PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State University Opera Workshop will present a production of Johann Strauss’ comic operetta “Die Fledermaus” April 13 and 14 as part of Mom’s Weekend activities.
The group, under the direction of WSU faculty member Julie Anne Wieck, will present the fully staged production at 8 p.m., April 13, and 3 p.m., April 14, in Bryan Hall Auditorium.
“Die Fledermaus” is performed in English and is set in 19th century Vienna, Austria. It is a story of philandering spouses, practical jokes, disguises, mistaken identities and a royal ball. The first scenes take place in the upper-class home of Rosalinda and Gabriel von Eisenstein, who is scheduled to go to prison for a short time due to a misdemeanor. Eisenstein’s friend Dr. Falke arrives, intent on paying him back for a cruel practical joke, and convinces Rosalinda and Eisenstein to attend Prince Orlofsky’s grand ball before reporting to prison. Complications arise when an old lover of Rosalinda’s, Alfred, shows up and is mistakenly arrested as Eisenstein. The characters all meet up at Orlofsky’s ball in Act Two and the final stage of Falke’s joke is played out at the prison in Act Three.
The cast features junior Tina Paulson as Rosalinda, senior Erin Clancy as Adele, graduate student Benjamin Gudgeon as Gabriel Eisenstein, University of Idaho senior Tim Suenkel as Alfred, junior Tony Rosetti as Dr. Blind, senior Justin Smith as Dr. Falke, junior Todd Anderson as Frank, freshman Mary Beth Brewer as Sally, junior Mark Hansen as Frosch and sophomore Jaime Miller as Prince Orlofsky.
Tickets are $8 for general admission and $4 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be on sale April 8 through April 12 in the Kimbrough Music Building lobby, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will also be available at the door.
The WSU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Keating Johnson, will perform the score. The accompanist is David Servias and Emily Howard is the assistant director. For more information, contact Wieck at (509) 335-4331.
