Friday, December 4, 7:30pm. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building. Admission $50 with champagne reception, UALR students free.
The Three Kings pay a visit to Little Rock when UALR Opera Theatre presents Gian-Carlo Menotti’s beloved Christmas opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, Dec. 4, 5 and 6 in Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on the UALR campus. Menotti’s opera premiered Christmas Eve of 1951 on NBC television, and became an instant holiday classic, with the most number of annual performances of any opera in America.
The familiar opera relates the story of a poor crippled boy whose life is miraculously changed when the Three Kings visit his village on their quest for the Christ Child. Menotti chose this subject because of his boyhood experiences in Italy, where children wait for gifts brought by the Three Kings, not Santa Claus.
UALR Opera Theatre’s cast features Memory Apata and Laura Johnson alternating in the role of Amahl, Regina Gallucci and Satia Spencer as his mother, and Luke Angelo, Jeremy Kinchen and Phillip Murray as the Three Kings. Kevin Ezell sings the role of their Page. Edward Crafts directs, and Dr. Bevan Keating conducts the soloists, chorus and chamber orchestra.
“Amahl and the Night Visitors” will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6 in two performances each day, at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for children and students. UALR students are admitted free with prior reservations. There will be a special premiere performance on Friday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. to benefit an endowment honoring Mary Worthen. Tickets for this benefit premiere are $50, including a champagne reception following the performance.
For ticket information please call the UALR Music Box Office, at 569-8993.
Updated 11.25.2009
