Northwoods Reporter

UW-Superior to present opera ‘La Cenerentola’

University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Music and Theatre Departments will collaborate to present the opera “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella), by Gioachino Rossini. Performances, directed by Vicki Fingalson, take place Thursday, March 30, and Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Manion Theatre.

“‘La Cenerentola’ is Italian for ‘Cinderella’ – so, it’s the fairy-tale story most people know, with a few little surprises along the way and a lot of really great and catchy music,” said Fingalson.

UW-Superior to present opera ‘La Cenerentola’

A cast comprised of current UW-Superior students has been tasked with bringing the classic story to the stage and marking the first time an opera will be performed in front of a live audience in Manion Theatre.

“Seeing and hearing my students tackle this very difficult music and bring these characters to life in our interpretation of this very well-known story is very rewarding,” said Fingalson. “I serve as voice teacher for everyone on stage, as well as being their opera stage director. Watching their vocal and theatrical skills grow and develop throughout this process, and from year to year, is such a rewarding and exciting experience.”

Yet performing such a well-known story is not without its own challenges.

“I think they were a little intimidated by the music at first, because of its difficulty, but they have all grown to enjoy the challenge,” said Fingalson. “I am so proud of their persistence and dedication to the process. They will have something of which to be very proud when this process is finished.”

Actors will be accompanied by an orchestra, prepared by Erin Aldridge, consisting of more than 25 musicians that will include students, alumni, faculty and community members.

“The performance features joyful and fast-paced music that is just repetitive enough to become hummable and seem familiar, and the piece will be performed in English,” said Fingalson.

Tickets for “La Cenerentola” are $10 and may be purchased at the box office in the Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center. O. Gayle Manion Theatre is in the Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center at 1805 Catlin Ave. in Superior.

Original source can be found here.