Spring mainstage operas will delve into issues of morality and conflict between the sexes

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College's spring mainstage will feature two operas that delve into issues of morality and conflict between the sexes: Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" and Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Old Maid and the Thief," directed by Professor of Music Deb Brubaker and Assistant Professor of Music Scott Hochstetler. The operas will show on April 8, 9 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 10 and 17 at 3 p.m. in Umble Center.

"We chose these two shows to show the breadth of opera in English, from an early opera like 'Dido and Aeneas' to a 20th century opera like 'Old Maid and the Thief,' said Hochstetler, musical director of the mainstage. "We feel that these operas highlight the vocal talents of our students and provide opportunities for solo and ensemble singing."

"Dido and Aeneas," England's oldest opera (written in 1688), is an adaptation of a portion of the Roman poet Virgil's "Aeneid." The only true opera that Purcell composed and a monumental work in Baroque opera, it recounts the love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero, Aeneas.

"Besides simply enjoying the beautiful music, the audience should listen for how the singers and players use ornamentation (notes that they add on their own) to express emotion (a common practice in the 17th century)," said Hochstetler.

"The Old Maid and the Thief" is a one-act opera written by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1939. It was one of the earliest operas composed specifically for performance on the radio. The opera is a twisted tale of morals, inspired by when Menotti visited the family of Samuel Barber (his partner) and he realized that what seemed to be a quaint town actually covered up many secrets. The conflict on stage is often reflected in the music, as it shifts from very tonal to atonal.

The cast of "Dido and Aeneas" includes: junior Kaleb Batten (Mendon, Mich.), junior Jenny Boehs (Laporte, Colo.), freshman Colin Gregory (Goshen), freshman Emily Grimes (Goshen), sophomore Emily Hedrick (Telford, Pa.), junior Stephanie Hollenberg (Elkhart, Ind.), sophomore Brook Hostetter (Harrisonburg, Va.), junior Aaron Kaufmann (Tiskilwa, Ill.), senior Scott Kempf (Libertyville, Ill.), freshman Sarah Lake-Rayburn (Champaign, Ill.), sophomore Rachel Mast (Corvallis, Ore.), senior Kelly Miller (Harrisonburg, Va.), sophomore Matt Nafziger (Goshen), senior Reuben Sancken (Tolono, Ill.), sophomore Luke Slagel (Goshen), junior Nathaniel Tann (East Petersburg, Pa.), sophomore Emily Trapp (Canby, Ore.), freshman Lauren Treiber (Grand Rapids, Mich.), senior Ashley Walker (Kirklin, Ind.) and junior Adrienne Yoder (Lititz, Pa.).

The cast of "The Old Maid and the Thief" includes senior Martin Brubaker (Goshen), junior Andrea Detweiler (Goshen), sophomore Rikki Entrekin (Goshen), junior Charlie Frederick (Bloomington, Ind.) senior Peter Garry (Corvallis, Ore.), senior Amy Hansen, junior Brittany Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.) and sophomore Sammy Rosario (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico).

Other production team members for both shows include: Scott Hochstetler, musical director; Debra Brubaker, stage director; Christine Seitz and Beverly Lapp, accompanists; Christopher Fashun, orchestra conductor; Doug Liechty Caskey, producer; Jerry Peters, technical director; junior Matt Lehman (Kidron, Ohio), stage manager; sophomore Erin Bontrager (Corvallis, Ore.), Dido assistant stage manager; sophomore Maryn Munley (Mundelein, Ill.), Old Maid assistant stage manager; sophomore Hannah Sandvold (Madison, Wisc.), set designer; senior Josh Hofer (Dolton, S.D.), lighting designer and freshman Jess Sprunger (Goshen), costume designer.

The total run time of the mainstage is approximately two and a half hours, plus an intermission. Tickets cost $10 (general), $7 (seniors) and $5 (students), and can be purchased by calling the Goshen College Welcome Center in advance at (574) 535-7566 or emailing welcomecenter@goshen.edu.

– By Alysha Landis

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.