EIU Music Theatre/Opera Comedy to Mix Classic Songs, New Dialogue

October 9, 2009

"The Apprentices," an original comedy featuring music by well-known composers, will be staged by Eastern Illinois University's Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble this month.

The production -- with music by Monteverdi, Mozart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rossini and others -- will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and Oct. 24 in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.

The show centers around a group of overworked summer apprentices as they gather backstage at the Imperial Opera House to sing portions of their favorite songs in preparation for an upcoming showcase. Throughout the course of the comedic action, the audience learns about the characters' shortcomings and relationships.

The dialogue was written by Adam Stich, director of the Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble; he is also in charge of production design and stage direction. Jay Ivey, instructor of voice, serves as musical director.

"The Apprentices" is a production of the EIU Department of Music and the EIU Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble.
Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.