Opera for Fun

If you spend any time around Binghamton, you're likely to hear of an unlikely group: the Tri-Cities Troubadours, a nonprofit organization of professional and amateur singers and dancers who perform musical variety shows in a local church.

The unusual group was founded by MaryJo Anthony '63, M.M. '65, a lyric coloratura soprano, concert soloist in the United States and Italy, and private voice instructor. Anthony has had leading opera roles with the Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton and the Buffalo, Chautauqua, Ithaca, and Rochester Opera companies; she has also sung at Cornell University and Colgate University's summer theaters. Another voice from Ithaca in the group is baritone Matt Dirig '88. Other singers are from the central New York region and New York City. The goal of the group is to provide a showcase for talented performers (espe-cially singers) so they can grow and develop at a grass-roots level while providing diverse music to the general public in "true Shakespearean fashion."

The Tri-Cities Troubadours' first performance was in February 1993 - an adaptation of Hansel and Gretel, written and directed by Anthony. The performers received a standing ovation from an audience of 70. Since then, the group has put on about three "opera cabaret" shows per year, including versions of Tales of Hoffman and Die Fledermaus. The shows also include operatic arias, as well as duets, trios, and quartets of popular tunes from Broadway. The repertoire has included "O Shenandoah" from Shenandoah, "There's Me" from Starlight Express, "When a Felon" from Pirates of Penzance, "Three Little Maids" from The Mikado, and "Dentist Song" from Little Shop of Horrors.

- Jennifer Everritt