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For Immediate Release
February 18, 2003
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TO STAGE WORLD’S
FIRST MUSICAL, THE BEGGAR’S OPERA
LINCOLN, Neb. – Oftentimes considered the
world’s first musical, The Beggar’s Opera will
take the stage at Nebraska Wesleyan University for six shows, beginning
February 28th.
The comic masterpiece was originally written in
1728 and tells the story of a group of beggars and thieves who stage
their own satiric opera about love, marriage, money and morals.
Director Jack Parkhurst said he studied The
Beggar’s Opera while in school because it was a landmark
production.
"It was the dominant production in theatre
houses for almost 100 years," said Parkhurst. "Many spin
offs have resulted. Nebraska Wesleyan’s production is an updated
yet faithful version."
Twenty-three Nebraska Wesleyan University students
are part of The Beggar’s Opera cast. Three students and four
faculty and staff members make up the orchestra personnel. The music
director is Dr. William Wyman.
The shows will run February 28-March 2 and from
March 6-8. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in McDonald Theatre, located
at 51st St. and Huntington Avenue in Lincoln. Admission is $10 for
adults, $7.50 for youth ages 12 to 17 years, and $5 for youth under
12 years.
Members of The Beggar’s Opera cast are:
Lincoln
Mitchell Daffer
Taylor Ullrich
Matthew A. Roelfs
Irene Elisabeth Hill
Kathryn Lacy
Talea Schroeder
Kally Duling
Ben Bear
Brent Pavel
Omaha
Mitch Raftery
Bryan Fink
Tyler Richard
Georg Getty
Erienne Wredt
Aurora
Erin Whitney
Bassett
Anna Lackaff
Bruno
Deanna Pohl
Carleton
Cassidy Lubben
Grand Island
Stephen Glade
Wayne
Emily Kinney
Jacksonville, Fla.
Wayne Freelove
St. Cloud, Fla.
Jeff Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
Tyler J. Gilmore
Liberty, Mo.
Tara Harman
Kansas City, Mo.
Amber Parks
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