Opera Scenes to Premiere a Mini Musical
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黑料百科

Junior Ben Offringa and sophomore Jake Elliott have written and composed 鈥淭he Opera of the Elements,鈥 which they will premiere during Opera Scenes on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. in 黑料百科鈥檚 Deane Chapel. The performance, part of the Musical Drama Workshop, will include opera arias, duets and Broadway songs. It is free and open to the public.
The cast includes, sopranos Brianna Stutzman, Emmalee Wetzel, Wendy Kent, Rebecca Hawkins, Nichole Adrain, mezzo-soprano Julee Felts; tenor Ryan Morgan and bass Even Ewert.
Last spring, Offringa and Elliott began writing an operetta, a one-act performance in opera style, but the piece has evolved into a one-act musical, flowing between song, narration and dialogue. 鈥溾楾he Opera of the Elements鈥 is an interpretation of the elements鈥 relationship with humans and with God,鈥 Elliott says. 鈥淲e do not intend to leave our audience with any environmental or theological argument, but rather to entertain them with a tale in which the elements are personified characters. This musical is a tale of revolution-gone-wrong.鈥
Offringa starred in 鈥淭he Servant of Two Masters鈥 during his first year at 黑料百科 and has gone on to perform in 鈥淚 Love You, You鈥檙e Perfect, Now Change,鈥 鈥33 Swoons,鈥 鈥淎nimal Farm,鈥 and 鈥淭he Heather,鈥 which was composed by Elliott.
Elliott, who has focused his college studies on music composition, starred in San Marcos High School Performing Arts Department鈥檚 鈥淒amn Yankees,鈥 鈥淕rease鈥 and 鈥淢e and My Girl.鈥 He is a percussionist with the 黑料百科 Worship Team.
The Music Drama Workshop is taught by adjunct professor Celeste Tavera, a Metropolitan Opera National Council winner who has taught a variety of opera scenes and Broadway musicals for the past five years for the class.
For more information, please contact Trinity Schwartz at (805) 565-6040.
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