MUSICAL THEATER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH THE MERRY WIDOW
Moorpark College Music Theater opens a two week run of Franz Lehar's musical classic The Merry Widow,
November 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 18 at 2pm on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Center.
Tickets, from $8 to $15, may be purchased on-line at www.moorparkcollege.edu/pac or through the box office at (805)378-1485.
Directed and produced by Musical Theatre program founder and faculty member Marilyn Anderson, the production boasts a large cast fully staged and accompanied by orchestra to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Moorpark College Music Theater. Anderson has directed over 50 productions at the college over that time.
"We began doing one-acts, scenes and arias, with full productions in the summer. The program found its niche in the community and evolved into presenting full length productions every semester and several summers," she says.
Anderson has staged from Mozart's Magic Flute and Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, to Bernstein's Candide and Sondheim's Into the Woods. Of special note was the West Coast premiere of Johann Strauss' A Night in Venice, long a European favorite. The Musical Theater program, which is a class at the college, has been a training ground for many performers, and many students have gone on to further their talents at prestigious universities and conservatories, as well as professional careers locally, on Broadway, and in Europe.
The Merry Widow tells of Hanna, a peasant girl who is forced to marry a very wealthy and elderly man to save her father from bankruptcy. When the man dies a week after the wedding, Hanna is a very merry widow.
Appearing as Hanna Glawari will be Catherine Miller (Simi Valley) and Michelle Eddy (Moorpark). Miller, who has numerous East Coast credits, has also been featured with the John Raitt Singers. Ms. Eddy has appeared with the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, Cabrillo Music Theater and Camarillo Community Theater. Appearing as Count Danilo is Philip Wieck (Encino) who has appeared in lead roles world wide in Beauty and the Beast, Evita, Funny Girl, and Lil' Abner. Ronald Rosen of Simi Valley, a veteran of many community theaters appears as Baron Zeta, and local favorite Jeff Wallach (Camarillo) reprises his role of Nisch, the Baron's zany assistant. Wallach also acts as specialty choreographer for the production. Melanie McQueen (Simi Valley) and Kellie Porto (T.O) share the role of Valencienne, who dallies with Camille de Rosillon played by Francis Cabison (Newbury Park.) Nicholas Jerrems (T.O.) and Michael Ivers (Camarillo) appear as Hanna's suitors Cascada and St. Brioche. Paul Panico (T.O.), John Acevedo (Moorpark) and Thomas St. Cuir (Simi Valley) play Zeta's cronies Bogdonovitch, Kromov, and Pritchitch. Sharing the roles of their wives are Emily Jackman (Agoura Hills) and Kelsey Wood (Newbury Park) as Sylvianne; Rebecca Tatum (NP)and Rachelle Dobin (SV) as Olga, and Ashley Morse (Agoura) appears as Praskovia. Ensemble members and dancers include Jessie Baum(Woodland Hills), Grace Newberry (TO), Christine Longenecker(TO), Mardu Lydick(NP), Lola Sandoval(Granada Hills), Richard Thomson (SV), and Peter Williamson(MP). |
