West Virginia University - News and Information Services
WVU production features music of Leonard Bernstein Feb. 9-10
West Virginia University’s Opera Theatre will celebrate the 50th anniversary Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” with a special musical event titled “New York: It’s a Wonderful Town,” Feb. 9-10 at the Creative Arts Center.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.
The program is a production of WVU’s Division of Music. It is directed by Robert Thieme, who also directs opera theatre at the University. The event will feature the WVU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Harvey Felder, and the University Choir, conducted by Kathleen Shannon.
Thieme said Bernstein’s love of New York City gave him the idea for the production, which allows audiences to take a musical tour of the Big Apple, enjoying popular songs from “West Side Story,” “On the Waterfront,” New York, New York” and “Wonderful Town.” The concert will also include songs from “Candide,” which Bernstein wrote as a Broadway show and later as an opera.
Voice students from WVU will be featured in solos and duets. They are Sarah Grisso, Lakin Weaver, Keith McCarthy, Kristina Driskill, Daniel Salls, Elizabeth Zell, Michael Talerico, Min Sue Kim, Glenna Smiesko, Christina Romich, Louise Van Mook, Dorothy Smith, Alejandro Belden, Justin Barclay, Roy Hage, Samatha Bartlow, Jennifer Vanella, Emily Lapisardi, Katie Gannon, Kristopher Corbett, Terrance Jackson, Michael Spencer, Heidi Shives, Danielle Goode and Jeffrey Fox.
“The show will be semi-staged with no full sets, but it’s very theatrical,” said Thieme. “The finale will be a huge choral number, which is not to be missed.”
For tickets and information, contact the Mountainlair Box Office at 304-293-SHOW.
Office: (304) 293-6997