Ithaca College Theatre Presents 'Die Fledermaus'

Ithaca College Theatre and the Ithaca College School of Music will present Die Fledermaus, Johann Strauss's comedic opera of secrets, misconceptions, and masquerading. Following a preview performance on Tuesday, February 18, the show will be staged on February 20, 22, 26, and 28. Curtain time for these dates is 8:00 p.m., with an additional 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, February 23. All performances will take place in the Hoerner Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House ticket center in downtown Ithaca, and Cornell University's Willard Straight Hall. Prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. The College's ticket office is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m.. For information call 274-3224. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more by calling 274-3796.

Die Fledermaus is an acclaimed comic opera with a twist involving a love triangle that is put to the test when the madcap characters are invited to a masquerade ball. Bent on revenge over a practical joke instigated by Gabriel von Eisenstein, Dr. Falke sets the conflicts and subplots in motion. Strauss's interpretation of high society's love of scandal, the excesses of the wealthy, and questionable behavior in the game of seduction during the 19th century become both intriguing and humorous on stage. The world famous score carries the story of the confused lovers all the way to the finale and resolving champagne toast.

The director of the opera is professor of theater arts Greg Bostwick, a teacher of acting, voice, speech, and dialects at Ithaca College since 1976. Maintaining an active career as a professional actor, Bostwick has appeared regionally in scores of productions at the Kitchen Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Firehouse Theatre, Theatre Cornell, Cortland Repertory Theatre, and Cider Mill Playhouse. He has also produced and acted in educational and corporate videos. He is an adjunct actor with the Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble, which uses drama as a technique for performance enhancement in a variety of organizational settings.

Other members of the artistic team are conductor Patrick Hansen, director of opera and musical theater and assistant professor of music performance in the Ithaca College School of Music, and choreographer Eugenia Wacker-Hoeflin, performer in residence for dance.

Cast members for Die Fledermaus include Sean Clark '04 as Gabriel von Eisenstein, Beth Burrier-Bradstreet '03 as Rosalinda, and Scott England '03 as Alfred.

The designing and technical team includes scenic designer Daniel Meeker, costume designer Kim Gill, lighting designer Steve TenEyck, technical director Desiree Yost '03, props master Janene Husband '05, and stage manager Michael Krug '03.