Program Notes
This page contains additional program notes for select LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts events. These notes may include biographies, information about the works performed, or thematic context about a performance.
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The Turner-Fischer Center Presents: Carousel
March 22 & 24, 2024 // Shaver Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Ferenc Molnar, Benjamin F. Glazer, and Agnes de Mille
Directed by Dugg McDonough
Conducted by Scott Terrell
Production Manager: Dennis Jesse
Assistant Production Managers: Shengjie Cheng, Celeste Lovelady, Reagan Nattinger, Kaylee Mancuso
Assistant Directors: Elaina Bachman, Rose Bubenzer
Assistant Conductor: Kai-chun Wong
Stage Manager: Natalie Creel
Scenic Designer: Steve Schepker
Lighting Designer: Brian Schneider, Footcandle Lighting
Wig & Make-Up Designer: Laurin Hart, Hart Designs
Costume Designer: Leicester Landon
Choreographers: Claudio Ribeiro & Nick Erickson
Technical Crew: Piper Productions: Michael Burton, Master Electrician,
Rehearsal Pianists: Sijing Guo, Taylisse Boissonneault
Musical and Language Coach: Michael Borowitz
Scenic Construction: New Orleans Opera H. Lloyd Hawkins Scenic Studio
Orchestral Parts: Concord Theatricals
In order of vocal appearance
Billy Bigelow | Yonathan Astatke (cover: Zach Adams) |
Julie Jordan | Maura Schaefer (cover: Amber Caroglanian) |
Carrie Pipperidge | Anna Safko (cover: Elise Strain) |
Enoch Snow | George Revill (cover: Scott Ochoa) |
Nettie Fowler | Sydney Sorbet |
Jigger Craigin | Zach Adams (cover: Fengyue Zhang) |
Mrs. Mullin | Jozifein Woods |
Policeman | Spencer LeFebvre |
Bascombe | Jesse Kneisler |
Captain | Don Fields |
Heavenly Friend | Fengyue Zhang |
Starkeeper/Doctor | Elaina Bachman |
Louise | Sophie Romano |
Enoch, Jr. | Sean Whitson |
Principal | Scott Ochoa |
Ensemble: Layla Battley, Rose Bubenzer, Bailey Burton, Amber Caroglanian, Sofia Culpepper, Allison DePriest, Kamryn Hecker, Allison Hedrick, Annie Kate Lee, Celeste Lovelady, Reilly Mulcahy, Sophie Romano, Elise Strain, Belle Tassin, Jozifein Woods, Jennifer Zuckerman, Zach Adams, Shengjjie Cheng, Don Fields, Marc Hebert, Emmett Johnson, Jesse Kneisler, Spencer LeFebvre, Scott Ochoa, Wenxin Sha, Tregg Walker, Sean Whitson.
Dancers: Eliana Lopez, Evan May
Violin I
- Johan Pepper, Concertmaster
- Zongchi Han
- Alice Muller
- Lucy Fowkes
Violin II
- Erin Kim
- Paula Toral Navarro
- Laurel Walther
Viola
- Kai-chun Wong
- Mariana Solis
Cello
- Rebecca Lemos Gonzalez
- Emilia Gonzalez
Double Bass
- Aidan Lobenstein
Harp
- Gabriela Werries
Flute/Piccolo
- Nate Anderson
- Regan Buttermore
Oboe/English Horn
- Rebecca Keith
Clarinet
- Adam Cope
- Avery Barber
Bassoon
- Mason Cox
French Horn
- Selena Boyda
- Ben Farrow
- Hope Ayers
Trumpet
- Aidan Giroir
- Jay Morris
Trombone
- Elijah Swan
- Nickolai Prokhorov
- Tyler Sellers
Tuba
- Parrish Gienger
Percussion/Timpani
- Tyler Whitehead
- Chase Gillet
Dugg McDonough
Dugg McDonough, Mary Barrett Fruehan Associate Professor of Opera and Artistic Director of the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at LSU, is a three-time winner of The American Prize in Directing. For his achievements with LSU's opera program, McDonough garnered first place in 2019 (Dog Days), second place in 2020 (Elizabeth Cree), and third place in 2021 (Two Remain). In addition to these personal accolades, his opera productions have collected numerous first and second place awards from both The American Prize and the National Opera Association, the latter having awarded LSU first place for four consecutive years in its annual Opera Scenes Competition. As a still-active professional director, McDonough has staged a wide variety of operas, operettas, and musicals for companies ranging from the New York City Opera to the Taipei International Arts Festival.
Scott Terrell
Scott Terrell has built a major conducting career through imaginative programs, an engaging presence, and a determined passion for artistic excellence, teaching, and viability. An ardent champion of new music and diversity of repertoire, he is a visionary conductor whose artistry and intellect has engaged musicians, students, and audiences. Maestro Terrell is the Associate Professor of Orchestral Studies, holding the Virginia Martin Howard Chair, at the Louisiana State University School of Music. Passionate about working with aspiring musician and educators, Terrell is an active guest clinician, teacher, and adjudicator. He has been a regular guest conductor and instructor at the Aspen Music Festival, leading various concert programs as well as guiding and mentoring conducting students. In demand as an educator and teacher of young musicians, he has conducted and presented at educational and honor orchestra events in Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
Michael Borowitz
American conductor and pianist Michael Borowitz is currently in his seventh year as Music Director and newly tenured Associate Professor of the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera. Now in his fifth season as Music Director, and first year as Artistic Director with Opéra Louisiane, he will conduct performances of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. He just returned from his second summer in Novafeltria, Italy with La Musica Lirica conducting performances of Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri. His current recordings (all on the Albany label) include Offenbach’s Bluebeard, Kern’s The Cabaret Girl, Herbert’s Mlle. Modiste (also released on DVD by Operetta Archives), and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore and Patience. Newly released on DVD by Operetta Archives is Mr. Borowitz conducting the 2007 Ohio Light Opera production of Kálmán’s The Duchess of Chicago.
