Nazareth College Music and Theatre and Dance departments to present "The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir" October 9

ROCHESTER, NY (09/22/2016)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Theatre and Dance Department and Nazareth College Music Department are pleased to present The Journey of Sir Douglass Fir – a musical performance inspired by a true Canadian event. The all-ages, family friendly show will run for one day only in Callahan Theater at the Nazareth College Arts Center, 2 p.m. Sunday, October 9, 2016.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

The performance follows a 350-year-old Douglas Fir tree as it yearns for change, but gets more than it bargains for when it's felled in a severe storm. Fortunately, a collection of forest friends helps the tree through its difficult transition to a surprising destiny.

This is a fanciful, orchestrated account of an actual Canadian event. Developed from the award-winning children's read and sing-along book by Ric Reitz, this performance is ideal for ages 7 and up. Reitz's book, published in 1999, was later made into a film featuring Johnny Cenicola, Rob Cleveland, and Christopher Ekholm.

Creator and Author Kenric "Ric" Reitz is a Rochester native who began his performance career at the Nazareth College Arts Center. Since his graduation from Bowling Green State University, Reitz has had numerous stage, television, and movie roles. He will be flying in from his home in California for the performance.

ABOUT THE COLLABORATION

The Music Department at Nazareth College 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.

The Nazareth College Theatre and Dance Department offers the only B.F.A degree in musical theatre in Rochester. The program is a pre-professional degree that integrates voice, acting, and dance taught by theatre professionals, Nazareth faculty, and visiting guest artists in a rigorous environment. Nazareth's collaboration with the three-stage Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival enhances training and learning opportunities and creates an intensive professional track training program that rivals many national programs.

This performance allows collaboration between the two departments.

PERFORMERS AND PRODUCTION TEAM

Nazareth's production of The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir is directed by Diane Abrahamian-MacNally, a lecturer in the Theater and Dance Department. Diane has been nominated for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award for the past four years, and was selected as a quarter-finalist each year, and a semi-finalist in 2016.

The orchestra for the production is conducted by Nancy Strelau, Associate Professor in Professional Practice. Nancy is also the Auditions and Instrumental Coordinator and Orchestra Conductor for the Music Department at Nazareth.

The orchestra consists of:

• Flautists Katherine Saslawsky, Edgard Barra, Marguerite call
• Oboist Rebecca Kittleson
• Clarinetists Elyssa Utz, Abigail Hamel
• Bass Clarinetist Sam Stein
• Hornists Hali Shepard, Katie Dickey, Abigail Farnam, Noelle Hensler
• Trombonists Michael Carson, Holly Burrell, Matthew Holloway
• Trumpeters Yuan Miao, Miles Anglin
• Tubist Alexander Mabrich
• Percussionists Jamison Brooks, Lincoln All, Madeline Mitchell, Noah Jones
• Violinists Andrea Peters (Concertmistress), Bri Oricchio (Concertmistres), Carly Schwarzkopf, Tera Catallo, Alex Bruno, Sam Cooperman, Kiran Rajamani, Katie Proe, Regan Wagner, Kevin Goddard, Gary Guth, Lisa Lindenbaum, Sarah Ramey, Marissa Mergler, Jazlyn Melindo, Nicole Burns, Allison Kurthy, Katelin Benini, Gwynneth Lloyd, Alicia Sciolino, Victoria Rose
• Violists Evie Boughton, Zac Lijewski, Rochelle Heinze, Erin Oakley, Ceara Curry, Jessica Kromer, Giovanni Magagnoli, Danielle Santoro, Matt Krieg, Christian Drew, Abby Zych, Josh Shufelt, Noah Sauve
• Cellists David Hauck, Katrya Cichanowicz, Mariah Bondy, Anastasia Hughes, Christian Malmstrom, Alex Barna, Jessica Stroupe, Samantha McIntyre, Claire Hardy, Christina Soto
• Keyboardist Aaron Siebert-Sio
• Guitarist Elijah Flynn
• Double bassists Emma Pogge, Aubrey Baldauf, Stan Martinelli, Jacob Brooks, Felix LaPlante

Nazareth College vocalists and musical theatre students complete the cast: Jackson Mosher (Narrator), Vincent Capluzzi (Sir Douglas Fir), Regan Stacey (Earl Squirrel), Sterling Tull (Monk The Skunk), Sam Melita (Bully Bear), Chiara Giampietro (Rona Redbreast), Peter Smith (Skunk Brother), Dylan Tomas Kastel (Skunk Brother), Sara Hayward (Mrs. O'Deer), Robert DiJames (Ranger), Tayler Kochan (Twiglet), Alyssa Lopez (Twiglet), Cassidy Smith (Cedrick the Otter), Nevasse Magone-Fragale (Mill Boss), Isabella Bertoni (Conductor), Kerry Peysson (Queen's Rep), and ensemble members Samantha Antoniewicz, Alice Miao, Yakira Coleman, Nicole Todd, Abigail Voss, Alexendria Ireijo, Robert Brunelle, Tayler Kochan, Chelsea Colton, Amanda Reyngoudt, Kara Smith and Abigail Swanson.

TICKETS

The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir is free and open to public.

NAZARETH COLLEGE

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 for not just one job, but for their life's work.

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