Yes, opera. And a children's opera at that, right here in town, complete with JSU student opera stars, puppets and good morals. St. George & the Dragon is a contemporary, fun to see story delivered with legendary enchantment with the message that this art form deserves to be on your entertainment calendar.
St. George, directed by Nathan Wight, will be presented in The Performance Center in Mason Hall on campus on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Written by Kate Pogue, librettist and composer Sterling Tinsley, this fairy tale opera is certainly not the first opera presented by the university's opera program. But this one was written to appeal to a child's fancy. The goal is to foster an interest in seeing opera on the elementary school level, also to reinforce the place of teaching music in the schools, say members of the cast.
Dr. Wight was introduced to St. George in Houston, Texas in the company Opera-To-Go. Here at JSU, the cast will take it to schools in Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Pell City and Alexandria. The Heflin students will see it in Mason Hall.
"Everyone I've talked with is excited that it's coming," cast member Jacob Cummings said. "I'm glad we're getting the message out that opera is fun." Cummings and Eric Wilsox will portray George, as the role was double -cast. "I would never have known that I would like opera so much if I had not been introduced to it here," Cummings said.
In the plot, the fierce dragon is terrorizing a village and no one has the solution to the dilemma. The King tries to work with the dragon by dispatching a letter to the beast. But the dragon's reply requests the unthinkable. The only hope lies in George, a shepherd boy, Una (Amber Conaway) and Cuthbert, an odd- looking bird (Heather Olsen) who search for the The Fairy Queen (Estephania Cuevas), whose magical powers may save the day.
Cuevas is enjoying her role. In fact, opera is her passion, she says. After graduation from JSU this Spring she hopes to pursue a master's degree in vocal performance and become an opera singer. She will start her career by auditioning for apprenticeship programs and entering numerous vocal competitions. "It is usually in this manner that talent gets noticed," she explains, "then, opera singers and companies pick the singers they want for their productions."
The Fairy Queen is very different in character from the other roles she's played in the past. "She is a warm and bubbly entity that brings hope and courage to the other characters in the play. She's a strong character in a way that's different from the characters that I've played before in that she is a representation of what she gives- hope and courage—but, she's untouchable."
Cuevas also believes that the composer did a great job reflecting the Fairy Queen's essence in the music that she produces. "The music brings different challenges in that the melodic line may not always go where you expect it to—but it still makes sense somehow." The Fairy Queen, or Glorianna as she is called, is just one of the many interesting characters found in operas and true to the art form the music is emotionally charged.
JSU graduate Jarrod Lee, who played the title role in The Mikado at JSU, is now at the University of Maryland. He is a candidate for a master's degree in music and has much to say about opera in the Washington, DC area and at JSU. As he pointed out in a conversation over the Christmas holidays, opera and classical music have a place in everyone's daily life.
"Just listen to commercials, listen to the music in cartoons. But opera and classical music can hold a much more vibrant place in our lives if we support them," he emphasized.
Support opera locally and the people who are making it happen by filling a seat at St. George & the Dragon this weekend. It's an entertaining opera, and the students are good at their craft.
Tickets may be purchased at the door. Children's tickets are $2 and adults, $8. For more information, call 782-5876.
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