Temple College Opera Workshop will present “Speed Dating Tonight!” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 in the Jackson-Graeter Backstage Theatre in the Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center on the Temple College campus.
This contemporary one-act opera follows a night of speed dating at “Joe’s Bar.” The cast of 11 singers play multiple characters of different daters looking for love – telling their stories through solos, duets and ensembles.
Characters include the guy who brags about his car, the cat-lady, the food truck guy, the talkative girl, the kleptomaniac and the tech nerds who find each other, plus the bartender, waitress and dating coordinator who provide observations and perspective for the plot.
“It’s been a wonderful experience for the students to be creating a production that is so new and relatable, said Temple College Opera Director Teri Johnson. “When we think of opera, we tend to think of ancient, tragic stories written by old, dead European composers. Here we have an opera with a mash-up of music styles from opera and musical theatre to country and pop written by a living composer who happens to currently reside in Iowa. It’s giving the students a chance to be part of a current creative process that is still evolving and changing.”
The cast features students in the Temple College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas music programs and music direction by collaborative pianist, David Perez-Guerra.
“Speed Dating Tonight!” is composed by Michael Ching, based on a concept by Dean Anthony.
It premiered at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina in 2013 and has been produced by over 100 universities and professional opera companies throughout the world.
Tickets are $5 for adults. Students are free with an ID. Tickets are available online at centraltexastickets.com or at the door.
ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE
Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College, which has campuses in Temple, Hutto and Taylor, offers more than 75 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 97 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premiere institutions for health care providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.