Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 2/17/00
      Contact:                           Scott Nunez 98

SLU TO PRESENT OPERAS BY HOLST AND PUCCINI
     HAMMOND   The Southeastern Louisiana University Opera-Music Program will
present a pair of operatic tragedies March 29-31 at the Pottle Music Auditorium. 
     The operas, "Savitri" by Gustav Holst and "Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica)" by Giacomo
Puccini, will be directed by special guest Gary Bird, director of musical theatre at the University
of Michigan. Production coordinator is Scharmal Schrock. Conductor Chuck Effler will work
with the "Savitri" cast, while  Richard Prior will conduct "Sister Angelica." 
     Bird has directed over 60  plays and musicals in academic, community and
professional settings, including a productions of "The Fantastick" and "Cinderella" at
Southeastern. He also presented master classes in musical theatre at Southeastern in 1998 and
served a week-long residency in the music department last year.
     Sets for the operas have been designed by communication and theatre professor Steve
Schepker. The crew also includes Pete Pfeil, lighting and technical director; Anna Pfeil,
costumes; John Hecker, master carpenter, and Heidi Cohenour, assistant coordinator.
     Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 general admission. Southeastern students are
admitted free with their university I.D. 
     The title role of "Savitri" will be played by Jennifer Odom of Moselle, Miss. She will be
joined by James Roberts of San Diego, Calif., "Satyavan," and Krassen Karagiozov of Hammond 
                             (MORE)
SLU TWO OPERAS   Add One
as "Death."
     Cast in "Sister Angelica" are Kirstin Hoiseth of Hammond, "Sister Angelica"; Amanda
Tarver of Prarieville, "The Princess"; Mary Johnson of Baton Rouge, "The Abbess"; Heidi
Cohenour of Cedar Hill, Texas, "The Monitor"; Judy Reid of Baton Rouge, "Mistress of
Novices"; Summer Grest of Loranger, "Sister Genevieve"; Lindsey King of Slidell, "Sister
Osmina"; Tuesday Rambo of Baton Rouge, "Sister Dolcina and Lay Sisters"; Susan Buller of 
Jeanerette, "Nursing Sister"; Daveda Karanas of Hammond, "The Tourieres and Lay Sisters";
and Patricia Ramirez, "The Tourieres"      
     For additional information call the music department at 549-2184.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp00.htm