Name | Vocal Role | Hometown | Previous Engagements |
---|---|---|---|
Allison Depriest | Soprano | Albany, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Allison Hedrick | Soprano | New Orleans, Louisiana | Orphée (chorus), Orson Rehearsed (chorus) |
Amber Caroglanian | Mezzo-Soprano | Boca Raton, Florida | Servant, Cendrillon (2022); Bridesmaid, Trial by Jury (2023); Papagena, Die Zauberflöte (2023) |
Anna Safko | Mezzo-Soprano | Pensacola, Florida | Assistant Director, The Medium (2023): Third Lady, The Magic Flute (2023); Petra, A Little Night Music (2023); Sixth Spirit, Cendrillon (2022); Assistant Director, Cendrillon (2022); |
Annie Kate Lee | Mezzo-Soprano | Atlanta, Georgia | Chorus, Viva Italia (2022); Servant/Chorus, Cendrillon (2022); Chorus, Trial by Jury (2023); Dritter Knabe, Die Zauberflöte (2023) |
Bailey Burton | Soprano | Longview, Texas | The Magic Flute (2023) |
Belle Tassin | Soprano | Madisonville, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Celeste Lovelady | Mezzo-Soprano | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Don Fields | Tenor | Alexandria, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Elaina Bachman | Mezzo-Soprano | Lacombe, Louisiana | Supernumerary Orphée (2021); Chorus Orson Rehearsed (2021) |
Elise Strain | Soprano | Slidell, Louisiana | First Spirit, Magic Flute (2023); Chorus, Trial by Jury (2023); Chorus, Cendrillon (2022) |
Emmett Johnson | Tenor | Mandeville, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Fengyue Zhang | Baritone | Gansu, China | Sprecher (cover), Die Zauberflöte (2023) |
George Revill | Tenor | Poquoson, Virginia | Chorus, Die Zauberflöte (2023); Al, Kassandra (2023) |
Jennifer Zuckerman | Soprano | Mandeville, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Jesse Kneisler | Baritone | Benton, Arkansas | Chorus, Orson Rehearsed (2021); Muzio, Viva Italia (2022); Le Surintendant (cover), Cendrillon (2022); Frid, A Little Night Music (2023); Council of the Plantiff, Trial by Jury (2023); Chorus, The Magic Flute (2023); Mr. Gobineau, The Medium (2023) |
Jozifein Woods | Soprano | Santa Rosa, California | Mrs Gobineau, The Medium (2023); Königen der Nacht (cover), Die Zauberflöte (2023); Chorus, Trial by Jury (2023); Chorus, Cendrillon (2022) |
Kamryn Hecker | Mezzo-Soprano | Ponchatoula, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Layla Battley | Mezzo-Soprano | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Marc Hebert | Baritone | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | --- |
Maura Schaefer | Soprano | Bellingham, Washington | Kassandra, Kassandra (2023); Countess Charlotte Malcolm, A Little Night Music (2023); Dorothée, Cendrillon (2022) |
Natalie Creel | Mezzo-Soprano | Zachary, Louisiana | Chorus, Orson Rehearsed (2022); Chorus, Orphée (2022); Chorus, Cendrillion (2022); Chorus, Trial by Jury (2023); Stage Manager, A Little Night Music (2023); Chorus, Die Zauberflöte (2023); Baba, The Medium (2023); La Poncia, La Casa de Bernarda Alba (2024) |
Reilly Mulcahy | Soprano | New Orleans, Louisiana | The Medium (cover), Suor Angelica (La Converse), The Magic Flute (Chorus Member), and Trial by Jury (Chorus Member) |
Rose Bubenzer | Soprano | Alexandria, Louisiana | Monica, The Medium (Cover, 2023), Chorus The Magic Flute (2023), Chorus Trial By Jury (2023). |
Scott Ochoa | Tenor | Jacksonville, Florida | --- |
Sean Whitson | Tenor | Fresno, California | Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte (2023), The Defendant in Trial by Jury (2023), Henrik in A Little Night Music (2023), Le Doyen in Cendrillon (2022), Pong from Turandot (Viva Italia Scenes Program, 2022), Chorus in Orphée (2022) and Chorus in Orson Rehearsed |
Shengjie Cheng | Baritone | Wuxi, China | Speaker, Magic Flute(2023), Usher, Trial by Jury(2023), Mr. Linquist, A Little Night Music(2023), Pandolfe(cover), Cendrillon(2022) |
Sophie Romano | Coloratura Soprano | Hammond, Louisiana | Chorus, Die Zaubeflöte |
Spencer LeFebvre | Baritone | Anchorage, Alaska | Cendrillon(ensemble), a little night music(AD and ensemble), Magic Flute(Papageno cover and ensemble) |
Sydney Sorbet | Mezzo-Soprano | Covington, Louisiana | Zweite Dame, Die Zauberflöte (2023); Mrs. Segstrom, A Little Night Music (2023); Dorothée (cover), Cendrillon (2022), Orson #2, Orson Rehearsed (2022), Pinellino, Gianni Schicchi (2021) |
Tregg Walker | Tenor | Zachary, Louisiana | LSU Debut |
Wenxin Sha | Baritone | Ningxia, China | --- |
Yonathan T. Astatke | Baritone | Kansas City, Missouri | Papageno, Die Zauberflöte (2023) |
Zachary Adams | Bass-Baritone | Glenview, Illinois | LSU Debut |
Coming Soon!