Nazareth College Music Department's Opera Workshop presents Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief January 27–28

ROCHESTER, NY (12/28/2016)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Department of Music's Opera Workshop is pleased to present a full production of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 in the Callahan Theater. The students will reprise the production at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 4 at the Lyric Theatre, in a double bill with Menotti's The Telephone, featuring Rochester Lyric Opera artists.

Under the stage direction of Dr. Katie Hannigan Tabon, assistant professor in the Nazareth College Music department, and music direction of lecturer Dr. Kevin Nitsch, The Old Maid and the Thief is a one-act opera that tells a tale of morals and evil womanly power. Old maid Miss Todd is a busybody whose love life has been lacking for more than 40 years, and whose catty young housemaid, Laetitia, is wary of becoming an Old Maid like her employer. When a bum named Bob-who just might be an escaped convict, according to town gossip, Miss Pinkerton-comes to Miss Todd's door, an enamored Laetitia convinces Miss Todd to let him stay. Chaos ensues when Miss Todd sets a trap to determine if Bob is a thief, only to end up stealing from her neighbors herself. Bob and Laetitia ultimately run away together, but not before their final, vindictive act to teach Miss Todd a lesson.

Nazareth College music students bring the opera to life. The double-cast production features Natalie Burrows and Rachel Hall (Miss Todd), Hadley Strelau and Lily Han (Miss Pinkerton), Jessica Trippi and Brittney Burgess (Laetitia), and Ben Reisinger (Bob), Leah Mathie (Miss Pinkerton u/s), Lindsay Howard (Laetitia u/s), and Toby Young (Bob u/s).

The Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra (Nancy Strelau, conductor) will accompany the performance, and the production will be presented with full scenery designed by Allen Shannon, assistant professor of theatre arts/scene design in Nazareth's Theatre and Dance department. Alumna Crystal Dingman '16, B.F.A. technical production, is the production's lighting designer.

The NAZARETH COLLEGE OPERA WORKSHOP is a program devoted to the performance of opera, operetta, and music theatre. Cast members are chosen by audition and present a fully staged performance. In November 2005, the workshop presented the New York State premiere of Felice by Benton Hess. Other productions have included Opera Scenes (scenes from 13 different operas), Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Cavalli's La Calisto, and Sunday Excursion by Rochester's own Alec Wilder.

The NAZARETH COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT integrates intensive studies in music (musicianship and performance), with professional programs and the liberal arts, for a truly unique experience that prepares students for careers in music and equips them with the skills to share the art of music in a variety of capacities. Each degree program is designed to prepare students not only for careers within the various degree areas, but also for exciting endeavors that will perpetuate and sustain the art of music in local and global communities. The department is a vibrant community of musicians focused on the art of music, the professional domains of knowledge within the musical career areas, and the relationship of these areas to the liberal arts.

NAZARETH COLLEGE's academic strengths cross an unusually broad spectrum of 60 majors, including education, health and human services, management, the fine arts, music, theater, math and science, foreign languages, and the liberal arts. The coeducational, religiously independent, classic campus in a charming suburb of Rochester, N.Y. challenges and supports 2,000 undergrads and 800 graduate students. Nazareth is recognized nationally for its Fulbright global student scholars and commitment to civic engagement. Rigorous programs, an uncommon core, experiential learning, career skills, and a global focus prepare graduates not only for a job, but for their life's work.

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