As part of the music department’s Opera Workshop, eight students will perform the one-act opera The Old Man Who Loved Cheese, based on a book by Garrison Keillor, in Akin Auditorium March 4-5.
“Garrison Keillor is one of the best comedic writers of his generation,” director Dale Heidebrecht said. “He just retired from NPR, so I wanted to pay homage to him. It is a Texas premiere so that’s cool.”
The orchestration is simple with piano, featuring Sandra Cunningham and Jerri Sparks. However, the students played multiple roles.
“I have five different roles,” Whitney Hogue, vocal education junior, said. “No one thinks to sign up for it, that’s the sad thing.”
Cast members rehearsed two hours five nights a week since the beginning of the semester, also practicing some weekends and outside of class.
“We literally have hundred of hours put into this show,” Heidebrecht said.
Heidebrecht said he expects around 100 attendees at the Opera Workshop, which is only in the spring semester because operas are so time consuming and expensive. He also noted that this is a low-budget opera, costing considerably less than Dallas operas that might have budgets into the millions of dollars.
“In my mind, opera is the highest art form. It is writing, it is music, it is performing, it is instruments, lighting, set design and costume,” Heidebrecht said.
Caleb Moore, vocal performance freshman, said he plans to perform in operas after graduation.
“I’ve been in choir since my sophomore year, and in my senior year I realized this is what I want to do,” Moore said. “I’ve been practicing and studying very hard to become an opera singer. I just sent in my resume and headshot to Dallas opera to possibly audition for the chorus.”
Performers also designed and created the sets for this comedic opera that Heidebrecht said he hopes people will laugh all the way through.
“You are allowed to laugh and clap,” Hogue said.
COME SEE THE OPERA
- Audience: appropriate for adults and children
- Where and when: March 4-5, Akin Auditorium, 7 p.m.
- MSU students, faculty and staff: free with ID
- Admission: $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, and military.
