Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece, The Phantom of the Opera, will come to the stage of the beautiful, historic University Auditorium on the campus of the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2015. Talented vocal performers from the College of the Arts and the School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance graduate and undergraduate programs make up the cast and orchestra for this gala production. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30-31, and 2 p.m. Feb. 1.
The UF Opera Theatre program, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Offerle, has a long, successful history of bringing great musical dramas to the stage in North Florida. Most recently was the world premiere of The Red Silk Thread in April 2014.
“This Phantom will be a beautiful semi-staged concert production with a fantastic cast of singers and actors, a full onstage orchestra, gorgeous costumes and spectacular lighting design,” said Offerle. “The exquisite gothic architecture of University Auditorium, the grand pipe organ with rich acoustics and the regal ambiance of the theatre make it a perfect backdrop for this dark tale of mystery and love within the Paris Opera house.”
UF alumnus Matt Wardell, conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, will lead the full orchestra of UF students in The Phantom of the Opera. The staging takes place in front of the instruments in a festive production reminiscent of the recent Phantom 25th Year Anniversary Celebration, which was broadcast internationally on PBS to rave reviews.
The cast is led onstage by graduate voice performance major Joshua Mazur who will be singing the challenging role of the Phantom. Mazur was the winner of the 2014 State of Florida Artist Award Competition for advanced classical singers sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing. A veteran cast of performers with numerous national credits and a strong ensemble of accomplished vocal musicians join Mazur.
Wardell is an award-winning conductor and graduate of the UF School of Music Master of Music program and the prestigious Pierre Monteux School for Conductors. The OcalaStar-Banner noted upon Wardell’s appointment as music director and conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra that, “Wardell brings an impressive resume of musical and conducting training …Maybe more important than his musical credentials is Wardell’s youthful enthusiasm and unabashed zest… Wardell is not only a daring and dynamic choice as the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s new conductor, but a smart one.”
The UF Opera Theatre program’s mission is to continue the School of Music’s rich tradition of opera performance by offering students numerous stage opportunities in a variety of operatic styles and performing venues. In addition to the educational and performing opportunities available to its students, one of the program’s foremost goals is to introduce the exciting world of opera to the regional community by producing musical dramas that appeal to a wide range of audiences. Recent performances include Tosca, La Traviata, The Mikado, The Magic Flute, Susannah, Die Fledermaus, The Impresario and Dido and Aeneas.
Offerle brings many years of experience in the direction of both professional and university opera and musical theatre productions to UF. In addition to directing the Opera Workshop and Opera Outreach, he is the artistic director of the prestigious Operafestival di Roma in Italy and was part of their award winning production of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, which garnered the National Opera Association Award for Best Opera Production by a university or regional opera company.
Performance and Ticket Information
University Auditorium is located at the corner of Union and Newell Drive, next to Century Tower on UF’s campus. Parking is available at Union Road off SW 13th Street (200 yards from the auditorium), and in the parking garage at Newell Drive and Museum Road off SW 13th Street (400 yards from the auditorium). Please plan to arrive early. ADA-accessible parking for University Auditorium is available in the parking lots and in a service drive on the north side of Union Road, across from University Auditorium.
Ticket prices are $45 for VIP tickets, which includes an invitation to the sitzprobe (orchestra rehearsal with singers), reserved seating and an invitation to a post-concert reception; $30 for general admission and $15 for students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Phillips Center Box Office, by phone at 352-392-ARTS (2787) or online at http://performingarts.ufl.edu.
This event has been funded in part by a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourism Development Council.
About the School of Music
The School of Music is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts’ three fully-accredited schools. The School of Music plays an important role in the academic life of the University and the community. The school’s programs provide broad-based instruction in performance, composition, history and literature and music disciplines, through a strong curriculum as well as through professional experiences such as ensembles and internships. UF students also have the opportunity to join more than a dozen music ensembles, including jazz bands, the University Choir, the University Symphony Orchestra and the “Pride of the Sunshine” Fightin’ Gator Marching Band. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/music.
About the College of the Arts
The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine Arts, is one of the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its three institutionally-accredited schools — the School of Art + Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for Arts and Public Policy, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and approximately than 1,200 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu.
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Media Contact
Leah Craig, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
University of Florida College of the Arts
Office: 352.273.1489 | Cell: 904.419.3346
lcraig@arts.ufl.edu
