10/25/2007: "Premiere of Seattle Opera Young Artists Program"

The San Juan Community Theatre has the honor and distinction of hosting the first performance of the Seattle Opera Young Artist Program’s tenth anniversary season on Friday, October 26 at 7:30 pm.

The program’s fall series features two staged, complete one-act operas about marriage, performed in English and accompanied by piano on the Whittier stage.

Arguably the greatest American opera yet composed, Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti is an ironic masterpiece about a typical suburban American couple who can’t get along with each other and can’t figure out why their life isn’t as perfect as what they see in the movies and commercials all around them. Rita by Gaetano Donizetti is a startling modern take on marriage featuring the delightful music of Donizetti (Lucia di Lammermoor and Don Pasquale.) The farce centers on Rita, a lady innkeeper with two husbands—and neither of them wants her!

Since its formation a decade ago, the Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program has been designed to help emerging singers further their opera careers by providing intense training, coaching and performance opportunities. Several of the artists have moved on to work with prestigious opera companies throughout the country and world, including the renowned Seattle Opera itself.

Education Events Manager, Justina Schwartz, says the program has grown leaps and bounds in its first ten years. “This year we had more than 500 applications and 200 auditions of singers from around the country to pick the 12 very talented singers in the program,” said Schwartz.

Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program co-founder and Director of Education, Perry Lorenzo, will be on hand for an informal discussion inside the Gubelman at 6:30 pm. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served.

This performance is sponsored by Kennedy, McCulloch & Forsyth CPAs. Tickets are $24 for adults; $12 for student reserved. $5 student RUSH tickets are available at the door. A private donor has made provision for free tickets to anyone needing financial assistance to attend a Theatre event. The SJCT Box Office is open Tuesday-Friday, 11-4, Saturdays 11-2, and one hour before any performance. Call 360-378-3210, or go to www.SanJuanCommunityTheatre.org