOT.

“The Merry Widow” enables all CPSOT singers to be on stage, rather than a select few. It features music majors Alexis Rubell in the title role of Hannah Glawari and Corey Hable as Count Danilo. They will perform alongside professional singers from throughout California, including Kristina Horacek in the role of Valencienne, the tempted wife; Paul Osborne as Camille, the man who challenges Valencienne's loyalty to her husband; Lester Wilson, a Central Coast professional actor, director and producer as the hilarious and devious Njegus; and Phillip Edwards, tenor and veteran of the stage, as Kromov, a wise advisor to Baron Zeta.

Tickets are $18 for the public, $16 for seniors, and $9 for students. Prices include all Performing Arts Center fees, and event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m.Tuesday through Saturday. To order by phone, call SLO-4TIX (756-4849). 

The Music Department offers a 10 percent discount to patrons who buy season tickets to four of its events through the Cal Poly Ticket Office; a 15 percent discount is given on tickets to five or more events. 

The performances are sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts, and Instructionally Related Activities program, as well as OperaSLO and local donors. For more information, call the Music Department at 756-2406.