A first-time collaboration between Grand Valley State University’s Opera Theatre and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company brings an opportunity to experience both art forms during two entertaining productions geared to families: Mother Goose and The Boy Who Wouldn’t Do His Homework.
Performances at GRBC’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre, are February 19
at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and February 20 at 2 p.m. Performances at Grand
Valley’s Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, on the
Allendale Campus, are February 25 at 7 p.m. and February 26-27 at 2 p.m.
It starts with stories from Mother Goose, danced by the
Grand Rapids Ballet Company and choreographed by Patricia Barker,
acting artistic director. Beauty and the Beast, Tom Thumb, and
Sleeping Beauty come to life in French composer Maurice Ravel’s
imaginative ballet. Originally composed in 1908 and 1910 as a suite of
four-hand piano pieces written for the children of his friends, Ravel
later reworked them into the ballet Ma Mère l’oye.
The Boy Who Wouldn’t Do His Homework! (L’enfant et les
Sortileges – also by Ravel) brings the talents of Grand Valley’s
Opera Theatre to the stage. The opera follows a disobedient boy who
refuses to do his homework and destroys everything in his room, and
then something weird and fantastic happens as the things he wrecked
come to life. This classic French music is sung in English translation
by an all-student cast.
“I am thrilled that Grand Valley’s Opera Theatre and the Grand
Rapids Ballet Company are sharing the stage,” said Dale Schriemer,
artistic director of the GVSU Opera Theatre. “The strong storytelling
abilities of both pieces give the audience so much to enjoy.”
All music will be performed by a professional ensemble, under
the direction of pianist James Barnett, from Chicago, also including
Ryan Stumpo, piano; Ed Clifford flute; and Alicia Eppinga, cello.
Tickets for performances at GRBC’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre are
available at the theatre box office, 341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand
Rapids, or by calling 616-454-4771, and through Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787.
Tickets for performances at Grand Valley’s Louis Armstrong
Theatre, Performing Arts Center, on the Allendale Campus, $10-20, are
available at the LAT box office, or by calling (616)-331-2300,
Startickets at 800-585-3737, or online at www.startickets.com. For
more information visit www.gvsu.edu/music.
