Central Methodist University’s annual opera presentation will take place next month, with performances held at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17 in Linn Memorial United Methodist Church.
The opera performers will be presenting Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Considered one of the greatest operas ever written, the story continues the plot of The Barber of Seville and follows Dr. Bartolo’s attempt to get revenge on Figaro for thwarting his own plans for marriage. The opera will be performed with music in its original Italian, with English recitatives and dialogue.
Dr. Jonathan Ray, associate professor of music, will serve as the stage and musical director and conductor for the show, while Terri Rohlfing is the costume designer and Zachary Kierstead serves as pianist and coach.
The CMU cast for the show includes Danny Eckhoff as Count Almaviva, Anna Pendergrass as Countess Rosina Almaviva, Emily Myler as Susanna, Dalton Myler as Figaro, Arielle Prince as Cherubino, Mariah Nichols and Madisyn Conway as Marcellina, Gram Coalier as Bartolo, Cole Nowlin as Basilio, Tyler Hershey as Don Curzio, Cocone Matsuzawa as Barbarina, and Lucas Icarte-Reyes as Antonio.
A chorus of maids and butlers will include Harmony Andrews, Elizabeth Berry, Casey Brooks, Rachel Fisher, Owen Flores, Richelle Milburn, Emily Millstead, Paul Reinert, Lauren Shields, and Elizabeth Thomas. All singing actors are from the studios of Dr. Ray, Professor Amy Johns, and Professor Robin Anderson.
General admissions for both performances will be $5. Students and adjunct faculty will be admitted for free with university ID.