Newswise — BEREA, OH–The Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music is making theatre history by presenting world’s first-ever in repertory productions of the opera La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini and the Tony Award winning musical RENT by Jonathan Larson on February 15-27 at the Kleist Art & Drama Center, 95 E. Bagley Rd., Berea.
Larson based RENT on the story of La Bohème and used a number of melodic themes from the opera for his musical. The Baldwin-Wallace College productions will illuminate the connections between the two pieces and celebrate the works of Puccini and Larson. Using a single set for both productions, La Bohème will be set in the 1930s and RENT in current times.
Victoria Bussert, director of the music theatre program, will serve as the stage director for both La Bohème and RENT, utilizing the talents of music theatre and vocal performance majors on stage and student instrumentalists in the orchestra. Bussert has directed La Bohème for Piedmont Opera and Puccini's Madame Butterfly for Cleveland Opera among others. She has directed seven national tours of musicals and two international tours. She also is on the board of the National Alliance of Music Theatres.
Constantine Kitsopoulos, guest conductor for La Bohème, has built an international reputation spanning opera, symphony and musical theatre. The music director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra, he also is the general director of Chatham Opera, which he founded in 2005. He has guest conducted the Baltimore, Detroit and San Francisco symphonies as well as the Blossom Festival Orchestra. He has conducted opera in the U.S. and in China and was the conductor of the highly acclaimed Broadway production of La Bohème as well as the 2008 Tony-nominated musical, A Catered Affair.
The creative team for both productions includes Greg Daniels, choreographer; Jeff Herrman, set design and Charlotte Yetman, costumes, all members of the B-W faculty. Ryan Garrett, a junior music theatre major is the music director for The productions will alternate on week nights at 7:30 p.m. During the weekends, both shows will be performed: one at 2 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m.
The weekday production schedule is as follows: RENT will be performed February 15, 17, 18, 22, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.
La Bohème will be performed February 16 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.
The weekend schedule is: Saturday, Feb. 19, RENT, 2 p.m. and La Bohème 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and RENT at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and RENT at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and RENT at 7:30 p.m..
Tickets may be reserved by calling the B-W Theatre Box Office at 440-826-2240. Box office hours are noon-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For directions to Kleist Center for Art & Drama, visit http://www.bw.edu/quickfacts/directions/kleist. Tickets:$25 (general admission, single ticket) $45 (Saturday/Sunday-one ticket for both shows on same day) $20 (senior citizens ages 62 and older) $20 (students from other schools having a valid school ID)
Baldwin-Wallace College’s music theatre program is renowned throughout the United States for its success in mentoring and shaping the careers of talented young adults. In the past three years, the College has been chosen to present non-union premieres of Phantom of the Opera, Brooklyn and [title of show]. In addition, music theatre alumni and students have accrued impressive careers that span Broadway to London.
Baldwin-Wallace College, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational college of 4,500 students, B-W offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in more than 50 academic areas. Located in Berea, 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, B-W offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.
Visit web feature: http://www.bw.edu/news/laboheme-rent-feature
For downloadable photos visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldwinwallacephoto/collections/72157626044944330/
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