By Gillian Ellis, assistant publicist
Let’s begin with a trivia question: What happens when you shine white light through a prism?
Answer: It is refracted and split into a rainbow spectrum of color.
And when the performance spotlight scatters across the talents of MTD’s students, we see a similar effect. An amazing array of multi-hued expression is created, some of it so dazzling it is imprinted on memory.
We asked audiences and performers what their lasting impression of the 2010/2011 season was, and for a good number of them it was the intensity of the Mahler experience. Stephanie Perlaki, a Music Ed and Performance major, answered with just that one word. “Mahler!!!” (The exclamation points are all Stephanie’s.) Josh Bobek, an Instrumental Music major, enjoyed all the Oakland Symphony Orchestra offerings, as well as the two symphonic bands.
Departmental chair Jackie Wiggins thought OSO’s March concert featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” was “awesome” but she regrets that the orchestra had to go off campus to find a suitable facility. The cast of
Bells Are Ringing also spread their creative wings, using Eisenhower High School’s Performing Arts Center for their shows. The production was “wonderful” says Professor Wiggins, but she adds, “We so desperately need a theatre on campus that will support our student’s work in this way.”
Publicist Carly Uhrig “LOVED
Bells are Ringing,” (the CAPS are Carly’s). “The Sandor character was hilarious!” Theatre professor Karen Sheridan was the director of “Bells” and her favorite moment was “standing at the end of the center row at Eisenhower and watching faces as the chorus came through the audience singing ‘I Met a Girl.’”
For many people the highlight of the year was also the most unusual for performers and audiences, the eight-hour-long Pageant Play. Budget Director Manjit Gill says she “went to a lot” of performances this year but she had no hesitation about choosing her most memorable experience: The Passion. She could even pin-point the moment – “Getting to choose between heaven and hell and choosing hell because it looked more enticing!” You had to be there.
For some people the greatest strength of the season was not
one thing, but the variety of offerings. Music Ed grad student Amber Cooper says, “I loved the variety of jazz performance ensembles and guest artists.” There will also be much variety in the upcoming 2011/2012 performance season, plans for which are being finalized as you read this. Here are some highlights already in place.
Shakespeare is back! Lynnae Lehfeldt will direct
Much Ado About Nothing, while Karen Sheridan will helm a contemporary play,
The Women of Lockerbie, which uses a form similar to classic Greek tragedy to frame a modern story. Also on the schedule will be
Little Mary Sunshine, the children's show
Captain Louie, and a musical, still to be determined, since it will be directed by Anthony Guest, who will take up his position as the new Assistant Professor of Theatre this summer.
Alarm Will Sound, the “powerhouse chamber ensemble” (
Washington Post) in which Associate Professor Miles Brown plays bass, will perform here in March. And baritone Lucas Meachem, who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will sing in November.
The season will also see the production of a full-length opera, Mozart’s
Cosi fan tutte. Assistant Professor Drake Dantzler says it has been a while since the department has staged an opera on this scale. "It will have a full orchestra, full sets, full costumes, and two casts, plus a chorus, singing in English." Students from Voice, Instrumental, and Theatre will be involved in four shows, with each cast performing twice. Dr. Dantzler promises "really beautiful music and very funny theatre."
The Dance Program will play host in October to the Michigan Dance Council Dance Day. Approximately 150 students from all over Michigan will take classes throughout the day in modern, ballet, and jazz. And an evening performance will include Oakland University's Repertory Dance Company, as well as the finalists in the Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition. The competition winner will be announced at the end of the event.
Other highlights of the dance season include EDE's performance at the end of October, Oakland Dance Theatre and Repertory Dance Company's Annual Dance Concert in December, and Thayer Jonutz's Solo Concert in Varner's Studio Theatre, also in December.
So much to look forward to. And so many wonderful memories.
Photographs: Top: Pageant Play cast members portray The Passion. Lower right: OU Brass Band entertains at the OSO reception in March.
