Singers to visit Italia
by Brian Abrams, reporter

    Texans will meet Italians during the South Campus Opera Workshop’s fall production Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 23-24.

   Under the direction of Darlene Marks with accompanist Echo Wilson, the group will present The Telephone from Italian composer/writer Gian Carlo Menotti.

   The opera will be followed by scenes from four other Menotti pieces: The Medium, The Old Maid and the Thief, Amelia Goes to the Ball and The Consul.

   Menotti’s play is a romantic-comedy about a young man (played by student James Farrah) persistently trying to court his lover (Stephanie Kelly).

   Kelly’s character, Lucy, cannot stop bantering on the telephone to give her partner time to propose.

   “This has been a wonderful experience,” Farrah said.

   “Darlene is unquestionably the pillar for this show,” he said.

   Rachel Perkins, South student, is performing in the opera workshop for her fifth semester.

   This will be her third year working with Marks while she completes courses for her master’s degree in vocals.

   “I love being on the stage,” she said.

   Also pursuing a music degree and determined to reach success, Andrea Talladino has committed herself to Marks and the opera workshop for her second semester.

   She plays Laetitia, a character in the scene from The Old Maid and the Thief, as well as Anna in The Consul.

   Though five different stories are presented in the production, almost everyone in the master class is double-cast.

   “This production has been a lot of work and a lot of fun for all of us,” Marks said. “Everyone is doing double duty.”

   The Saturday performance begins at 7 p.m. and the Sunday show at 3 p.m.

   Including intermission, the show should last approximately two hours.
There will be no charge for admission at the South Campus Recital Hall for this performance.

   Marks and her workshop will perform the opera Mikado next spring.

   The spring production will be much larger than this semester’s and will include intricate music, staging and costumes, Marks said.

   Students interested in participating in Opera Workshop and the spring production should contact Marks at 817-515-4526.