Missouri Western State University’s School of Fine Arts presents a production of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” Nov. 1-3 that combines talented live performers and eye-popping digital animation. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 in the Potter Hall Theater. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and children. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Missouri Western Department of Music in Potter Hall, room 114.
“This is an opera that has something for everyone – a handsome prince, a kooky sidekick, a damsel-in-distress, a powerful queen, an evil sorcerer and a spectacular dragon,” said Dr. Susan Carter, director and the Department of Music’s director of vocal studies. “We have an incredibly talented group of singers, and the collaboration with the Department of Art and Department of Theatre and Cinema allowed us to create a visually stunning world for the action to take place.”
Art students have created backdrops and animations that will be projected on a 40-foot wide screen at the back of the stage. In some cases, the animation will come to life – the dragon, for example, begins its entrance on screen before emerging in puppet form on stage.
“Dr. Carter had a vision of a very futuristic, almost fantasy-like setting, but grounded in reality,” said Peter Hriso, chair of the Department of Art and director of digital animation. “Our students worked with her to bring that vision to life. They each took a scene and developed it from start to finish, making sure that each of their individual projects had a cohesive look.”
Jeff Stover, the Department of Theatre and Cinema’s new technical director, has also played a big role in designing the look of the show.
“The Magic Flute” is a form of opera known as “Singspiele,” or “sing-play.” Unlike traditional opera, it includes spoken dialogue between songs, making it more like what we think of today as musical theatre, Dr. Carter said. The Missouri Western production will be very accessible to people who may not think of themselves as opera fans. It will be performed in English, and the lyrics will be projected as surtitles to aid in understanding.
Dr. Carter played the Queen of the Night in hundreds of performances of “The Magic Flute” around the world, but wanted to be sure she could assemble enough talent before directing a production at Missouri Western. The recognition many of her students have received in national and even international competitions convinced her the time was right.
“I love ‘The Magic Flute,’ but I wouldn’t stage it unless I knew we could put on a great production,” she said. “There are some very challenging roles, but our students are up to the challenge. All of these singers in one place at one time – it’s just meant to be.”
The production includes a professional orchestra under the direction of Mark Pennington, music teacher at Central High School. Central’s 38-member men’s chorus will also participate in the production, along with several children from the community.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.