Sept. 22, 2014

Contact David Richardson at 608-796-3781 or dkrichardson@viterbo.edu

VITERBO UNIVERSITY TO PRESENT THE HOTEL CASABLANCA OPERA AT WEBER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OCT. 4–5

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University will present the opera The Hotel Casablanca at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 the Weber Center for the Performing Arts.

The Hotel Casablanca is the comedic story of love and mistaken identity set in 1948 Texas on the Double T Ranch. It is written by Thomas Pasatieri and is based on Georges Feydeau’s popular farce, A Flea in Her Ear.

Viterbo students are performing an opera at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts for the first time. The Hotel Casablanca will be a fully-staged opera, with great costumes, set design, and a live orchestra comprised of area professional musicians, said David Richardson, the Viterbo music department faculty member who is serving as the music director and orchestra conductor for the production. Fellow faculty member David Gardiner is the stage director.

“The music is very lyrical and audience members will enjoy the melodies,” Richardson said. “The opera is a good combination of music, comedy, and acting.”

The Hotel California will be performed in English, the language in which it was originally written. The opera is an excellent choice for a college production, Richardson said.

“Pasatieri wrote the music in a way that is perfectly tailored for the voices and ranges of younger singers,” Richardson said. “And the opera offers nine singing roles for our students.”

Tickets are $14 for general admission seating. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/tickets.

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