July 21, 2000 UNT Inhouse publication: UNT stages summer opera

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UNT stages summer opera

The UNT opera theatre will perform its first summer opera July 28 to 30 in the Lyric Theater of UNT's Murchison Performing Arts Center.

The performances, which begin at 8 p.m. July 28 and 29 and at 3 p.m. July 30, feature a full staging of Puccini's most successful one-act opera, Gianni Schicchi, combined with a concert presentation of the second act of Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci.

"The summer performance idea is born out of the College of Music's summer excursions to Crested Butte during the last two summers," says Paula Homer, associate professor of music and UNT's opera director. "This year, we decided to start summer performances in Denton with the hope of continuing the event as an annual offering."

Stephen Dubberly, associate professor of music and UNT's opera music director, worked with Marjorie Hayes, assistant professor of dance and theatre arts, to stage Gianni Schicchi, which will be performed in English. I Pagliacci will be performed in Italian with English supertitles (translations that are displayed above the stage).

Gianni Schicchi is an opera of the absurd, a comedy about family members who want to change the will of their wealthy dead relative to benefit themselves.

I Pagliacci spins a funny tale of passion, jealousy, betrayal and, ultimately, murder involving a traveling troupe of Italian actors. The story centers on an adulterous wife and her abusive husband, a character who confuses reality and fiction one evening while he is on stage as the clown, Pagliaccio.

Tickets cost $5 for all performances and can be purchased in advance by phone at 369-7802 or at the box office in the Murchison Performing Arts Center from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning July 24. The box office will open one hour before each performance for sale and distribution of tickets.

For more information, call the College of Music at 565-2791.