Lee University Opera Theatre, spring 2024
Lee University’s Opera Theatre program will present scenes from two operettas, “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauß and “The Merry Widow” by Franz Lehar, in a one-night production on April 27, directed by James Frost, associate professor of voice at Lee.
The performance is the final project of Lee’s Opera Theatre class and will take place in the Squires Recital Hall in Lee’s Humanities Center at 3 p.m. The show allows every participant of the Opera Theatre to sing at least one solo role in one of the scenes.
“The participants of each scene are challenged to stage their own scene with help from myself and the other participants, which is a great learning tool, using their own creative impulses,” said Professor Frost.
“Die Fledermaus” is an opera set during New Year’s Eve in 1899 Vienna, exploring themes of deception, mistaken identity, and marital intrigue through a series of humorous misunderstandings and hidden agendas. “The Merry Widow” is an upbeat comedy that plays out in a stream of memorable melodies and mishap, intrigue and comedic misadventure.
“I am so excited for the chance to perform with this wonderful, talented group of people,” said Taylor Guyton, senior vocal performance major and Opera Theatre performer. “Opera Theatre and Mr. Frost have truly changed my life in the best ways, and this program has helped me and so many others find our motivation and calling, as well as given us the necessary training and resources to excel in it.”
Opera Theatre was started in the spring of 1998 by the now retired professor, Tony Deaton, as a workshop and has grown into a production organization performing a Musical Revue in the fall semester, a fully-staged opera from both standard and less traditional repertoire in February, and an opera scenes program during the spring semester.
For more information about Lee’s Opera Theatre, contact Professor Frost at jfrost@leeuniversity.edu.