The Nazareth College Department of Music’s Opera Workshop is pleased to present a full production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 in the Callahan Theater. The students will reprise the production at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 4 at the Lyric Theatre, in a double bill with Menotti’s The Telephone, featuring Rochester Lyric Opera artists.
Under the stage direction of Dr. Katie Hannigan Tabon, assistant professor in the Nazareth College Music department, and music direction of lecturer Dr. Kevin Nitsch, The Old Maid and the Thief is a one-act opera that tells a tale of morals and evil womanly power. Old maid Miss Todd is a busybody whose love life has been lacking for more than 40 years, and whose catty young housemaid, Laetitia, is wary of becoming an old maid like her employer. When a bum named Bob—who just might be an escaped convict, according to town gossip, Miss Pinkerton—comes to Miss Todd's door, an enamored Laetitia convinces Miss Todd to let him stay. Chaos ensues when Miss Todd sets a trap to determine if Bob is a thief, only to end up stealing from her neighbors herself. Bob and Laetitia ultimately run away together, but not before their final, vindictive act to teach Miss Todd a lesson.
Nazareth College music students bring the opera to life. The double-cast production features Natalie Burrows and Rachel Hall (Miss Todd), Hadley Strelau and Lily Han (Miss Pinkerton), Jessica Tripi and Brittney Burgess (Laetitia), and Ben Reisinger (Bob), Leah Mathie (Miss Pinkerton u/s), Lindsey Howard (Laetitia u/s), and Toby Young (Bob u/s).
The Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra (Nancy Strelau, conductor; Dr. Kevin Nitsch, piano) will accompany the performance: Katherine Saslawsky, flute Rebecca Kittleson (oboe), Elyssa Utz (clarinet), Hali Shepard (horn), Noelle Shepard (horn), Jamison Brooks (percussion), Kiran Rajamani (violin), Andrea Peters (violin), Evie Boughton (viola), Jessica Kromer (viola), David Hauck (cello), Kristian Malstrom (cello), and Emma Pogge (double bass).
Nazareth College’s production of The Old Maid and the Thief will be presented with full scenery designed by Allen Shannon, assistant professor of theatre arts/scene design in Nazareth’s Theatre and Dance Department. Alumna Crystal Dingman ‘16, B.F.A. technical production, is the production’s lighting designer.
The Nazareth College Opera Workshop is a program devoted to the performance of opera, operetta, and music theatre. Cast members are chosen by audition and present a fully staged performance. In November 2005, the workshop presented the New York State premiere of Felice by Benton Hess. Other productions have included Opera Scenes (consisting of scenes from 13 different operas), Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Cavalli's La Calisto, and Sunday Excursion by Rochester's own Alec Wilder.
Mare Millow | Marketing & Publicity Manager | Nazareth College Arts Center | mmillow7@naz.edu | 585-389-2093
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