Baldwin-Wallace College Presents LA BOHÈME And RENT In Repertory, 2/15-2/27

Baldwin-Wallace College presents ground-breaking, in repertory productions of La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini and Rent by Jonathan Larson being held Feb. 15-27 at the Kleist Center for Art & Drama, 95 E. Bagley Rd., Berea.

Rent is based on the story of La Bohème, a tale of struggling young artists facing poverty and the dangers of living life on the edge.

"This project will provide a unique opportunity for our undergraduate vocal and instrumental musicians who would ordinarily not be exposed to this repertoire in an undergraduate-only setting," said Conservatory of Music Director Peter Landgren. "At the same time, we hope to encourage our enthusiastic music theatre audiences to experience this beautiful opera and see another side of our Conservatory's talent."

"This will be a creative, educational and innovative approach to an opera that will be sung by our young musicians," he continued. "We believe our faculty has the intelligence and experience to make magic and education happen in perfect harmony."

Victoria Bussert, director of the music theatre program, is the stage director for both productions. To our knowledge, these two pieces have not been performed together previously said Bussert who has directed La Bohème for Piedmont Opera and Madame Butterfly for Cleveland Opera among others. Her music theatre credits include regional, off-Broadway and national tours. She also is on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance of Music Theatres.

Constantine Kitsopoulos, guest conductor for La Bohème, has built an international reputation spanning opera, symphony and musical theatre. The music director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra, he also is the general director of Chatham Opera, which he founded in 2005. He has guest conducted the Baltimore, Detroit and San Francisco symphonies as well as the Blossom Festival Orchestra. He has conducted opera in the U.S. and in China and was the conductor of the highly acclaimed Broadway production of La Bohème as well as the 2008 Tony-nominated musical, A Catered Affair.

Set and lighting design are by Jeff Herrmann, costumes by Charlotte Yetman with choreography by Greg Daniels. B-W junior Ryan Garrett is the music director for Rent.The productions will alternate on week nights at 7:30 p.m. During the weekends, both shows will be performed; one at 2 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m.

The weekday production schedule is as follows:
Rent will be performed February 15, 17, 18, 22, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.
La Bohème will be performed February 16 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.

The weekend schedule is:
Saturday, Feb. 19, Rent, 2 p.m. and La Bohème 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 20, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and Rent at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and Rent at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27, La Bohème at 2 p.m. and Rent at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets may be reserved by calling the B-W Theatre Box Office at 440-826-2240. Box office hours are noon - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For directions to Kleist Center for Art & Drama, visit http://www.bw.edu/quickfacts/directions/kleist.
$25 (general admission, single ticket)
$45 (Saturday/Sunday-one ticket for both shows on same day)
$20 (senior citizens ages 62 and older)
$20 (students from other schools having a valid school ID