Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           www.selu.edu/NewsEvents
    Date: 1/31/97
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  98

Editors: Please note local interest
SLU OPERA SPOOFS COLUMBUS
     HAMMOND -- The cast has been announced for the Southeastern Louisiana University
Opera-Music Theatre Program's production of a comic opera about Christopher Columbus,
discoverer of America and -- would you believe? -- CocaCola.
     Don't believe anything you hear in "Christopher Columbus," a four act musical romp with
lyrics by Don White set to the music of 19th Century composer Jacques Offenbach. The opera
will be performed at Southeastern's Pottle Music Building Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. March 5 and
7. Tickets --  $10 general admission and $5 senior citizens, SLU faculty and staff and non-SLU
students -- will be available at the door. SLU students are admitted free with their university I.D.
     White, who also co-authored the opera's dialogue with Lorraine Thomas, depicts
Columbus as a rascal who has found that "the secret of seduction" is "one little thing, a wedding
ring." Unfortunately, he has been handing out rings wholesale. Columbus has three wives and a
fiancee -- and all the "missuses" have just found out. 
     Packed off to sea by Ferdinand and Isabella, with wives, fiancee and a truly "motley
crew," Columbus lands his famous flotilla in Manhattan. There he discovers the cola nut, which
he quickly sees as "liquid gold," the source of "the champagne of the common folk," CocaCola. 
     "Christopher Columbus" may take place "without any regard for credibility," but the
result is a show that the entire family will enjoy, said music director and producer Scharmal
Schrock.
     Schrock and stage director Larry Gray have cast Tyler Howell Smith of Baton Rouge as
                                 (MORE) 
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CAST -- Add One
 Christopher. Angela Philastre of Baton Rouge, Jennifer Odom of Moselle, Miss. and Susan
Buller of Jenearette play the "Mrs. Columbuses" -- Rosa, Fleurette and Gretel, respectively.
Diane Pulte of Gainesville, Texas, is Columbus' newest potential "Mrs.," Beatriz. Kenya
Lawrence of Hammond is "Princess Minnehaha Columbus," Columbus' first New World wife.
     Sandy Kelly of Dallas, Texas, will play Queen Isabella and George Montalbano Jr. of
Independence has the role of King Ferdinand. David Loviere of Baton Rouge is Luis de Torres
and Keith James of Baton Rouge sings the part of the Chief of Police.
     Also in the cast are Summer Rae Grest, Ponchatoula, Esperanza; Kelsey Chambers,
Baton Rouge, Carmelita; Patricia Quarles, Baton Rouge, Manuela; Amber Klein, Gonzales,
Valencia; Julius Dietze, Folsom, a tourist, and Ian Kean Seng Lim, Denton, Texas, a waiter.
     Chorus members are Brad Foster, Hammond; Marcus Gould, Greenwell Springs; Tom
Ham, Ponchatoula; Daniel Kocke, Covington; Goerge Lunkin, Marrero; Shawn Patterson,
Abita Springs; Walter Pennington III, Covington; Andrew Mauerman, Hammond; Demond
Brumfield, Hammond; Erin Hopson, Denham Springs; Lindsey King, Slidell; Leonor
Magaletta, Mandeville; Heavenor Vega, New Iberia; Genette Winniger, Mandeville; Christina
Traylor, Ponchatoula; Christine Kelly, Slidell, and June Yong Soon Hong, Mahmur,
Madacascar.
     The opera will be conducted by SLU Director of Bands Frank Dubuy with Campus
Technical Director Pete Pfeil as set designer and technical director. Anna Pfeil is costumer and
Fara Duhe of Chalmette is chorus master. Nicole Aucoin of Bourg will serve as stage manager
and Nicky Thomson of  Ponchatoula will handle properties. Sandy Kelly is assistant to the
production coordinator and Jennifer Midkiff of Metairie is assistant stage manager. Pianists are
Raisa Voldman of Hammond and Svetlana Marr of Slidell.
     For additional information about "Christopher Columbus," call the SLU Music
Department, 549-2184.
                                 - SLU -
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