Gianni Schicchi Opera to be Performed at Saint Mary's College
The cast of the opera "Gianni Schicchi," made up
of theatre students and other regional actors pose
for a promotion photo.Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary’s College
gobrien@saintmarys.edu
March 13, 2015 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary’s College and the Department of Music will present Gianni Schicchi (pronounced “Johnny Skeeky”), a one-act opera by Puccini. Performances run Thursday through Saturday, March 26-28, at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, March 29 at 2:30 p.m. in Little Theatre, Moreau Center for the Arts. Box office information is listed below and can be found at MoreauCenter.com.
The opera tells the tale of Buoso Donati and the fate of his fortune. As Donati lies dead, his relatives gather around to mourn his passing, but with ulterior motives. They’re really interested in learning the contents of his will. Donati has bequeathed his fortune to the monastery, and only a masterful hoax created by Gianni Schicchi can solve the problem.
Associate professor of music and director Laurel Thomas, together with costumer Melissa Bialko and scenic designer Michaela Duffy, set the opera in current day South Bend. Piccini’s famous tenor aria praising the beauties of Florence will instead extol the lovely St. Joseph River and wonderful downtown South Bend. Instead of bequeathing sawmills to his relatives, Donati leaves his survivors a chocolate factory (as in South Bend Chocolate Company). Saint Mary’s music students perform the opera, in collaboration with male singers from the community and accompanied by a small chamber orchestra.
Thomas says, “Gianni Schicchi provides the best of all worlds—the irresistible, sweeping melodies of Puccini with a slapstick plot sung (mostly) in English, an hour of pure fun.”
Tickets can be purchased at MoreauCenter.com or by calling the Box Office at (574) 284-4626.
March 26-28 at 7:30 PM
March 29 at 2:30 PM
Adults: $13
Senior Citizens: $12
SMC/ND/HCC Faculty and Staff: $10
SMC/ND/HCC Students: $8
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. By the fall of 2015, pending accreditations anticipated in the spring, Saint Mary’s College will offer two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College’s mission is to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2015 published by U.S. News & World Report.